'It would have been easier for Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao than Conor McGregor': Ex-UFC fighter Brendan Schaub on why 'The Notorious' can upset the odds

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To some, Brendan Schaub is a lone voice of reason amid of tidal wave of hysteria and ignorance. To many others he is at best mistaken, at worst a fantasist.

Former UFC fighter Frank Mir even suggests that Schaub is playing up the Irishman's chances only because he is being paid to promote the fight by US broadcaster Showtime.

But whatever his motivation, there is one thing all sides can agree on. Ahead of one of the most polarising fights in combat sports history, Schaub's belief that Conor McGregor has a realistic chance of beating — even knocking out — Floyd Mayweather is particularly controversial.

Brendan Schaub believes Conor McGregor has a realistic chance against Floyd Mayweather

The Irish UFC star (right) makes his professional boxing debut against 'Money' on August 26

The former MMA star turned Showtime pundit has been over in the UK ahead of the showdown

Schaub retired from the UFC following his defeat by Travis Browne back in December 2014

While many experts give McGregor little more than a puncher’s chance in his ring debut, Schaub is not phased by standing out from the crowd.

The former UFC heavyweight turned Showtime analyst and comedian has offered boxing pundit Max Kellerman a $100,000 bet that McGregor will win a round. He has even promised to share a photo of his penis if 'the Notorious' doesn't last the full distance.

‘I like his chances. I know it’s crazy, brother,’ the popular podcast host tells Sportsmail.

A McGregor victory would, 'Big Brown' concedes, be the biggest upset in sporting history. But Schaub's confidence is fuelled by an unwavering belief that the Irishman is unlike most fighters - capable of achieving what should be impossible.

It’s a belief that McGregor shares, of course, and one he reiterated during a four-day, four-city pre-fight publicity tour last month.

As part of his punditry duties with Showtime, Schaub covered the shows that captured the attention of fans worldwide and turned off, even appalled, many others.

Schaub was part of the Showtime team for the recent Mayweather-McGregor publicity tour

The two fighters embarked on a four-day, four-city tour last month to promote their showdown

The 34-year-old former UFC fighter was speaking to Sportsmail reporter Daniel Matthews

‘I’ve been at some of the biggest UFCs in the world.. Superbowls, I’ve played in some of the biggest college football games in the world. I’ve never seen anything, as far as an event and a spectacle, like that.’

As the two fighters traded tirades of abuse on both sides of the Atlantic, attention and anticipation swelled with every passing night. Unfortunately so did the controversy.

By the end of the four shows, the tour had been marred by accusations of racism and homophobia. But Schaub is defiant.

He is convinced the shows did more good than harm and dismisses any suggestions that any lingering bad taste will prevent the fight breaking Pay-Per-View records set by Mayweather's clash with Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

'People are looking for a way to tear down anyone who is successful in any arena,' the 34-year-old claims. 'That’s the way fans are.'

What no one can deny is that McGregor and Mayweather's unique concoction of brinkmanship, bling and bravado made for an explosive cocktail.

Schaub, speaking at the Tattershall Castle on the Thames, predicts McGregor will win rounds

He also claims the showdown will break pay-per-view records set by Mayweather-Pacquiao

The pundit has offered to share a picture of his penis if the fight does not last the full 12 rounds

Whether they produce similar fireworks in the ring remains to be seen. Many pundits predict a drab, one-sided affair and even ardent McGregor supporters would struggle to deny that their man heads into the fight down on all three cards.

49 times they have tried to solve the Mayweather puzzle, on 49 occasions they have failed. Where does McGregor start? Does he translate his UFC style to the boxing ring? Does he ditch his counter-punching style against one of the finest defensive boxers of all time? For Schaub it's simple.

'Do what got you to the dance!' he cries.

'People say: “Conor needs to get in there, bully him, use his size, fight him like (Marcos) Maidana”. Anyone who has ever watched Conor McGregor or if you know Conor McGregor’s style, that’s not what he does. What makes Conor special is his timing, his distance control and his reaction time.'

'That’s like practising the salsa all your life and then you get to the ball and you start doing hip-hop dancing.'

But Mayweather has been in this game 21 years. Surely nothing can surprise him?

Schaub believes 'the Notorious' must not neglect the MMA style that 'got him to the dance'

McGregor has risen to the top of the UFC and made his name as a powerful counter puncher

'Floyd has seen every style ever, but he’s never fought a style like Conor,' the pundit claims

'There is nothing (Conor) is going to do to get him ready to be at the same level in terms of boxing as Floyd Mayweather. But what he can do is focus on what makes him so special,' he says.

'I tip my hat to Floyd Mayweather - he could have fought Manny Pacquaio again, (Jeff) Horn who just beat Pacquaio and it’s just a boring fight to get to 50 (wins) just to say he’s done it.

'But he is risking a lot and putting a lot on the line. People say “(Conor) has never boxed” but it’s this X-factor. We have no idea what to expect. You know how much easier camp is for Mayweather to fight an old-ass Manny Pacquiao or Horn or one of these other younger cats? It’d easy for him, he’s seen it before. What he hasn’t seen is Conor McGregor.'

Many disagree, of course, and predict Mayweather will rack up a half-century of wins courtesy of an early knockout. But Schaub is confident 'Money' will, in fact, head into the second half of the fight behind. Only then, the analyst believes, will Mayweather begin to turn the tide and 'download' his opponents plan A, B and C.

'After the sixth round, what makes Floyd so special is he takes those tools away,' he says. 'I don’t know, with Conor’s experience, if he has a D, E and F. That’s where it could get tricky.'

Mayweather would be taking a smaller risk taking on Pacquaio again or Jeff Horn, Schaub says

The Showtime analyst has faced scorn for his steadfast belief that the fight will be competitive

It's in those difficult moments that McGregor's relentless self-belief will be tested. Mayweather is no stranger to fighting boxers who talk up their chances.

But who among them genuinely thinks they are going to win? Perhaps our own Ricky Hatton, a two-weight world champion who was unbeaten in 43 fights heading into their 2007 showdown?

'Oh come on, brother!' Schaub cries. 'In the States, I think Ricky Hatton was a bigger underdog than Conor McGregor!'

In fact, the analyst is convinced most of Mayweather's recent opponents are 'beat before they get in there'. But 'the Notorious' is not among them.

'I promise you this, Conor in his heart of hearts thinks he’s not only going to beat Floyd Mayweather but knock him out. And when a guy believes that much and you have that skill-set and the way he’s been training, I like his chances'

Schaub claims that, in the US, Britain's Ricky Hatton 'was a bigger underdog than McGregor'

The 34-year-old claims that McGregor's belief he will win is unusual for 'Money's' opponents

'Conor... thinks he’s not only going to beat Floyd Mayweather but knock him out,' Schaub says

A lot rides on how much 'Money' has left at the age of 40, following nearly two years out of the ring. The unbeaten American has himself been fuelling rumours of his own decline, claiming he has 'lost a step'.

Footage from recent media workouts suggest otherwise, however, and Schaub is not convinced.

'Mayweather is bullsh*****g us,' 'Big Brown' claims. 'He’s not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. He’s still a monster.'

He adds: 'He’s shred city. So I expect a vintage Mayweather. However, saying that, Father Time does not care what you have going on.'

Whether or not Mayweather will have slowed enough to facilitate a McGregor victory, Schaub is unsure.

Schaub predicts that McGregor will 'win the spectacle' but ultimately lose the fight on points 

The pundit does not believe Mayweather's 'b******t' claims of decline: 'He’s still a monster'

He believes the UFC star will win the 'spectacle... land some big shots (and) wobble Floyd.' But he fancies Mayweather to win by decision.

Whatever happens, though, 'Big Brown' is certain that a cross-over match up of this scale will not be seen again for some years. Even ever.

'You’re literally talking about the perfect storm,' he claims.

'(Conor McGregor) is the biggest star in mixed martial arts, a polarising figure. He actually took a lot of his swag from Floyd Mayweather so that’s kind of why they attracted each other. They see a lot of themselves in each other so they’re kind of the perfect match up.

'Also if Floyd was 26, there is no fight. Conor gets outclassed. With Floyd being older and an all-time great, you will never, ever see this again. It’s the perfect storm to create this magnitude of the biggest sporting event in our lifetimes.'

The comedian, podcaster and analyst believes there will never ever be a fight like this again 

Schaub has been over in the UK performing his one-man comedy show to live audiences