Sports

Stann Wins WEC Light Heavy Title

Marine Corps officer “All-American” Brian Stann won the WEC light heavyweight championship Wednesday night in Las Vegas. BY GEORGE WILLIS

Marine Corps officer “All-American” Brian Stann won the WEC light heavyweight championship Wednesday night in Las Vegas with a dramatic first-round knockout of Doug “The Rhino” Marshall at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.

Marshall, who was defending his mixed martial arts title for the third time, went toe-to-toe with Stann midway through the first round. But as Marshall was swinging lefts and rights, Stann caught him with a sharp left hook to the jaw. Marshall dropped in a heap and the fight was stopped seconds later at 1:35 of the round.

Stann improved to 6-0 with all six wins coming by first round knockout. “Me and Doug knew what this fight was going to be about,” Stann said. “I just wanted to be more disciplined with my hands.”

Stann, a graduate of the Naval Academy, has served two tours of duty in Iraq, earning the Silver Star during his first tour. He currently has about 700 working under him at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C.

“This belt represents all my Marines who died in combat and couldn’t be here with me,” Stann said.

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