Brendan Schaub

 

Brendan Schaub Interview

Hi Brendan,

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with MMABay and answer a few of our questions:

MMABay - First up, you’re currently preparing for your second official UFC bout at ‘UFC on Versus’ in March; how’s your camp going?  

Schaub - Camp is going great out here in Denver. Shane Carwin is fighting the week after me so its good that both of us are in camp pushing one another.

MMABay - You’re going up against Chase Gormley, another talented heavyweight prospect. How much do you know about your opponent? Are you working on anything specific for him, or is it business as usual?

Schaub - Chase is a tough guy, who isn’t at the UFC level. It’s a great opportunity for me and there is not one thing specific that I work on. I like to stay pretty well rounded in all aspects.

MMABay - You’ve trained with Nate Marquardt, Shane Carwin and the guys at Jacksons, pretty much a who’s who of UFC talent. How much has training with such a talented bunch of guys so early in your career helped your progression?

Schaub - Training with world class guys everyday is a huge advantage. I see the best of the best day in and day out. I have a great team between Denver and New Mexico.

MMABay - Of all your training partners, it seems you’ve forged a particularly strong relationship with Shane Carwin. What’s it like training with one of the sports premier heavyweights, and how do you think Shane is going to fair in his interim title bout with Frank Mir?

Schaub - Shane is like an older brother to me. He has been there from the start I don’t think I would be where I’m at without him, and I am sure he would say the say about me. In regards to his fight with Frank I think it’s a great fight for Shane (who’s not!?) he does everything Brock does but better. I think March 27th will send shock waves through the heavyweight division.

MMABay - You suffered your first professional loss last time out. Obviously it must have been a tough pill to swallow, but what positives did you take away from the fight with Roy Nelson? Did that fight change the way you will prepare for future bouts? 

Schaub - Nothing has changed in regards to my preparation I’m just even more driven and hungry now. Keith Jardine said it best “I feel sorry for the guy who has to fight me next”

MMABay - Roy was one of the most experienced fighters ever to enter the TUF house, having been an IFL champion and fought former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski. Was he someone that that yourself and the rest of the house singled out as the biggest threat from the start?

Schaub -  I would say so Roy had more experience than almost half of the guys in the house combined.

MMABay - On The Ultimate Fighter, you were one of Rashad Evan’s first picks along with James McSweeny; did you find it helpful training with familiar faces? 

Schaub - Of course it was great to have some teammates around I think it made my experience on TUF a lot easier than others. McSweeney was a great roommate!

MMABay - Most fighters from the show say that being in the house is a life-changing experience. How have things changed for you since the finale?

Schaub - I’m living life as a true professional fighter since the house. The notoriety from being on the show and being successful has allowed be to train and fight full time. Even caught the eye of some major sponsors which makes it a lot easier.

MMABay - During your stint on the show, you became known as a former football player that had switched to competing in MMA, but what some fans might not realise is that you’ve been practicing martial arts for some time. Was martial arts something that you were brought up on? Did you ever see yourself perusing it as a full time career?

Schaub - UFC growing up was something I always was into and doing martial arts was also something I did, I just love to compete. My Dad is a second degree black belt in karate and tea kwon do so it’s in the family!

MMABay - With regards to your football and MMA careers, how did you find the transition from a team sport to an individual sport? Do you think the rigours of your American Football days help with your MMA training?

Schaub - Football helped me with my mental toughness and also competing at such a high level I learned to deal with pressure and performing when it counts.

MMABay - For years we’ve seen guys with collegiate wrestling backgrounds making the transition to MMA. It seems like now more than ever we’re seeing guys like yourself and Matt Mitrione, as well as older guys like Herschel Walker and James Toney, wanting to get into MMA from other sporting backgrounds. How far away do you think MMA is from being a big enough sport that the best college athletes see it as an alternative to the NFL, NBA and MLB?

Schaub - I think MMA is headed in that direction. Look at the numbers and the viewership the UFC gets and the numbers are better than NBA and MLB among 18-26 age group. I think MMA still has a way to go before its on the same level as NFL, but MMA has the advantage to grow because its international unlike other sports.

MMABay - Obviously you’re not looking past Chase Gormley, but in terms of your future in the sport, where to you see yourself in five years time?

Schaub - Five year’s time I will have a world champion title under my name. It’s the only reason I compete in mixed martial arts and at the highest level.

MMABay - Finally, for any fans who have never seen a Brendan Schaub fight, what can they expect to see from you on March 21st? 

Schaub - March 21st the fans can expect to see why I can be a serious threat in the heavyweight division. I fight with a lot of passion and heart. I think fans can appreciate that.

MMABay - Thanks for your time, and the best of luck for March 21st!

(An exclusive interview for MMABay.co.uk)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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