Brian Stann’s next UFC opponent announced
April 29th, 2012 | Marine Corps Mixed martial arts | Posted by Phil Creed
Well that didn’t take long. Fresh off of knocking out Alessio Sakara on April 14 at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in Sweden, UFC boss Dana White tweeted Sunday that Stann’s next opponent will be Hector Lombard.
Lombard may not be a household name for casual MMA fans, but he does present a formidable opponent for Stann. Although Lombard will be making his UFC debut, he’s a seasoned fighter who is currently riding a 20-fight winning steak (dating back to 2007). Like Stann, Lombard has a reputation for heavy hands. You can see that for yourself below, as he knocks out UFC vet Jay Silva in SIX seconds in 2010.
The best news about this fight: It will be broadcast for free on network TV as part of UFC on FOX 4, according to MMAJunkie.com.
Stann wins: Now what?
April 16th, 2012 | Marine Corps UFC | Posted by Kevin Lilley
First, click below to see how former Marine Brian Stann put Alessio Sakara’s lights out after about 2 1/2 minutes of action Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of UFC on FUEL TV 2. Then, click through for four quick hits on the fight and Stann’s future:
9 things you need to know about Brian Stann’s UFC fight on Saturday
April 13th, 2012 | Marine Corps Mixed martial arts | Posted by Phil Creed
Former Marine officer and Silver Star recipient Brian Stann is back in action in the UFC on Saturday night afternoon, where he’s set to fight Alessio Sakara at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in Stockholm, Sweden. Stann is looking to bounce back from loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC 136 in October, which ended a three-fight winning streak the Naval Academy grad. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about this fight, and other things that aren’t as important.
1.You don’t need to pay to watch this fight.
This is a rare opportunity to see Stann and other high-level UFC fighters in action without ponying up big bucks or heading to the local sports bar. As the name implies, UFC on FUEL TV 2 isn’t a pay-per-view event. It’s on regular cable — if your regular cable includes FUEL TV. Check here to see if your provider carries the channel.
Big thing to remember: Because of the time change, the fight takes place during the afternoon here in the CONUS. Tune into FUEL at 2 p.m. Eastern for the pre-fight show, with the action scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
2. This is the UFC’s first event in Sweden.
It’s also the first time Stann has fought professionally outside the U.S. He said in this interview that he doesn’t worry much about fighting in a strange land after a long flight. Which would make sense, because he did a fair amount of that during his time in the Corps.
3. Don’t expect a repeat of the Stann-Sonnen fight.
Not a big fan of watching two guys roll around and battle for position on the ground? Then this is the fight for you.
Unlike Sonnen, who relentlessly attached himself to Stann en route to a second-round submission victory, Sakara is not a world-class wrestler. He comes from a boxing background, and much like Stann, Sakara prefers to duke it out rather than grapple. Seven of Sakara’s last nine fights have ended in either a KO or TKO — including three TKOs losses, which has caused some to question Sakara’s chin. That brings us to …
4. The oddsmakers see Stann winning, and they don’t expect it to be a long fight.
Stann’s a 4-1 favorite on one gambling website, which also gives almost even odds that Stann wins via knockout. But betting on sports is a bad habit, so use this information purely to enhance your viewing experience.
5. Sakara is coming off a major injury.
Another reason the odds are stacked against Sakara: He tore his ACL in July 2011 and hasn’t fought since a loss to Chris Weidman in March of that year. The knee injury was enough to make him consider quitting the sport before friends and family talked him back into it. Sakara says his knee is now 100 percent, of course, but it’ll be worth paying attention to how much confidence he has in that leg.
6. Stann’s pre-fight preparation was affected by a family tragedy.
For the first time in since 2008, Stann did not travel to New Mexico to do his pre-fight camp at world-famous trainer Greg Jackson’s gym.
After his brother-in-law died in December, Stann chose to train in Atlanta in order to be with his wife. It’s exactly they type of move you’d expect from Stann, who knows a little something about maintaining perspective. But it does mark a significant break from the pre-fight preparation he’s used to.
7. Stann REALLY needs to win this fight.
Yea, it’s cliche and you could say this about every fight, but in order to stay in the conversation as a possible title contender in the UFC’s middleweight division, Stann must beat Sakara.
Prior to the Sonnen fight, Stann had won three straight as a middleweight, working his way onto main PPV cards and climbing the ranks of the 185-pound division. But Sonnen’s lopsided win knocked Stann down a peg, and it will be a while before Stann gets a shot at either middleweight champion Anderson Silva or a rematch with Sonnen, who will try to dethrone Silva at UFC 147 in Brazil.
If Stann loses to Sakara, it will likely send him tumbling far out of 185-pound division’s top 10 and put him on the outside looking in as other middleweights get high-profile fights.
8. Sakara REALLY REALLY needs to win this fight.
While a loss would be a major setback for Stann, Sakara’s UFC career could be in jeopardy if he loses, especially by knockout. It’d be Sakara’s second straight loss to a top-tier 185-pound opponent, and the UFC is an unforgiving place for fighters who can’t get over the hump.
On the other hand, a win against a well-regarded middleweight like Stann could revitalize his career.
9. Sakara has a great beard.
Sure, he may be the underdog and he may be coming off of injury, but that thing has to increase his punching power and overall toughness.
On the flip side, Sakara is one of the most over-tattooed fighters in the UFC, which is saying something. Time spent getting (and recovering from) tattoos is time not spent in the gym. Advantage: Stann.
Stann: I’ll go toe-to-toe with Sakara
April 4th, 2012 | Marine Corps Mixed martial arts | Posted by Phil Creed
We’re 10 days out from Brian Stann’s fight with Alessio Sakara at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in Stockholm. The former Marine officer sat down for interview with folks at FUEL, and he had some interesting things to say about how he’ll a approach this fight given Sakara’s pro boxing background, as well as who he thinks will win when fellow middleweights Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva face off again at UFC 147.
Military MMA links: Brian Stann matchmaking, vet in XFC, Tim Kennedy as ‘Anchorman’
March 30th, 2012 | Combatives UFC | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Three quick hits to feed your Friday combatives needs.
1. He’s Ron Burgundy? If you’re under a rock, you may have missed this week’s bulletin that Will Ferrell will return to the newsdesk in a sequel to “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” (If you’re under a rock and don’t watch TBS, here’s the official announcement, complete with jazz flute). What’s this have to do with combatives, aside from the close-combat skills exhibited when Brick killed that guy? Allow champion MMA tweet-sender Army Staff Sgt. Tim Kennedy to explain:
I know everyone is talking about @_RonBurgund and ANCHORMAN 2. Wait till you see my version of Ron in @Ranger_Up video twitter.com/TimKennedyMMA/…
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 29, 2012
Further proof that when you need a video parody, go with a sniper/fighter in a fake mustache: 60 percent of the time, it works every time.
2. Stann vs. Shields? Former Marine Capt. Brian Stann is sent to face Alessio Sakara in a 185-pound bout at UFC on FUEL TV 2, which will air live from Sweden on April 14. Stann is a heavy favorite, but certainly won’t be looking past the 10-year pro.
Thankfully, fans can look past anybody. Who might be next for the Silver Star recipient? One idea: Jake Shields, who’s announced plans to move back to the 185-pound class after a .500 run (2-2) as a 170-pounder. A summary of the rationale presented by Sean Smith at Bleacher Report: Shields would have the chance to take down one of the UFC’s largest middleweights, while Stann could turn heads if his ground game could keep up with a top grappler.
3. Gotta love the XFC: Live from Jackson, Tenn., on April 13 comes XFC 17, the next card from a promotion a step or two below the big boys, but one that always seems to have a former service member somewhere in the lineup. XFC 16 featured a win by former Marine Dustin West and a loss by multiple-time Army combatives champ Staff Sgt. Brandon Sayles. The April 13 event, which will air on HDNet, features Air Force vet Ricco Ralston on the (likely untelevised) undercard.
FUEL TV posts profile of former Marine and UFC fighter Brian Stann
March 21st, 2012 | After Action Combatives UFC | Posted by militaryonline
From our friends at Battle Rattle:
FUEL TV has posted the Brian Stann profile that aired last night. In it, the former Marine officer turned pro MMA fighter recounts his time in Iraq, including a six-day battle for which he was awarded the Silver Star.
Like pretty much everybody, Brian Stann wants to fight Michael Bisping
February 24th, 2012 | Marine Corps Mixed martial arts | Posted by Phil Creed
Michael Bisping is good at fighting. But he’s lousy at making friends and winning over MMA fans.
The UFC middleweight has been described in the past as the “ultimate heel” and labeled a cheater by his own boss. After Action favorite Tim Kennedy frequently mentions his disdain for Bisping, and a quick Google search finds no shortage of fighters who have challenged the Brit.
Brian Stann, the Marine-turned-UFC fighter, is the latest to call out Bisping. The Silver Star recipient was recently asked who he’d like a shot at, and he didn’t hesitate to name “The Count.” Stann indicated that he wasn’t pleased with remarks Bisping made after Stann’s loss to Chael Sonnen. But as only Stann can, he manages to be classy and respectful while voicing his desire to pummel Bisping.
Kris “Savage” McCray back in action on big MMA military weekend
February 21st, 2012 | After Action Mixed martial arts UFC | Posted by Kevin Lilley
We’ve written about former Army reservist and current professional mixed martial artists Kris “Savage” McCray before. Don’t believe us?
Shortly after that feature appeared in the Military Times print publications, “Savage” finished second in The Ultimate Fighter 11, submitting to a Court McGee choke in the second round of the season’s final match. It was his first of three UFC losses in nine months. After dropping a decision to Josh Hathaway last March, McCray was out of the top-tier fighting league. He’s won two fights since, via decision, in lower-level promotions.
But a report from Sherdog.com has McCray heading back to the (sort of) big time, signing with Bellator to fight Ailton Barbosa in a welterweight bout April 13 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Bellator’s official fight card doesn’t include McCray yet. “Savage” or no, the fight night will air live on MTV2 and in high definition on EPIX.
While you’re searching the triple digits of your cable programming for those stations, be sure to find FUEL TV — you’ll need it the next day, when former Marine captain and Silver Star recipient Brian Stann fights Alessio Sakara in a middleweight matchup in Stockholm.
Now, if we can just find former Army sniper Tim Kennedy a fight that weekend, so he’ll stop demolishing sparring partners in taped pieces for local news stations …
Brian Stann part of UFC on FUEL TV broadcast
February 14th, 2012 | Combatives Marine Corps Mixed martial arts UFC | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Former Marine Capt. Brian Stann won’t re-enter the octagon until April 14, but the Silver Star recipient will participate in the UFC’s next big television event.
Stann tweeted that he was heading to Omaha, Neb., to be a part of FUEL TV’s inaugural live UFC card, which airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern. His duties include sharing the post-fight set with “NFL on Fox” regular Jay Glazer and mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani.
The former Marine will be back on FUEL TV for his April middleweight fight against Alessio Sakara in Stockholm, one of four fights slated for the cable station’s second live UFC card, according to our good friends at MMAJunkie.com.
(Speaking of our friends, check out their recap of XFC 16 from last weekend, which included the first pro loss for superheavyweight Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Sayles and an 83-second knockout win for former Marine Dustin West.)
UFC on FUEL TV 1 has six fights slated for broadcast, with a welterweight main event pitting Jake Ellenberger against Diego Sanchez. Never heard of FUEL TV? Check here to see whether the channel is available in your area, or whether you’re eligible for a weeklong free preview that will cover fight night.
MMA notes: Main event for Stann card, Bisping on Kennedy
January 11th, 2012 | Combatives Mixed martial arts UFC | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Before we bring you a few notes on military-related mixed martial arts, a brief foreign policy discussion from Strikeforce middleweight contender and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Tim Kennedy:
@dominicanlou84 @brianstann they are dumb.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 4, 2012
You want to argue with him?
1. ‘The Count’ strikes back: In addition to foreign policy, Kennedy also weighed in on fiscal responsibility recently, saying last month that UFC middleweight Michael “The Count” Bisping was overpaid for his Dec. 3 knockout over Jason “Mayhem” Miller at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Bisping reportedly pocketed more than $400,000 for dispatching Miller, who reportedly got $45,000.
Asked about Kennedy’s comments about three minutes into this video, the UFC fighter in 60 seconds manages to (a) pretend he doesn’t know who Kennedy is, (b) remind viewers that Miller defeated Kennedy in 2007, and (c) tell the former Special Forces soldier to “go out there, win some fights, and people might give a damn about what he says.”
Bisping fights Demian Maia on Jan. 28 as part of UFC on Fox 2. Kennedy’s dance card is clear at the moment.
2. Stann in semi-main spot: Our good friends at MMAJunkie.com report that UFC on FUEL TV 2, which will feature former Marine Brian Stann, has a main event: Alexander Gustafsson (15-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). The main draw isn’t a surprise: Gustafsson is a rising Swedish star, and the April 14 card takes place in Stockholm. Stann (11-4) appears set for semi-main status in his fight against Alessio Sakara (15-8).
3. Big up-and-comer Three-time Army Combatives Champion Brandon Sayles is due for some national exposure Feb. 16 when he fights Chase Gormley in a superheavyweight bout on HDNet as part of XFC 16: High Stakes. Sayles won the Army event in 2009 as a staff sergeant with 3rd Infantry Division; he also took top honors in 2008 and 2006. The 6-foot-5 Hawaiian, 2-0 at the pro MMA level, tips the scales at 300-plus pounds, meaning a future in the UFC could be contingent on cutting enough weight to make the 265-pound heavyweight limit.