CREDIT: Sherdog.com
Round 1
The fighters touch gloves in the center of the cage and begin to circle. Cantwell goes high with a kick but it’s short of its target. Cantwell lands the first blow of the bout, a counter left hook. Cantwell attacks the legs while the champion looks to counter punch. Stann fires off a right low kick of his own. The fighters trade and the challenger tees off. Two right hands connect on the button. Stann hangs in there and ties up with his explosive opponent. Now back in the center of the cage, Stann pieces together two straight right hands. Cantwell lowers his head and cracks Stann with a left hook. Stann clinches and is hit with two standing elbows to the temple. The champion is sporting some wear to the right side of his face. Cantwell slips on the canvas and Stann takes advantage with a flurry of right hands to his fallen opponent. Cantwell stands to his feet before the round closes.
Round 2
Stann grazes his right foot off the groin protector of Cantwell early in the second round. Time is given by Herb Dean for the challenger to recover. Cantwell uses his jab to setup a crisp right straight to the midsection. Cantwell follows with a digging left hook to the body that hurts Stann. Both fighters are fatigued but a fast pace holds steady. Stann lands a one-two. Cantwell clinches with Stann against the fencing and lands two knees to the head and one to the body. Stann is nearly out on his feet after several punches and a kick lands. The hurt champion covers up and absorbs punishment. He drops his guard to answer back but is dropped with a right hook counter on the chin. Cantwell strikes the side of the head until Dean steps in to save Stann at 4:01 of round two. Steve Cantwell takes the WEC light heavyweight crown in impressive, dominating performance.
