by: Jack Bratcher
Yes you read that correctly, Brian Stann will face Steve Cantwell for the third time, but this time the fight will be in the UFC. This fight is scheduled for December 10 at Ft. Bragg, NC as part of the UFC’s Fight for the Troops card. Stann last fought Cantwell back in July when he lost his WEC Light Heavyweight Title by a round 2 TKO at WEC 35. It was Stann’s first title defense after defeating Doug “The Rhino” Marshall at WEC 33 in March of this year. To have Stann fight at this event is pure genuis. He is an Iraqi war veteran and considered the “Pride of the U.S. Marnie Corps” by military men and women who love to see one of their own compete at such a high level.
So how did Brian Stann and Steve Cantwell end up in the UFC? The Zuffa-owned (same company that owns the UFC) WEC, has decided to put a close to their light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. The organization which was founded in 2001, will now focus its efforts entirely on the bantamweight (135lbs.), featherweight (145lbs.), lightweight (155 lbs.), and welterweight (170lbs.) divisions. Their light heavyweight and middleweight divisions had always been pretty slim as far as the amount of talent goes, so it appears to make good business-sense to fold those two weight classes into the UFC. That way they could use the same amount of money they were spending to bolster up the already well-stacked lower weight divisions if they so choose.
The WEC has announced that following their Dec.3 event, Torres vs. Tapia, in Vegas, they will no longer be actively promoting fights in the LHW and MW divisions. Most all of the WEC’s attention has been produced by the popularity surrounding their fights and champions in the lower weight classes. The WEC wants to be known as the home of the best lighter weight fighters in the world and keep carving out their niche as such. There is no word yet on what exactly will happen to WEC Middleweight Champion, Paulo Filho, but it is assumed he would also be moved to the UFC. That would certainly add some fire to the waning middleweight class there.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship in association with Spike TV, will present “UFC Fight For The Troops™”, a special three-hour live broadcast on Wednesday, December 10 starting at 9:00 PM, ET to raise funds to build a treatment center for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. The facility is being sponsored, built and equipped by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.