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Get ready for Brendan Schaub, version 2.0.
Perhaps "The Hybrid" felt version one needed an overhaul in the wake of two devastating knockout losses under the UFC banner. The first came against portly power puncher Roy Nelson in Schaub's Octagon debut at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale back in December 2009.
The Denver native was able to string together four consecutive wins on the rebound, with three of them ending by way of knockout or technical knockout victory. A bout against fading legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 was supposed to be his springboard to getting "in the mix," but instead he found himself staring at the lights.
Enter Jake Ramos.
The former pugilist and trainer of four world boxing champions has come on board to help with the hands and as Schaub tells MMA Heat, he's been able to connect with his new coach on a different level than before.
Those comments, after the jump.
"I hired a new boxing trainer and man we connect on a different level I think than a lot of other trainers I've had. Things are good. This camp we started bringing in pro boxers to spar with, world-class boxers. That's the kind of level I've been competing at and I think it's going to payoff. I wanna be the best and I wanna compete against the best. I think this fight is gonna be kind of a coming out party for me. With this camp I've had, I've had have a long layoff, eight months by the time I get back in the cage, so for me that's a lot of time to get better and I'm always training so it's gonna be good."
Schaub will get to put his new-found striking skills to the test against well-traveled veteran Ben Rothwell, who meets "The Hybrid" on the main card of the UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" pay-per-view event this Saturday night (April 21, 2012) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anyone think the new and improved Schaub torches "Big" Ben in "Hotlanta?"
For more on Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell at UFC 145 click here.
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