Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at a matchup of debuting featherweights as Cody Stamann takes on Terrion Ware.
Cody Stamann
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Age: 27
Height: 5-foot-7
Reach: 69 inches
Weight Class: Featherweight
Camp: Michigan Top Team
Career Record: 13-1
Key Wins: None
Key Losses: None
Background A former Golden Gloves Champion out of Michigan, the former amateur boxer turned MMA fighter has won his last six fights. Of those six victories, two of them have come inside the distance.
Strengths
- Wide base
- Powerful legs
- Heavy leg kicks
- Former Golden Gloves Champion
- Good footwork
- Does well to use natural power to convert into takedown attempts
Weaknesses
- Keeps head too upright
- Uses too many spinning attacks put himself in bad positions defensively
- Periods of inactivity on the feet
- Limited submission game
Fighter Grade
Offensive Striking: C
Striking Defense: D
Knockout Power: C-
Athleticism / Speed: C+
Footwork: C
Chin: D+
Offensive Wrestling: C
Takedown Defense: D+
Submissions: D-
Conditioning: C-
Intangibles: D+
Overall Grade: C- Matchup with Terrion Ware With both fighters taking this fight on short notice, these two bantamweights are scheduled to fight at 145 pounds. Ware is the older fighter with more high-level experience. He’s got decent hands and fights in a rather calculated matter. However, he has a tough matchup against Stamann. The Michigan-based fighter is a Golden Gloves Champion in his own right and can absolutely box with Ware. The big difference in this bout is athleticism. Stamann is a strong, physical and athletic fighter. He’s got a nice array of kicks, but even more importantly, a strong offensive wrestling game. He explodes well into takedown attempts and uses his strength to get opponents to the mat. Even if Ware is able to compete throughout on the feet, he’ll be at a major disadvantage in the grappling game. That is certainly an area Stamann can expose in what should be a statement win. Stamann is the rightful favorite in this bout, but at -275, it’s difficult to wager on a newcomer, albeit promising, considering how seasoned his opponent is. If Stamann were to drop to under -200, then that is a price point worth consideration.
UFC Ceiling Stamann is another in a line of promising bantamweight prospects. He’s got a strong physique and combines it with real athleticism for the weight class. He enters the UFC with a well-rounded skill set and is a fighter that should be able to compete right away. His level of competition is the biggest question mark at this point and the reason it is hard to project out just how well he will do in the UFC.
Fight Film Check out Stamann in some of his most recent fights…
Stamann vs. Zac Church
Stamann vs. Larry DiGiuilo
Stamann’s Parting Shot Interview
