Cody Stamann carried a big chip on his shoulder into the Octagon on Saturday, showing his class and pedigree by turning in a quality effort against highly regarded newcomer Luan Lacerda.
A fixture in the Top 15 for a number of years, Stamann’s superior athleticism and output ruled the opening two rounds, as the Xtreme Couture product was able to live on the outside and land in combination whenever he closed the distance. In spots where the two men traded shots, Stamann frequently scored with the heavier blows and higher volume, working the midsection of Lacerda throughout while showing tremendous defensive responsibility as well over the opening 10 minutes.
Lacerda was finally able to drag the fight to the canvas in the third, grinding out control time, but failing to land anything of real substance or find an opening to attack a submission. Once they got back to their feet, Lacerda landed a couple quality body shots, while Stamann mixed up his levels.
This was a good victory for the tenured bantamweight and a reminder of how treacherous the bantamweight waters are at the moment. Stamann has now won consecutive fights for the first time since the start of his UFC run, and will head into his next appearances with a 21-5-1 record. | Official Scorecards