Brian Stann retires from MMA

Published on Thursday, 7/11/13, at 4:25 p.m. Eastern.

By Brian Edwards

UFC middleweight contender Brian Stann has decided to retire from mixed martial arts at the age of 32.

He announced his decision on a special edition of Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour.” “I leave fighting having taken more from mixed martial arts than I ever gave,” Stann said.

The ‘All-American’ finishes his career with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-5 record in the UFC. Stann won the WEC’s light heavyweight title in 2008 with a first-round knockout of Doug Marshall.

After losing a unanimous decision to Phil Davis at UFC 109, Stann dropped down to the 185-pound loop and won his first three fights. He bagged a pair of Fight of the Night bonuses and scored a first-round KO of Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben.

But Stann’s hopes of a middleweight title shot were thwarted by losses to Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. Between those defeats, Stann collected a first-round KO of Alessio Sakara. The win over Sakara would be the last of his career.

Stann’s final fight was an epic stand-up scrap against the legendary Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva. The first round was one of the most exciting stanzas in UFC history, as both men floored each other and traded haymakers on multiple occasions. Silva ended up winning by second-round KO.

Stann has been a fixture as an analyst on FOX and FUEL TV over the last year. In retirement, he’ll continue his work as a UFC analyst for both networks. Also, he was hired earlier this week by Fox Sports South to provide analysis for ACC football.

Stann is a retired U.S. Marine who was awarded a Silver Star in 2006. He played football at the Naval Academy.

Stann doesn’t have a history of documented concussions but with a third kid on the way and a profitable future in broadcasting, this is the perfect time for him to walk away.

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