Breaking down TUF 10: Roy Nelson vs. Brendan Schaub

By Brett Okamoto

Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 | midnight

At some point in the middle of the filming of the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter," Brendan Schaub realized he’d be fighting Roy Nelson in the show’s finals on Saturday at The Pearl at The Palms.

Although it was impossible to be certain, Schaub says, the feeling was there and that Nelson felt it, too.

“We never talked about it, but we knew,” Schaub said. “During training, we would kind of avoid each other. I had a pretty good idea he was going to be finale and so we really didn’t train together anymore.”

Both members of Team Rashad, Schaub and Nelson remained friends in the house but were wary of revealing too much of themselves during the team’s practice.

The cautious feelings the two friends began having for each other ended up paying off following the show’s semifinals as they both advanced to the finale by finishing their opponents in the first round.

As Schaub prepared to depart for his home in Colorado and Nelson remained in Las Vegas, the two left things on good terms — but also with no worries of hesitating when they met in the Octagon months later.

“We’re buddies, but for me it’s not hard to put that friendship aside and go in the cage and take off his head,” Schaub said. “A lot of guys say they’re friends, they can’t fight. I was like, ‘Listen, I didn’t know you before I got in the house and I’m not even going to remember your name two weeks after this.’

“I think a lot of guys took that out of context and let that friendship thing come before their careers.”

But while Schaub admits he’s got no issues with going after Nelson on Saturday, fighting long-term friend and training partner Shane Carwin would be a different story.

The two fighters met when Schaub joined UFC middleweight Nate Marquardt’s gym in Colorado where Carwin was already training.

With no fighters in the camp already close to Carwin’s size, Schaub was enlisted as the big guy’s training partner.

“I got there and they were like, ‘Hey, you’re a big strong guy. We got this other meathead that would love to meet you. He’s been looking for a training partner,’” Schaub said.

“So, I meet Carwin and he tells me we’re sparring the next day, I might want to get a mouthpiece and headgear. So I went to this Podunk store and got an old football helmet, headgear and rolled in. We literally looked like the Rock'em Sock'em Robots. We just stood there with no head movement and traded ones and twos. We left with a lot of respect for each other.”

That initial sparring session has turned into a strong bond between the two heavyweights, which Schaub says is responsible for his growth as a fighter.

So while Schaub may have no problem putting his TUF friendship on the line for a UFC contract this Saturday, don't expect a similar decision should the circumstances ever call for him to face Carwin.

“Shane is different. He’s the only guy I wouldn’t fight,” Schaub said. “Anyone else, you got it. But Shane Carwin? Not a chance. He’s like a brother to me. He’s not just some guy that I met in the house and became buddies with because we cooked steaks together.”

Quick Hits:

Nelson has faced 17 different opponents over the course of his five-year professional mixed martial arts career.

According to Schaub, not a single one has been quite like what he’ll see Saturday night.

“I know it’s a big statement, but Roy’s never fought a guy like me,” Schaub said. “Going into the house, Roy was the immediate favorite with his background and experience. But he’s facing a different animal in me. I bring a lot to the table and wouldn’t consider myself an underdog in the least bit.”

That said, it’s hard to vote against Nelson’s experience. The 33-year-old fighter is a former International Fight League champion and has taken on notable opponents including Jeff Monson, Andrei Arlovski and Ben Rothwell.

Nelson is a well-rounded fighter, with good wrestling, grappling and striking skills to along with surprisingly strong cardio.

With only four professional fights under his belt, Schaub is certainly the less experienced fighter although he already possesses the composure and confidence of a seasoned veteran.

He showed it in the season finale, knocking out Jones despite finding himself in terrible positions early in the fight when Jones had advanced to full-mount.

“Brendan is a tough gamer, he doesn’t get flustered,” Nelson said. “If you get him in a bad position, he’s not squirming to get out. He waits and capitalizes on your mistakes. He did it in the show.”

The fight will come down to Nelson’s ability to take the fight to the ground and, more importantly, to keep it there.

If Schaub is able stuff Nelson’s takedowns and frustrate him into standing with him, he’s capable of scoring an upset over his more experienced opponent.

Last Professional Fight:

Nelson: Unanimous decision loss to Jeff Monson at March Badness.

Schaub: First-round TKO over Bojan Spalevic at ROF 34: Judgement Day.

Final Words:

Nelson: On his semifinal fight with James McSweeney: “All me and James did was trade a little bit. He thought he might have rocked me, but I knew he was stung and that’s why he started showboating."

Schaub: On his win over Marcus Jones: “I hate to toot my own horn, but I thought it was the fight of the season. Marcus is a monster and he’s finished everyone down on the ground. I’m a fighter with a lot of heart and think that showed. I was in some terrible positions but I pulled it out somehow. I can always count on my heart to pull me out.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected].