Thanks to guys like Nate Marquardt and Shane Carwin, the martial arts scene is gaining a higher profile in Denver. Now, 6-foot-4-inch, 244-pound Brendan Schaub is adding his name to the list. He’s one of 16 heavyweights competing on “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” a reality show on Spike TV, reports The Denver Post.

The program, which was taped from May 27 to July 9, only recently began airing, and although Schaub can’t say how he did on the show, he promises he’s represented Colorado well. But Schaub didn’t start out as a fighter.

After playing football for Aurora’s Overland High School, he went on to play fullback for the University of Colorado. He did well at CU and for a short time joined the Utah Blaze of the now-defunct Arena Football League. He also had a brief stint on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad.

After returning to Colorado, Schaub won the state Golden Gloves title, and now his main focus is mixed martial arts, which he trains for six to eight hours per day, six days per week at the Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge. Schaub tells the Post he has booked another UFC fight but won’t announce it until after the final episode of “The Ultimate Fighter,” hinting that the fight will be a big one and that he did well on the show.