Fight Companion - September 6, 2025

Gordon Ryan (born July 8, 1995) is a retired American submission wrestler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, considered by many to be the greatest no–gi grappler of all time due to his many accomplishments. Ryan is a seven-time ADCC Submission wrestling world champion, three-time IBJJF No-Gi World champion and a four-time Eddie Bravo Invitational champion.

Brendan Peter Schaub (born March 18, 1983) is an American former professional mixed martial artist, podcast host, stand-up comedian, and media personality. Competing primarily as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Schaub compiled an organizational record of 6 wins and 5 losses from 2009 to 2014, with notable victories including knockouts over veterans such as Gabriel Gonzaga and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. After retiring from MMA following a knockout loss to Travis Browne, Schaub transitioned to entertainment, co-hosting the long-running podcast The Fighter and the Kid alongside comedian Bryan Callen, which features discussions on combat sports, comedy, and current events, amassing millions of downloads. His career also encompasses stand-up comedy tours, appearances on UFC broadcasts as an analyst, and entrepreneurial ventures like the Thiccc Boy supplement brand, reflecting a pivot from athletic competition to multimedia influence in the MMA and podcasting spheres. Brendan Schaub was born on March 18, 1983, in Aurora, Colorado . He grew up in Aurora, the only child of Debra and Peter Schaub. Schaub's mother, Debra (also referred to as Julie in some accounts), is English, born in Stroud, Gloucestershire. His father, Peter Schaub, is American with German and Italian ancestry. The family's heritage thus encompasses German, Italian, and English roots. Peter Schaub holds a second-degree black belt, contributing to a household environment exposed to martial arts from an early age. Schaub has described his upbringing as stable and supportive, with parents who emphasized discipline and physical activity , though specific childhood anecdotes beyond family structure remain limited in public records. Schaub attended Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado , where he lettered twice in varsity lacrosse and once in varsity football. He earned all-state honors in both sports but missed his entire senior football season after sustaining broken ribs and a lacerated liver early in the year. Despite his achievements, Schaub received no college athletic scholarships and initially enrolled at Division III Whittier College in Los Angeles , drawn by its strong lacrosse program and continued football offerings. At Whittier, Schaub competed in both football and lacrosse as a dual-sport athlete before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder as a junior to concentrate on football. There, he played running back for the Colorado Buffaloes under coach Gary Barnett , appearing in games during the 2004 and 2005 seasons with limited statistics, including 43 rushing attempts for 148 yards. Schaub's college football experience honed his athletic discipline but did not lead to professional opportunities immediately, prompting his later pivot to mixed martial arts after a brief NFL tryout. From elementary school onward, Schaub participated in a wide array of sports, including soccer, wrestling, basketball , baseball , and track, alongside his primary focuses on football and lacrosse , which built his foundational physical conditioning. These early pursuits emphasized versatility and competitiveness, though football emerged as his most serious endeavor by high school. Schaub began formal boxing training in 2007 after a background in football and early exposure to martial arts through his father, who taught him karate and taekwondo . With no prior competitive fighting experience, he dedicated himself to boxing as a means to channel his athletic drive, training intensively for approximately six months before entering amateur competitions. This period marked his transition from team sports to individual combat disciplines, emphasizing striking fundamentals amid his physical advantages as a heavyweight , standing 6 feet 4 inches tall with a football-honed physique. In 2008, Schaub competed in the Colorado Golden Gloves tournament in the novice heavyweight division, reserved for fighters with limited experience.

Bryan Callen (born January 26, 1967) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster recognized for his high-energy storytelling, impressions, and recurring television role as Coach Rick Mellor on The Goldbergs and its spin-off Schooled . Born in Manila, Philippines, to American parents, he spent his early childhood in multiple countries including India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia before relocating to the United States at age 14. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in history from American University and training at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, Callen began performing stand-up comedy in New York in 1993 and moved to Los Angeles in 1995, where he joined the original cast of MADtv as a series regular. His acting credits include guest appearances on Oz and supporting roles in films such as Warrior and The Heat , while his comedy specials, including the recently released False Gods on YouTube, showcase his observational humor and physical act-outs. Callen gained prominence in podcasting as co-host of The Fighter and the Kid alongside Brendan Schaub , a program that blends comedy, mixed martial arts commentary, and personal anecdotes, amassing a large following since its inception. He later launched Off Limits with Bryan Callen , exploring taboo and controversial topics through interviews and monologues. These platforms have allowed him to discuss philosophy , history , and current events from a contrarian perspective, often drawing on first-hand experiences from his nomadic upbringing and entertainment career. In July 2020, Callen faced public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from four women, with claims spanning from 1999 to 2014, which prompted his temporary departure from The Fighter and the Kid and removal from The Goldbergs . Callen issued a statement denying all accusations, asserting he had never raped or sexually assaulted anyone and describing some relationships as consensual or exaggerated. No criminal charges were filed, and he has since resumed touring, releasing new material, and appearing on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience , where he has addressed personal growth and faith, including recent explorations of Christianity . Despite professional setbacks, Callen maintains an active schedule of live performances into 2025 and 2026. Bryan Callen was born on January 26, 1967, in Manila , Philippines , on a U.S. military base to American parents Victoria Marie Callen (née Sclafani), of Italian descent, and Michael Anthony Callen, of Irish descent. His father worked as an international banker, which necessitated frequent relocations and resulted in Callen spending his early years abroad. Due to his father's profession, Callen led a nomadic childhood, living in multiple countries across Asia , the Middle East , and Europe until the age of 14, including the Philippines , India (such as Calcutta and Bombay), Pakistan , Lebanon , Greece , and Saudi Arabia . This peripatetic lifestyle exposed him to a wide array of cultures, languages, and societal structures from a young age, fostering an adaptive worldview shaped by direct immersion in diverse environments rather than domestic American norms. At age 14, Callen returned to the United States with his family, transitioning from international settings to American society during his teenage years. This shift marked the end of his overseas upbringing and the beginning of his rooted experiences in the U.S., influenced by his parents' American heritage amid the contrasts of his prior global exposures. Callen graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon High School in Gill, Massachusetts , in 1985, after returning to the United States following an itinerant childhood abroad. His family had relocated frequently due to his father's work as an international banker, exposing him to diverse environments in countries including the Philippines , India, Pakistan , Lebanon , Greece , and Saudi Arabia until age 14.