Whether you are looking at a man's character, or his fighting style, you can't get much further apart than Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann. Stylistically, Sonnen is unequivocally a wrestler, who uses his skills to take opponents down and grind them out. Stann is, primarily, a striker, who wants to stand and knock you out. On the personal level, Stann is a real life Marine, with combat experience in Iraq, while Sonnen has really pushed his status as a real life villain in recent years, with racist and disparaging comments to his opponents, and legal battles with both Athletic Commissions and the State of Oregon. If you wanted to view this as a Hero vs. Villain battle, you certainly would be justified.
How do these two stack up?
Sonnen: 34 years old | 6'1" | 74" reach
Stann: 31 years old | 6'1" | 74" reach
What have these two done recently?
Sonnen: L - Anderson Silva (Sub) | W - Nate Marquardt (UD) | W - Yushin Okami (UD)
Stann: W - Jorge Santiago (TKO) | W - Chris Leben (TKO) | W - Mike Massenzio (Sub)
How did these two get here?
Chael Sonnen is an old school Team Quest fighter with 14 years of MMA experience. He had a 1-2 UFC run in 2005-2006 that was primarily characterized by his screaming in pain when Babalu applied a submission. After that, he made his way to the WEC, where he became the first man to defeat former Middleweight great Paulo Filho in an embarrassing performance from Filho. When the WEC folded the division, Sonnen came to the UFC, putting together a 3-1 record before challenging Anderson Silva. That fight is the best fight of 2010, with Sonnen managing to control Silva for 23 minutes, only to be submitted by a triangle choke as the clock ran down. He then tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone, and had a ridiculous battle with the California State Athletic Commission that kept him sidelined for a year. This is his return fight.
Brian Stann came to the UFC after a run as WEC Light Heavyweight champion. He went 2-2 in the UFC Light Heavyweight division, but a loss to Phil Davis led him to drop down to 185 and the Middleweight division. There, he's 3-0 over increasingly tough opponents, but he's definitely facing the toughest test of his career against Sonnen. Stann trains with Greg Jackson, and has developed a more well rounded game to add to his heavy hands.
Why should you care?
A lot of people love watching Sonnen, either to cheer him to victory or revel in his loss. Either way, he does get people involved in the fights. Winner here is also likely next in line for Anderson Silva.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump.
UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions
UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview
UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling
UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan
UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke
UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen
Countdown to UFC 136 Video
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1