WEC: Brian Stann NEW Light Heavyweight Champion

I pimped him out 7 months ago on the 1st (and so far only) edition of the "MMA On The Fringe" series touting up and coming combat prodigies. Well, Mr. Brian Stann has already nabbed his 1st Championship belt in the WEC knocking off and out, Doug "Rhino" Marshall (7-3) in 1:35 of the initial stanza. In only his 6th pro fight, Stann captures the Light Heavyweight gold by crushing left hand to the also stand up driven Marshall. Rhino has been getting into better shape, but it was only a matter of time before a far more gifted athlete crossed his path and put him back in the loss column. Doug may not be the best MMAer in the world but the guy has a granite chin and powerful punches. The "All-American" has been training with Xtreme Couture and the gang working on honing all his skills not just his stand up which is his strength. The win is big, and the WEC Light Heavyweight roster small, so look for Stann to hold the belt for a while and continue to improve.

Also of note, Bryan Baker had nothing as a replacement for the now rehabbing (and by rehab I mean for drugs, not injury) WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho. Chael Sonnen took the decision win but everyone wanted the rematch between Filho/Sonnen after their last match ended in controversy after the ref called the fight though Chael never tapped to Paulo's armbar. We will await that fight in the future along with a hopefully "clean" Champion.

Brock Larson got a DQ win after John Alessio knee'd his dome on the ground, and Richard Crunkleton got the decision win over Takenori Ito to get back into the win column after a Lightweight Title shot loss to former WEC Lightweight Champ Rob McCullough. Marcus Hicks continues to out Jitsu everyone with a perfect 8-0 record and a submission win over Ed Ratcliff, while 10 other guys fought that nobody cared about.

Hey Strikeforce this weekend as the inflated ego of Frank Shamrock takes on Cung Le in a Middleweight Title fight and Nick Diaz is no longer on the card. Rumor has it he failed yet another drug test (brilliant). Smoke em if ya got em people.