Brendan Schaub is a former professional mixed martial artist, stand-up comedian, and podcast host. He is best known for his time in the UFC heavyweight division, where he had a record of 10 wins and 5 losses. Schaub is also known for his various podcasts, including The Fighter and the Kid, Below the Belt with Brendan Schaub, and the Golden Hour podcast.
Born on March 18, 1983, in Aurora, Colorado, Schaub played football in college before transitioning to mixed martial arts. He began his professional fighting career in 2008 and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually earning a spot on the UFC reality show, The Ultimate Fighter. Schaub's fighting style was characterized by his powerful striking and grappling abilities, and he quickly became a fan favorite.
After retiring from fighting in 2015, Schaub focused on his career as a comedian and podcast host. He has released two comedy specials, You'd Be Surprised and 50 Shades of Brown, and is a regular on the stand-up comedy circuit. Schaub's podcasts cover a variety of topics, including sports, comedy, and pop culture, and he has interviewed a wide range of guests, from fellow comedians to professional athletes.
Key Takeaways
- Brendan Schaub is a former professional mixed martial artist, stand-up comedian, and podcast host.
- He had a successful career in the UFC heavyweight division, with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
- Schaub is now focused on his career as a comedian and podcast host, and has released two comedy specials and hosts several popular podcasts.
Early Life and Background
Brendan Schaub was born on March 18, 1983, in Aurora, Colorado. He grew up in a sports-oriented family, where his father played football for the University of Colorado and his brother played football for the University of San Diego. Schaub himself was a standout athlete, playing football in high school and eventually earning a scholarship to play football at Whittier College in California.
Football Career
Schaub's football career was promising, and he played as a defensive tackle for Whittier College for three years. He was a two-time All-Conference selection and was named the team's Defensive MVP in his senior year. However, Schaub's NFL dreams were dashed when he suffered a career-ending injury during his senior year.
Transition to MMA
After his football career ended, Schaub turned his attention to mixed martial arts (MMA). He began training and quickly found success in the sport, winning his first four amateur fights. Schaub turned professional in 2008 and signed with the UFC in 2009 after compiling an impressive 4-0 record.
Schaub's MMA career was successful, with notable wins over the likes of Gabriel Gonzaga and Cro Cop. He retired from MMA in 2015 with a professional record of 10-5.
Overall, Schaub's early life and background were marked by a love of sports and a drive to succeed. While his football career was cut short by injury, he found success in MMA and has since become a well-known figure in the world of sports and entertainment.
MMA Career
Brendan Schaub is a former professional mixed martial artist who fought in the heavyweight division of the UFC. He had an MMA record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
The Ultimate Fighter
Schaub was a contestant on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the UFC. He was a member of Team Rashad and made it to the finals of the tournament, where he faced Roy Nelson. Schaub lost the fight by knockout in the first round.
UFC Debut and Fights
Schaub made his UFC debut at UFC 116, where he defeated Chris Tuchscherer by TKO in the first round. He went on to win his next three fights, defeating Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Cro Cop, and Lavar Johnson.
Significant Matches
One of Schaub's most significant matches was his fight against Andrei Arlovski at UFC 174. Schaub lost the fight by split decision, but the bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors. Another significant match was his fight against Travis Browne at UFC 181, which he lost by TKO in the first round.
Overall, Brendan Schaub had a successful MMA career, with notable wins over heavyweight veterans like Gonzaga and Cro Cop. Although he never won the UFC heavyweight title, he was a top contender in the division during his time in the organization.
Fighting Style and Statistics
Brendan Schaub is a former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the heavyweight division. He had a record of 10-5-0 during his career. Schaub's fighting style was heavily influenced by his background as a professional football player. He had a powerful striking game and was also proficient in grappling and submissions.
Striking and Defense
Schaub had a reach of 78 inches, which allowed him to keep his opponents at a distance and land strikes from range. He had an orthodox stance and was known for his powerful right hand. Schaub's striking accuracy was 37%, which means that he landed 37 out of every 100 strikes he threw. He had a significant strikes landed per minute (SLpM) of 2.92 and a significant striking defense of 57%.
Grappling and Submissions
Schaub was also proficient in grappling and submissions. He had a takedown accuracy of 46% and landed an average of 2.32 takedowns per 15 minutes. He had a takedown defense of 72%, which means that he was able to defend against 72% of the takedown attempts made against him. Schaub had a submission average of 0.4, which means that he submitted his opponents once every 2.5 fights.
One of Schaub's signature moves was the D'arce choke, which he used to submit opponents such as Chris Tuchscherer and Chase Gormley. Schaub also had a solid ground-and-pound game, which he used to finish opponents such as Alex Rozman and Johnny Curtis.
Overall, Brendan Schaub was a well-rounded fighter with a powerful striking game and solid grappling and submission skills. His reach, striking accuracy, and takedown defense were key components of his fighting style, and he was always a dangerous opponent for anyone in the heavyweight division.
Notable Fights and Opponents
Key Victories
Brendan Schaub has had a successful career in mixed martial arts with several notable victories over his opponents. One of his key victories was against heavyweight fighter Roy Nelson in 2009. Schaub won the fight by unanimous decision after three rounds.
Another important win for Schaub was against Chris Tuchscherer in 2010. Schaub dominated the fight and won by TKO in the first round.
In 2011, Schaub faced Gabriel Gonzaga and won the fight by unanimous decision after three rounds.
Schaub also defeated Lavar Johnson in 2012 by unanimous decision after three rounds.
Prominent Defeats
Despite his success, Brendan Schaub has also suffered some prominent defeats throughout his career. One of his most notable losses was against Ben Rothwell in 2013. Rothwell won the fight by TKO in the first round.
Schaub also suffered a defeat against Matt Mitrione in 2014. Mitrione won the fight by KO in the first round.
In 2015, Schaub faced Andrei Arlovski and lost the fight by split decision after three rounds.
Schaub's most recent defeat was against Travis Browne in 2014. Browne won the fight by TKO in the first round.
Schaub has also faced other prominent fighters such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic throughout his career.
Post-Fighting Career
After retiring from mixed martial arts, Brendan Schaub has ventured into the world of media and entertainment, as well as business.
Media and Entertainment
Schaub is the co-host of the popular podcast "The Fighter and The Kid" alongside comedian Bryan Callen. The podcast has gained a large following and has featured guests such as Joe Rogan, Dana White, and Shaquille O'Neal. Schaub also hosts his own podcast called "Below the Belt with Brendan Schaub," which focuses on combat sports and pop culture.
In addition to podcasting, Schaub has also pursued a career in stand-up comedy. He has performed at various comedy clubs across the country and has released a comedy special called "You'd Be Surprised" on Showtime.
Schaub has also made appearances in television shows and movies. He has appeared in the TV series "Kingdom" and "The Joe Rogan Experience," as well as the movies "Range 15" and "The Bet."
Business Ventures
Schaub has also ventured into the world of business. He is the founder of the nutrition company "Thiccc Boy, LLC," which sells various health and fitness supplements. Schaub also co-owns the gym "Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center" in Los Angeles.
In addition to his own business ventures, Schaub is also a co-host of the food and travel show "The Trip" on the Complex Network. The show follows Schaub and his friends as they explore different cities and try out local cuisine.
Overall, Brendan Schaub has found success in various industries after retiring from mixed martial arts. His ventures into media and entertainment, as well as business, have allowed him to continue to build his brand and connect with audiences in new ways.
Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Brendan Schaub was born on March 18, 1983, in Aurora, Colorado, to an American father Peter Schaub and an English mother Debra. He has German, Italian, and English ancestry. His father is a second-degree black belt in taekwondo. Brendan has not disclosed much about his family and personal relationships. However, he is married to Joanna Zanella, an actress, sports presenter, and entrepreneur. They have two sons together.
Interests Outside of Fighting
Apart from his fighting career, Brendan Schaub has various interests. He is also a stand-up comedian and has performed in various comedy clubs. He is also a podcast host and has hosted several podcasts, including "The Fighter and The Kid" with Bryan Callen. Brendan is also interested in fashion and has launched his clothing line called "Big Brown Breakdown". He has also appeared in several TV shows and movies, including "The Joe Rogan Experience," "The Ultimate Fighter," and "Entourage."
In his free time, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family and traveling. He has also been involved in various charity works and has supported organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.
Overall, Brendan Schaub's personal life is relatively private, and he prefers to keep it that way. However, he has been successful in various fields, including fighting, comedy, and podcasting, and continues to pursue his interests outside of fighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brendan Schaub's background in combat sports?
Brendan Schaub is a former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC heavyweight division. He had a successful career in MMA, with a record of 10-5, before retiring in 2015. Prior to his MMA career, Schaub played college football at the University of Colorado and briefly played for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
How did Brendan Schaub transition from fighting to comedy?
After retiring from MMA, Brendan Schaub turned his attention to comedy. He had always been interested in comedy and had even performed stand-up comedy while he was still fighting. Schaub began performing regularly at comedy clubs and eventually landed a job as a regular on the E! series "After Lately." He has since gone on to perform stand-up comedy around the world and has released several comedy specials.
What are some of Brendan Schaub's accomplishments in the UFC?
During his time in the UFC, Brendan Schaub had some notable victories over top-ranked heavyweights such as Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Cro Cop, and Matt Mitrione. He was also a finalist on the tenth season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. Schaub retired from MMA in 2015 to focus on his comedy career.
Has Brendan Schaub produced any comedy specials?
Yes, Brendan Schaub has produced several comedy specials. His first special, "You'd Be Surprised," was released in 2019 and is available on Showtime. He has also released a special called "Paper Tiger" on Netflix.
What is Brendan Schaub's relationship with Theo Von?
Brendan Schaub and Theo Von are both comedians who have worked together on several projects. They co-hosted a podcast called "The Fighter and The Kid" for several years and have also toured together doing stand-up comedy. While they have had some public disagreements in the past, they remain friends and continue to work together.
Does Brendan Schaub have a family, and if so, how many children does he have?
Yes, Brendan Schaub has a family. He is married to Joanna Zanella, and they have one child together, a son named Tiger.