Brendan Schaub

Brendan Peter Schaub (born March 18, 1983) is an American podcast host, former professional mixed martial artist, and stand-up comedian.

He is the host of The Fighter and the Kid podcast, the Below the Belt with Brendan Schaub podcast, and co-host of the Golden Hour podcast, along with fellow comedians Chris D'Elia and Erik Griffin.

Following college, Schaub went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft but would sign with the Arena Football League's Utah Blaze, before being released in November 2006 without making the roster.

He was once more signed to the Blaze in February 2007 but waived two days later.

Schaub then retired from the sport in 2007.

After retiring from football, Schaub returned to Colorado where he began training in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

After only six months of training in boxing, Schaub competed in amateur boxing and won the Colorado novice-division Golden Gloves heavyweight title.

Schaub later began training at High Altitude Martial Arts located in Aurora and the Grudge Training Center in Arvada, where he met UFC heavyweight contender Shane Carwin.

The two became friends as well as training partners.

After this, he began his professional career in mixed martial arts (MMA), mainly competing in Colorado.

Schaub started his career with a 4–0 record and won the heavyweight title for the Ring of Fire organization.

After signing with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2009 to compete on The Ultimate Fighter, he fought for the company until 2014.

In 2009, Schaub signed with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to compete on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Schaub was the number two pick for coach Rashad.

In his first fight on the show, he faced Demico Rogers, defeating him via first round submission with an anaconda choke to move onto the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, Schaub won his fight by KO (punch) in the second round against Jon Madsen.

In the semi-finals, Schaub defeated Marcus Jones via KO (punches) in the first round.

Schaub made his official UFC debut when he faced Roy Nelson at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale.

Schaub lost via KO (punch) in the first round.

In his second UFC bout, Schaub had a 47-second TKO (punches) win over Chase Gormley at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones.

Schaub next fought Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 116.

Schaub won the bout via TKO (punches) in the first round.

Schaub would then face Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 121.

Schaub won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).

Schaub and Frank Mir were tentatively booked for a contest at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011.

However, Schaub instead faced Mirko Cro Cop at the event.

Schaub won the contest via third-round KO (punch) and was awarded the Knockout of the Night bonus.

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.

He officially retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2015.

Since 2015, Schaub has been performing stand-up comedy, initially as a duo act with comedian Bryan Callen, but more recently as a solo comedian.

Schaub released his debut comedy special titled You'd Be Surprised in 2019 followed by his second special, The Gringo Papi in 2022.

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.

His father is a second-degree black belt in taekwondo.

While at Overland High School, Schaub lettered two years in varsity lacrosse and one year in varsity American football.

He received no college athletic scholarship offers, but he tried out for both the football team and lacrosse team at Whittier College and was accepted to both.

Prior to his junior year, he transferred to the University of Colorado to play football full-time where he redshirted his first season.