Background and career
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. After signing with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2009 to compete on The Ultimate Fighter, he fought for the company until 2014. 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, 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. 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. 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, he competed in amateur boxing and won the Colorado novice-division Golden Gloves heavyweight title. Schaub later began training at High Altitude Martial Arts 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.
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 then faced 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. Schaub fought Johnson on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. Schaub won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27). After, it was announced 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 defeated Mitrione in the first round via D'Arce choke. Schaub fought returning former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 174 on June 14, 2014, with Arlovski winning via split decision. On December 6, 2014, at UFC 181, Schaub lost via TKO (punches) in the first round to Travis Browne. Days after the fight, Schaub's friend and UFC commentator Joe Rogan had a joint podcast with Schaub and Bryan Callen where Rogan and Callen advised Schaub to retire from MMA and pursue a career in comedy. Despite previous plans to cut weight and drop to the light heavyweight division (205 lbs) for his 2015 comeback into the UFC, on October 10, 2015, Schaub was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and announced his retirement from MMA. Despite having retired from MMA, Schaub continued training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. On May 29, 2021, was promoted to the rank of black belt in the sport.
Since 2016, Schaub has been doing stand-up comedy and hosting podcasts The Fighter and the Kid and as of 2025, The Schuab Show.
