UFC Middleweight Brian Stann Retires, Takes Job as ACC Football Broadcaster

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UFC middleweight Brian Stann has hung up his gloves.

Promotion officials announced the fighter’s retirement from active competition on Thursday morning, revealing that the “All-American” will now serve as a broadcast commentator for ACC football on Fox Sports South.

“I played football from second grade on,” Stann told Fox Sports. “Then after football, I went to Iraq and was near several explosions, and then there was my eight-year MMA career. I just want to reduce my risk for CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease) so I can enjoy my family. It’s tough.

“As a father of three, I can’t just think about me. It’s not about pride. It’s not about glory. It’s not about personal goals. My No. 1 job in life is [to be] a husband and then a father. That’s not just about providing for them. I want to enjoy every moment with my kids.”

Stann, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, began his mixed martial arts career in 2006 while still on active duty, rattling off six straight wins en route to capturing the World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight crown. Stann would relinquish the belt in just his first title defense, however, and fought with mixed results as he transitioned to the UFC in 2009.

After posting a 2-2 Octagon record at 205 pounds, Stann made the cut to middleweight, where he scored consecutive victories over Mike Massenzio, Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. Stann now exits the cage having lost three of his final four fights, sandwiching a knockout of Alessio Sakara between defeats to Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping.

Most recently, the 32-year-old was knocked out by Wanderlei Silva, suffering a second-round stoppage at the hands of “The Axe Murderer” this past March at UFC on Fuel TV 8. An 18-fight veteran, Stann finishes his run with a career mark of 12-6, posting nine knockouts in seven years of fighting.