Tonight, live on Spike TV from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, UFC Heavyweight hopefuls Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub will step into the UFC octagon to battle Roy “Big Country” Nelson for this seasons “The Ultimate Fighter” title. Along with their chance at their first true UFC wins, on the line is a six-figure contract to fight with the best in the world in the UFC organization.
Schaub, an Aurora, Colo. native and former Colorado Buffalo full back, traded in his football cleats after a short career in the Arena Football League and NFL for a pair of fight trunks and mma gloves and had his first professional fight in 2008. Schaub never lost in his multiple fights under the Broomfield Ring of Fire promotion and landed a spot in this season’s TUF Heavyweights. Behind the coaching of fellow Greg Jackson student Rashad Evans, Schaub won his first fight against Demico Rogers by showing off his jiu-jitsu skills with a solid anaconda choke. Schaub was then able to battle off a Matt Hughes wrestling disciple in Jon Madsen and proved that it was going to take a lot for any fighter to hold him on his back; Schaub finished Madsen off with a solid right hand, something that would become a theme in the show for the Golden Gloves boxing champion. Schaub drew an intriguing semi-final match-up with fellow NFL veteran in Marcus “Big Baby” Jones. Schaub was able to battle back from danger on his back as Jones at one point had the full mount. The Hybrid showed his intelligence in the cage and was able to relax and find his way back up to his feet where he was able to rock Jones with a solid right hand. Schaub’s killer instinct took over and he was able to reign down multiple right hands on top of Jones when the fight was called.
Nelson, Schaub’s adversary this Saturday, is well known for his ground game as a jiu-jitsu practitioner and is the former International Fight League Heavyweight champion. He has earned his victories during his stint on TUF by securing take downs and using his big belly to lay on top of his opponent until he can secure a dominant position. He has been able to get two of his three opponents, Kimbo Slice and James McSweeny, into the crucifix where he traps one arm so the downed adversary cannot defend himself against strikes to the head.
Schaub has shown multiple times that he can get out of danger on his back and it appears that he is much too strong and ground-game savvy to fall victim to Nelson’s bread and butter. Schaub will be looking to utilize his dominant power and stand up skills to earn himself this season’s title and contract and he has to be confident going into tonight that he can take down Big Country. He is just one fight away from UFC history and eventual super stardom and Colorado has to be proud of what he has already accomplished.
The UFC has given fight fans a solid card worth of free fights tonight to go along with the reality shows big finale. Light-Heavyweight hopefuls in Jon “Bones” Jones and Matt “The Hammer” Hamill. Jones has been electrifying in his recent bouts and Hamill, who is deaf, is always improving since his UFC debut with The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 and is looking for his first win coming off of knee surgery. This bout is sure to be intriguing but the UFC is really banking on another eye-grabber when former street fighting legend turned mma hopeful Kimbo Slice takes on the always explosive Houston Alexander at a catch-weight of 215 lbs. Both fighters will be looking to knock their opponent out and with these two there is little chance of the fight going to the ground. Alexander is solid in Muay Thai and Kimbo always relies on his brawling nature and it looks like the UFC knows how to match-up for the marketing monster that is Kimbo Slice. It will be interesting to see though how much Kimbo has improved his overall game the past few months since he began training with American Top Team in Miami. The main card also features Marcus Jones in a fight against Matt Mitrione so the two can settle their bad blood from the show. Another pair of UFC veterans will also fight on the main card in Frankie Edgar and Matt Veach. Edgar is always exciting and Veach is 11-0 in his pro mma career and will look to stay perfect.
It is going to be an exciting night of fights and Colorado is ready to see their home state hopeful in Schaub take the prize. He will undoubtedly have a spot in the UFC regardless of the outcome but I am sure he is highly motivated for the six figure contract that comes along with the season title.