Brendan Schaub

Brendan Peter Schaub (born March 18, 1983) is an American retired mixed martial artist, podcaster, actor, a former professional football player for the AFL's Utah Blaze, and a former member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He was a finalist and the runner-up of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights^[3] He co-hosts The Fighter and the Kid, a weekly MMA podcast on Fox Sports, with comedian Bryan Callen. Schaub also regularly appears on The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan's podcast devoted to, among other things, mixed martial arts.

Schaub's most notable wins during his tenure in the UFC include those over Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Filipović, and Matt Mitrione.

Biography

Schaub was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, the son of Debra and Peter Schaub.^[4] He is of German, Italian, and English descent.^[5] He was an all-state performer in football and lacrosse at Overland High School. After high school he attended Division III sprinting Whittier College where he was a member of both the football and lacrosse teams. Prior to his junior year he transferred to the University of Colorado, where he redshirted his first season in Boulder, first playing tight end before moving to fullback. He went on to appear in 26 games during his career at Colorado with no starts.^[6] After college, Schaub played professional football in the Arena Football League with the Utah Blaze and also spent time on the practice squad for the NFL's Buffalo Bills.^[3] He was a special guest on the Travel Channel show Ghost Adventures.

Personal life

Schaub is known to have been in a relationship with former bantamweight UFC champion, Ronda Rousey from 2013 to July 2014.^[7] Along with Bryan Callen, he hosts The Fighter and the Kid podcast on FOX Sports. Brendan welcomed a son, Tiger Pax Schaub, on February 21, 2016 with Joanna Zanella.

Entertainment career

The Fighter and the Kid

Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen, aka hosts of "The Fighter and the Kid" Podcast on FOX Sports.

The Fighter and the Kid podcast has charted in multiple countries across the world,^[8] and garners over three million downloads per month.^[9] The podcast has featured such guests as Rob Dyrdek,^[10] Conor McGregor,^[11] Bill Burr,^[12] and 50 Cent,^[13] among many others.^[14] The duo are known for their comedic perspectives, not only in the realm of mixed martial arts, but also within pop culture and current events.

Schaub and Callen performed the podcast live to sold out crowds on a national tour in 2016. The tour included such venues as The Vic Theatre (Chicago), Gramercy Theatre (New York City), and Wilbur Theatre (Boston); culminating at the infamous Comedy Store in Los Angeles.^[15]

In 2016 Schaub and Callen released "The Fighter and the Kid 3D". The twelve episode digital download series features sketch comedy pieces spawned from the duo's podcast personas.^[16] The series was ranked the #1 Comedy TV show on iTunes when it debuted in May 2016; surpassing the likes of Inside Amy Schumer, Key And Peele, and Tosh.0 on the charts.^[17] The Fighter and the Kid 3D also ranked #3 most downloaded TV show overall on the iTunes charts, topping hit series such as Game of Thrones and Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Schaub and Callen regularly appear alongside Joe Rogan during live UFC broadcasts for what is known as the "Fight Companion" podcast.^[18] They also appeared on the MTV show Ridiculousness, hosted by Rob Dyrdek, in June 2016^[19] and again in September 2016.^[20]

Schaub made his solo stand-up comedy debut August 10, 2016 at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, CA.^[21]

Mixed martial arts

Early career

After retiring from football, Schaub returned to Colorado where he began training in mixed martial arts. His father is a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Karate . He began boxing and practicing jiu-jitsu before he started his NFL career, primarily as a means of staying in shape. After only six months of training in boxing, Schaub won a Golden Gloves title. He also found UFC middleweight contender Nate Marquardt's gym, High Altitude Martial Arts located in Denver. It was there and also at the Grudge Training Center, where Schaub split his time,there he met UFC Heavyweight contender Shane Carwin, also a Grudge Fight Team member. The two became friends as well as training partners. Before long, Schaub became a Colorado Golden Gloves boxing champ and was later awarded his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.^[22]

The Ultimate Fighter

Schaub competed on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter fighting for Team Rashad.^[23] Schaub along with James McSweeney were the two fighters Rashad Evans wanted most as they both train with him at Team Jackson. Evans made Schaub his 2nd pick and the 3rd overall.

He fought on the fourth episode against Demico Rogers defeating him via first round submission with an anaconda choke and moved onto the quarter finals. In the quarterfinals, Schaub won his fight by knockout in the second round against teammate, Jon Madsen.

In the semifinals, Schaub defeated Marcus Jones of Team Rampage via knockout in the first round. This win advanced Schaub to The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale, where he lost by knockout in the first round to Roy Nelson.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Schaub rebounded from his loss to Nelson with a 47-second TKO win over Chase Gormley at UFC LIVE: Vera vs. Jones.

Schaub fought Chris Tuchscherer, the main training partner for former UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar at UFC 116. Schaub won the bout via first round brutal KO.

Schaub made his main card debut at UFC 121 in Anaheim, California on October 23, 2010 against former UFC heavyweight title challenger, Gabriel Gonzaga. For the first time in Schaub's career, the fight continued past the first round, going the full distance to a unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27), victory for Schaub.

Schaub had expressed interest in fighting Frank Mir or Mirko Filipović in his next fight and a fight against Mir was tentatively booked for UFC 128 on March 19, 2011.^[24] However, instead Schaub faced Mirko Filipović at the event, a day after his 28th birthday. Schaub won the Knockout of the Night award with a third round KO following a well-placed counter-punch, compiling a four-fight win streak.^[25][26][27]

On August 27, 2011 at UFC 134, Schaub lost to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira via KO (punches) in the first round.^[28] He lost his second straight fight, also via KO (punches), to Ben Rothwell on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145.^[29]

Schaub was expected to face Lavar Johnson on December 8, 2012 at UFC on Fox 5.^[30] However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with a groin injury and Schaub was pulled from the card as well.^[31] Schaub fought Johnson on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157.^[32] He controlled Johnson with his wrestling on the ground for most of all three rounds and won a unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27). Johnson tested positive for elevated testosterone in a post-fight drug test.^[33]

Schaub was expected to face Matt Mitrione on July 27, 2013 at UFC on Fox 8.^[34] However, in mid-July, Mitrione pulled out of the bout citing an injury and Schaub was pulled from the event as well.^[35] The bout eventually took place on September 21, 2013 at UFC 165.^[36] Schaub submitted Mittrione in the first round, his first submission win in his professional MMA career. It was also the first D'Arce choke in UFC heavyweight history.

Schaub fought returning former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 174 on June 14, 2014;^[37][38] Arlovski won via split decision (28–29, 29–28, and 29–28). On December 6, 2014 at UFC 181, Schaub lost via TKO (punches) in the first round by Travis Browne.^[39]

Soon after the fight, Schaub's friend UFC color commentator Joe Rogan publicly advised him that he did not believe Schaub could beat the elite fighters in the UFC heavyweight division.^[40] Six months later, Schaub announced that he would move down to the Light Heavyweight division,^[41] but later that year, he stated that he was unsure whether he would compete in MMA again, citing the UFC's new Reebok sponsorship, injuries and his successful entertainment career outside of fighting.^[42] On October 12, 2015, he posted on social media that he is retiring from MMA.^[43]

Metamoris 2

Schaub received permission from Dana White to participate in the Metamoris 2 Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament on June 9, 2013, facing Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu in a no-gi rules match.^[44] During the match, Schaub refused to engage Abreu in his ground game, moving away from his opponent several times and earning the ire of the crowd, being heckled several times. After the 20 minutes lapsed, the judges unanimously decided the match in Abreu's favor.^[45] During the post-fight interview Brendan Schaub, confused about the crowd's reaction, claimed that viewers were uninformed: "They don't understand what they were seeing." and also previous opponents of Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu claiming that they "fell for his game, and weren't able to neutralize him".

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Ring of Fire
  • Ring of Fire Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finalist
  • Knockout of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

• Professional MMA record for Brendan Schaub from Sherdog
  
• Official UFC Profile