Well, that didn’t take long.
Less than two weeks after he retired from MMA to pursue media work and other opportunities, the UFC has announced that former middleweight Brian Stann will provide color commentary at next month’s UFC 163. Stann will step in for Joe Rogan, who has another, unspecified obligation that night. As usual, Mike Goldberg will handle the play-by-play call. Stann‘s addition is said to be for one night only.
MMA reporter Ariel Helwani announced the news Tuesday night on UFC Tonight and via Twitter.
Reported on @ufctonight: Brian Stann will replace Joe Rogan on the call for one night only at UFC 163 because Rogan has previous obligations
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 24, 2013
Stann, 32, retired from professional MMA after compiling a professional record of 12-6, including a 6-5 mark in the UFC Octagon. He spent the large majority of his UFC tenure at middleweight, but held the light heavyweight title in the defunct WEC. He ended his career on a two-fight losing streak, a decision to Chael Sonnen and then a surprising knockout to Wanderlei Silva.
In addition to working behind the mic for UFC 163 (as well as at previous events while still an active fighter), Stann, a linebacker while at the Naval Academy, has been signed to call ACC football games for Fox Sports South. Stann is also a Marine and a decorated Iraq war veteran.
Stann‘s addition to the broadcast team may provide an extra boost of interest to a UFC 163 event that has been ravaged by injuries. Originally set for a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis in its main event, Pettis was forced to withdraw because of an injury. Champion Aldo will now face “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. An intriguing fight between welterweights Josh Koscheck and Demian Maia was scrapped entirely after Koscheck got injured.
UFC 163 will take place Aug. 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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