Nationality American Role Mixed Martial Artist Division Heavyweight (265 lb) Height 1.93 m | Reach 78 in (198 cm) Weight 108 kg Name Brendan Schaub Siblings Jay Schaub | |
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Other names Big Brown, 100%, The Hybrid (former) Team Reign Training CenterGracie Jiu-Jitsu AcademyBlack House Rank Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Parents Debra Schaub, Peter Schaub Similar People Profiles | ||
Big Brown Breakdown - Episode 62: Chael Sonnen
Metamoris 2: Brendan Schaub, 'Frustrated' Cyborg Discuss Match
Brendan Peter Schaub (born March 18, 1983) is an American podcaster, comedian, actor, commentator, former professional football player, and retired mixed martial artist. He was a finalist and the runner-up of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. He co-hosts The Fighter and the Kid, a weekly podcast with comedian Bryan Callen, as well as his own podcast Big Brown Breakdown.
Contents
- Big Brown Breakdown Episode 62 Chael Sonnen
- Metamoris 2 Brendan Schaub Frustrated Cyborg Discuss Match
- Early life
- Early career
- The Ultimate Fighter
- Early fights and retirement
- Metamoris
- Championships and accomplishments
- The Fighter and the Kid
- Big Brown Breakdown
- Stand up comedy
- Bellator MMA
- Showtime Boxing
- Personal life
- References
Early life
Schaub was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, to an English mother Debra and an American father Peter Schaub.He is of German, Italian, and English descent. He was an all-state performer in football and lacrosse at Overland High School. After high school, he attended 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, playing tight end before moving to fullback. He went on to appear in 26 games during his career at CU with no starts. After college, Schaub played football in the Arena Football League with the Utah Blaze and spent time on the practice squad for the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
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 taekwondo. He began boxing and practicing jiu-jitsu before he started his football career, primarily as a means of staying in shape. After only six months of training in boxing, Schaub won a novice division Golden Gloves title. He also found UFC middleweight contender Nate Marquardt's gym, High Altitude Martial Arts located in Aurora. Schaub split his time between there and the Grudge Training Center in Arvada, where 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 won the 2007 Colorado-New Mexico Golden Gloves Novice division heavyweight title, and was later awarded his purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The Ultimate Fighter
Schaub competed on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter fighting for Team Rashad. Schaub and James McSweeney were the two fighters Rashad Evans wanted most, as they both trained 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 (KO) in the second round against teammate, Jon Madsen.
In the semifinals, Schaub defeated Marcus Jones of Team Rampage via KO in the first round. This win advanced Schaub to The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale, where he lost by KO in the first round to Roy Nelson.
Early fights and retirement
Schaub rebounded from his loss to Nelson with a 47-second technical knockout (TKO) win over Chase Gormley at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones.
Schaub next fought Chris Tuchscherer, the main training partner for former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, at UFC 116. Schaub won the bout via first round 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 Cro Cop in his next fight and a fight against Mir was tentatively booked for UFC 128 on March 19, 2011. However, Schaub instead faced Cro Cop 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.
On August 27, 2011 at UFC 134, Schaub lost to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira via KO (punches) in the first round. He lost his second straight fight, also via KO (punches), to Ben Rothwell on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145.
Schaub was expected to face Lavar Johnson on December 8, 2012 at UFC on Fox 5. However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with a groin injury and Schaub was pulled from the card as well. Schaub fought Johnson on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157. 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.
Schaub was expected to face Matt Mitrione on July 27, 2013 at UFC on Fox 8. However, in mid-July, Mitrione pulled out of the bout citing an injury and Schaub was pulled from the event as well. The bout eventually took place on September 21, 2013 at UFC 165. 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, with Arlovski winning 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 to Travis Browne. Soon after the fight, Schaub's friend and UFC commentator Joe Rogan publicly advised him that, not only did he doubt Schaub could beat the elite fighters of the UFC heavyweight division, but as a friend he was considerably worried about him sustaining more head trauma. Schaub could be seen holding back tears. Six months later, Schaub announced that he would move down to the light heavyweight division. However, later that year he stated that he was unsure whether he would compete in MMA again, citing his issues with the UFC's new Reebok sponsorship, injuries and his successful entertainment career outside of fighting.
On October 12, 2015, he posted on social media that he was retiring from MMA.
Metamoris
Schaub received permission from UFC President 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. 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. During the post-fight interview, confused about the crowd's reaction, Schaub claimed that viewers were uninformed: "They don't understand what they were seeing." and stated that previous opponents of Abreu "fell for his game, and weren't able to neutralize him".
Championships and accomplishments
The Fighter and the Kid
The Fighter and the Kid podcast has charted in multiple countries across the world. 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 the Wilbur Theatre (Boston); culminating at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Schaub made his solo stand-up comedy debut on August 10, 2016 at the Comedy Store.
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.
When Rogan does not personally work a UFC event, he will sometimes host what has come to be known as the "Fight Companion" podcast, of which Schaub and Callen are often guests. They also appeared on the MTV show Ridiculousness, hosted by Rob Dyrdek, in June, 2016.
The Fighter and the Kid collaborated with Brooklyn-based shoe manufacturer, Greats Brand to release their own custom sneaker, debuting March 23, 2017.
Big Brown Breakdown
In December 2016, Schaub launched a solo podcast, titled Big Brown Breakdown. Schaub mainly discusses topics related to mixed martial arts and the UFC events. Schaub performed the first live version of the Big Brown Breakdown podcast March 2, 2017 at the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, CA.
Stand-up comedy
In addition to The Fighter and the Kid live shows, Schaub has performed as a solo comedian at such venues as The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, and The Laugh Factory. In 2017, he sold out venues worldwide touring not only in North America, but Australia/New Zealand, and England/Ireland. Schaub is featured on Comedy Central's "This is Not Happening" Season 4
Bellator MMA
On June 7, 2017 Bellator MMA announced that Schaub would join the promotion to provide insight and analysis as part of the pre-show for Bellator 180 and the Bellator NYC pay-per-view. The show aired on Spike TV June 24, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Showtime Boxing
Schaub was brought on by Showtime to be the voice of MMA for the commentary surrounding the Mayweather/McGregor Blockbuster Boxing Match August 26, 2017. Schaub, alongside Mauro Ranallo, Paulie Malignaggi, and Brian Custer provided live insight to packed crowds during the Promotional tour in Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York; as well as across mass media outlets, and the actual event itself.
Personal life
On February 21, 2016 Schaub and partner Joanna Zanella, welcomed their first child Tiger Pax Schaub.
On September 9, 2017 Schuab and partner Joanna Zanella got engaged.