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Cody Stamann fights for brother after untimely death: ‘He loved watching me compete’
Cody Stamann fights for brother after untimely death: ‘He loved watching me compete’
Cody Stamann knows the 135-pound division is packed, but he hopes a win at UFC 250 will propel him toward the division’s big names.
[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] is looking to add his name to the growing list of title contenders in the UFC’s talent-stacked bantamweight division.
Stamann (18-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) faces [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] this Saturday at UFC 250 and is hoping that a win leads to matchups with some of the top-ranked talents at 135 pounds.
“I watch every single guy in the division like they could be my next fight and right now it’s Brian Kelleher,” Stamann told MMA Junkie. “He’s a tough guy, he’s got a good guillotine. He looked like (expletive) in his last fight I thought, and then he caught a lucky break with a left hook. But he’s dangerous.
“He’s fought good guys, he’s a vet, he’s a journeyman in the sport. I’m prepared for a war, but after I beat him Saturday night, I’m gonna be looking for one of those guys that can elevate me to a different level in the division.”
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Stamann is coming off a majority draw against Song Yadong last December, a fight he’s confident that he won. As things stand, Stamann doesn’t see himself being too far away from top contention, but with the recent addition of former champions Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar to the division, he knows that now is the time to make an impact.
“I feel like when you’re a ranked guy, you’re always kinda two fights away from a title fight,” Stamann said. “If you’re in the top five, maybe (you’re) a little closer, but where I am I feel like I can potentially be two fights away. But with the number of guys succeeding at my weight class, it’s hard to say where you stand.
“There’s so many guys that could potentially have earned this spot and have earned a shot at the title. My standing is, I have to win probably two fights before I even get a fight against one of those guys, before I’m even considered. I’m just being realistic.”
UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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Rising UFC bantamweight contender Cody Stamann tells MMA Junkie Radio that he hopes to break his way into the 135-pound elite with victory over Brian Kelleher at UFC 250.
Rising UFC bantamweight contender Cody Stamann tells MMA Junkie Radio that he hopes to break his way into the 135-pound elite with victory over Brian Kelleher at UFC 250.
The UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view event has a finalized card and location.
The UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view event has a finalized card and location.
Wednesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission approved two UFC events for the first time since COVID-19 – UFC on ESPN 9 on Saturday and UFC 250 on June 6, both of which will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The NAC also unanimously approved COVID-19 protocols for the events, which won’t include the presence of a live audience.
UFC 250 will be headlined by bantamweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC), who will make her first 145-pound title defense when she takes on [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC).
In the co-main event, former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will look to snap his three-fight skid when he takes on [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-3 UFC).
A pivotal 135-pound clash between contenders [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will also take place, as well as another showcase bantamweight bout between rising star [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC).
The complete UFC 250 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
A featherweight matchup between Cody Stamann and Brian Kelleher is the latest addition to UFC 250.
A new matchup has been added to UFC 250.
[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag](18-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) will face [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (21-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at UFC 250, which is expected to take place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas pending the Nevada Athletic Commission’s approval to resume combat sports.
Regular competitors at bantamweight, the two fighters will square off at featherweight on June 6.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to MMA Junkie on Tuesday following an initial report by BJPenn.com.
Stamann is coming off a majority draw against Song Yadong last December. He was expected to face Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos at UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28, but the card was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Kelleher snapped a two-fight losing skid with back-to-back finishes over Ode Osbourne at January’s UFC 246 and Hunter Azure earlier this month at UFC on ESPN+ 29, earning bonuses in both bouts. He will make a quick turnaround when he takes on top-15 ranked bantamweight, Stamann.
The latest UFC 250 lineup now includes:
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Under the current circumstances, Cody Stamann says he’ll fight just about anyone the UFC can put in front of him.
Given the current circumstances, [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] says he won’t be pushing the UFC for specific opponents.
Stamann (18-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) was scheduled to face Raoni Barcelos on March 28 in Columbus, but that event was canceled amid the growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
Stamann is yet to be rebooked and, with his original opponent Barcelos based in Brazil, it’s highly unlikely he’ll face him next due to the current travel restrictions.
The matchup was one Stamann admitted he liked, but under the current circumstances his need to just get back and compete overrides any preference when it comes to his next opponent.
“I’m gonna say yes to anybody,” Stamann told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know who I’m going to get, I don’t know if I’m gonna get a guy in the Top 10, I don’t know if I’m gonna get a random dude from the U.S. I don’t know who’s – I haven’t even had those conversations yet. I don’t know who in the Top 10 is in the U.S. to where they’re even an option to fight.”
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Stamann may not be sure who’ll be standing across the cage when he eventually does return to action, but after dedicating his preparation for a dangerous opponent like Barcelos, he said he’ll be ready for whoever the UFC throws his way.
“I have no idea who my options are,” he admitted. “I think Barcelos is a really tough guy, I was taking him really seriously. After watching him fight I think he was probably one of the best dudes in the world, so I got prepared for that and I’m prepared for anyone. Whoever comes up for this next fight, I’m just gonna say yes. I’m at the point where I don’t really care.”
Cody Stamann spoke with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King.
Cody Stamann spoke with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King.
UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann has been training and ready to accept any target the UFC lines up for him.
UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann has been training and ready to accept any target the UFC lines up for him.
A bantamweight matchup between Raoni Barcelos and Cody Stamann is the latest addition to UFC Columbus.
A bantamweight matchup is the latest addition to the UFC Columbus card.
[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will face [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (18-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 8, MMA Junkie confirmed with a person with knowledge of the booking following an initial report from Combate. The person requested to remain anonymous because UFC officials have yet to formally announce the contest.
UFC on ESPN 8 takes place March 28 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The card airs on ESPN.
Brazil’s Barcelos is coming off a unanimous decision win over Said Nurmagomedov in December. Former RFA featherweight champion Barcelos will look to remain perfect in the octagon when he takes on Stamann.
Meanwhile, Stamann fought to a controversial majority draw vs. Song Yadong at UFC on ESPN 7 this past December. He landed five takedowns in the fight, and heavily outstruck Yadong, who was even deducted a point for an illegal knee. But that wasn’t enough to award Stamann the win in the judges’ eyes.
The latest UFC on ESPN 8 lineup includes:
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Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” react to the latest MMA news and notes, and unpack UFC on ESPN 7.
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!
On Episode No. 3,008 of the podcast, the guys take a look back at UFC on ESPN 7 and react to the latest news and notes in MMA.
THE RUNDOWN:
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
