UFC 136 Preview: The Main Card

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Middleweights
Chael Sonnen (25-11-1, 4-4 UFC) vs. Brian Stann (11-3, 5-2 UFC)

The Matchup: With a middleweight division nearly cleaned out of marketable challengers, Sonnen-Stann could produce a viable one, and each guy has a compelling backstory to supply the effort. In Stann’s case, it is a certifiable marketer’s dream: he was awarded the Silver Star as a Marine, graduated from the Naval Academy and shown slow-but-steady improvement as he has marched up the 185-pound ranks.

Sonnen remains the only title challenger to win more than one round against champion Anderson Silva, and his epic showing in their first bout -- prior to his being submitted in the final round -- is made all the more impressive each time Silva steamrolls a challenger. “The Spider” could definitely benefit from a Sonnen rematch.

Unbeaten in three outings since dropping to middleweight, Stann’s more measured and precise approach has dispatched foes, making waves in the process. He is not the same fighter that was blitzed standing in his second WEC match with Steve Cantwell, and the drop in weight fits his frame better. Gifted with solid strikes and athleticism -- he played linebacker at Navy -- he showed he can put the hurt on opponents with his knockouts of the notoriously durable Chris Leben and former Sengoku Raiden Championship titleholder Jorge Santiago.

Sonnen, meanwhile, is the best wrestler in the middleweight division, and one of the best wrestlers in the sport in a pure MMA context. He has great timing on transitioning from striking to takedowns, top-notch conditioning and the ability to control opponents from the top, staying active enough to keep the referee from restarting the action. He represents MMA’s version of three yards and a cloud of dust, and it has proven brutally effective. Past opponents, including Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami and Dan Miller have been able to do little but take sound thumpings in the process.

Sonnen’s glaring weakness remains submission defense, and previous foes have been more successful there than anywhere else; eight of his 11 losses are by submission. However, this matchup hinges on factors that ride in Sonnen’s favor, as Stann is not likely to secure a submission and does not have the high-level jiu-jitsu pedigree of a Silva, Paulo Filho or Jeremy Horn. Stann’s fight of choice involves standing and forcing Sonnen to engage and bang. That said, it has proven difficult to lure the Team Quest veteran into such a match. He simply lures foes into exchange range, shoots and takes them down.

It will take a near-perfect performance for Stann to win, and he will have to remain on his feet for most of at least two effective rounds to do so. Sonnen’s standup is not of the world-beating variety, but it is effective enough, as he will lace foes with straight, basic one-twos and the occasional kick to keep them honest before bursting in to tie them up and take them down. Sonnen’s ability to get the fight on the mat and get down and dirty with body blows, headshots and elbows aplenty also tires out opponents.

The Pick: Sonnen by decision.

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