These questions originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. They were answered on August 23, 2016. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
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Answers by Brendan Schaub, co-host of The Fighter and the Kid, on Quora:
Q: What was it like to make the jump from MMA to comedy?
A: For me, I've always been a silly guy and a creative type. I was given the abilities to run fast, punch hard, and compete. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, I didn't really have an outlet for my creative side. I was blessed enough to be able to play at the professional level in two different sports. I don't think I would be where I'm at today even if I just did straight entertainment as a kid. My whole bit and story comes from my background in sports, growing up in locker rooms, dealing with 100 different personalities, getting to know guys, and trying to fit in through ways other than sports. Your athletic ability doesn't do much for you in the locker room. I think that helped me the most in entertainment. It was a hard route to travel, but I don't think there's anything better if you can do it.
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Q: What is the recovery like after being part of the UFC?
A: This usually surprises people, but it's the emotional drain that you get from those fights. There is such a buildup, and it's exhausting. When you get done you don't want to go to an after-party or anything like that, you just want to go home and relax and not think about punching another guy in the face or training camps. As far as physically, though, you are pretty sore all over. Although you do train and try to mimic the fight, it's hard to mimic the pace and intensity, so you're just sore all over. Of course if you have stitches or something like that than those next 2-3 days are pretty rough days.
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Q: What goes through a fighter's head during a UFC match?
A: Before a fight, I would just remind myself of how hard I had trained, to try to relax, that I had done it a million times, and that it's not as hard as I think. I was always terrified, I never had the Nate Diaz swagger. I never grew up fighting other than with my brother. I wasn't the bully or the tough kid in school. Fighting never came naturally. I was more just an athlete and got pretty far with that.
For me, during the fight, as long as I made it through the first round I never lost (except a BS decision to Andre Arlovski). Anytime the fight went past the first round, I knew if I got the nerves out, got comfortable, and got in the groove of things that I would be okay. The first few minutes for me though were always a bit like “what the hell am I doing, there has to be a better way to make a living.” Eventually I realized those thoughts were right and I think I made the right decision.
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