UFC
UFC QUOTABLES: Brendan Schaub believes he's two fights from a title shot after Cro Cop bout at UFC 128
Mar 9, 2011 - 11:10:54 AM UFC QUOTABLES: Brendan Schaub believes he's two fights from a title shot after Cro Cop bout at UFC 128

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I think [the loss to Roy Nelson] was a lot about lacking the experience, being main event for the first time in a big show. If we fought now I would not be so reckless, pace myself and look for an opening. But I found what it takes to get myself back on track. Now I'm on a three fight winning streak, fighting Mirko Cro Cop in my next fight, so life is good man. You learn, you live...

As far as the title shot talk goes, I have my hands full with Mirko [Cro Cop]. But man, beating guys like Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop says it all. I don't think I'm too far away from a title shot. I think I'm two fights away.

The game changed a lot recently. And I think that Mirko [has] done a better job adjusting his game than [other] guys that [have] been losing lately. For instance, I know he's training with Dean Lister on his Jiu-Jitsu, and doing many other adjustments to his game. Many other heavyweights just didn't change, and the game has passed them up a little bit. The game is constantly changing and you gotta adapt. Right now there are athletes out there who can do it all, so you gotta be prepared. But again, I think Mirko [has] done a really good job by keeping up with the wave."

-Brendan Schaub talks to LowKick.com ahead of his UFC 128 bout with Mirko Cro Cop about that fight, as well as what he learned from his UFC debut loss to Roy Nelson in the TUF 10 Finale.

Penick's Analysis: Outside of the knockout loss to Nelson, Schaub has looked very good in quick wins over Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer, and then he went out and beat Gabriel Gonzaga for three rounds last October. Despite entering the sport late, Schaub is ever-improving and continues to impress fans and UFC execs with his performances, so a big win over Cro Cop could certainly put him in the mix at the top of the division. He'll need to win at least two more fights after the Cro Cop bout, and he'll have to beat an even higher level of competition, as despite Cro Cop's name he's not a top flight heavyweight in 2011. Still, he is a name, and a win over him still means something, so this fight is huge for Schaub. If he can pass this test, he'll get another step up, and he is only a few more steps away from perhaps getting a crack at the title himself. He's got a decent sized road still ahead of him, but as he continues to improve he can certainly make that run.