Issue 181

August 2019

The fighter turned stand-up, Brendan Schaub, looks back on his career and shares his hard-won wisdom.

Best advice you could give to a younger you?

Not to play football (laughs). I put a lot of pressure on myself so I would say to ease off that a bit. 

Best inspiration to fight?

I just didn’t want to be average. Even in the UFC, I didn’t want to be just another guy in the UFC. I wake up every day and ask myself what am I going to do to better myself today. I just don’t want to be average.

Best memory from your first fight?

I was the first fight on the card. I realized I had no business being there and it was a pro fight. Shane Carwin talked me into it. They told me I had 45 minutes to warm up. This is no lie, I got my hands wrapped did four or five jumping jacks and they called for me to head out to fight! I beat the guy in 36 seconds. I came back to the locker room and my family was there and my mom said ‘So how many fights do you have tonight?’ I told her just that one and she said ‘I drove all the way out here for that? It was 30 seconds!’ So that was my first fight experience. 

What was the best moment in your career?

Being the co main event in Brazil against Nogueira was really special. And I asked for it! I signed up for it. 

Best thing about MMA compared to other sports?

There is no easy road. There is no just getting by. In the NFL or MLB, you can depend on other people. In baseball you can go 0 for 9 but somebody can pick you up. In the Octagon there is no hiding it. And then people on Twitter will blow you up about it!

What feels best, a knockout or submission victory?

A knockout but man, that’s tough. There is nothing like knocking someone out. There is no discrepancy. You got knocked out. 

Best opponent? 

The best fight I ever had was Cro Cop. It was a fight. He was the strongest guy I ever went against. He cracked me in the nose, I have so much respect for him. It was the first time I showed people that I’m not just a striker. I took Cro Cop down more times than he has ever been taken down in his career.

Best way to get pumped before a fight?

I had to listen to very chill music before a fight. I actually have to bring it down a bit. In all my losses I was so amped up that I made mistakes. Just getting to the locker room I’m hyped. 

Best job before becoming a fighter?

I was a janitor at a supermarket. That was cool because I got to read all the magazines I could handle and eat all the 5 cent candy I would eat. They would tell me to clean the bathroom and I would just go in there and chill for an hour and read magazines. So that was pretty cool.

Best dinner guests? Three people, past or present, who would they be?

Helio Gracie, Bruce Lee and Chris Farley. 

Best guilty pleasure?

Pizza and lattes. 

Best lesson life has handed you?

Hard work pays off. And a lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of a sheep.