Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub has responded to a startling conspiracy theory from UFC legend BJ Penn, who claims Schaub is actually deceased NFL player Aaron Hernandez in what Penn describes as an “ultra real disguise.”
“I do see the similarities. People made that comparison all the time,” Schaub said in a recent video addressing the situation. “A few differences between me and Aaron Hernandez, just for you people out there who believe this: I was good at football. Aaron’s great at football. I’m stronger than Hernandez… I’m not into dudes, and I don’t murder people. So there’s a few differences there.”
The accusation came via Penn’s Instagram account, where the Hawaiian posted side-by-side pictures of Schaub and Hernandez. Penn accompanied the images with a caption suggesting that CTE diagnoses are merely a ploy by sports leagues.
“CTE IS A WAY FOR SPORTS LEAGUES TO SAY EXPENSIVE ATHLETES IN THEIR 30’S HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE AND NEED TO RETIRE AND THEN PAY YOUNG NO NAME ATHLETES PEANUTS! IT AINT ABOUT THE MONEY ITS ABOUT THE MONEY!” Penn wrote.
Schaub initially thought Penn’s posts were meant as humor. “I just figured it was another one of these real housewives of MMA things where it’s like, okay, doing it for attention or get clicks or any of that,” Schaub explained. “I was going to repost it. I had some jokes and have fun with it.”
However, former UFC fighter Jason “Mayhem” Miller informed Schaub of the seriousness of Penn’s claims. “Mayhem Miller reached out to me. I was like, ‘dude, this isn’t a joke. Like he legit thinks you’re Aaron Hernandez,'” Schaub recounted. “Oh, well you took this wind out of my sails. Like that’s not funny anymore. That’s not fun.”
This claim is part of a troubling pattern where the 46-year-old former welterweight and lightweight champion has insisted that his family members, including his mother and brothers, have been replaced by impostors wearing sophisticated disguises. Penn has even suggested he himself is being replaced, writing in another post: “The real truth is that I’m way too good looking so if I ever disappear and you see somebody that looks like that, that’s just that ugly just walk straight up to him and tell him there’s no way your Bj Penn you’re way too ugly.”
The situation has prompted concern from fans and fellow fighters alike. “It’s more sad than anything,” Schaub said. “It’s a shame to see a legend [like this]… This isn’t something to mess around with.”
Penn has also recently denied the existence of CTE despite extensive scientific evidence of its prevalence in combat sports, referencing boxing legends who he claimed did not suffer from the condition despite “millions of hits to the head.”
Schaub expressed continued support for Penn despite the accusations: “Still a fan, still love him. Definitely want to get him help if he’s open to it. Definitely have some resources that could help him, but you gotta want it.”
