Source: MMA Junkie

Story:

Brian Stann recently had to pull out of his UFC on FOX 4 match with former Bellator champion Hector Lombard with a separated shoulder injury. Today, it was revealed that Stann and UFC heavyweight Shawn Jordan were wrestling in the cage when Jordan went for a hip throw but accidentally fell on Stann’s shoulder. When a heavyweight lands on your shoulder, you know you will be hurt. Stann suffered a grade 2 separation in his AC joint and is unable to lift his hand. The injury will keep Stann out 6-8 weeks but will not require any surgery which Stann is thankful for.

Although the injury may have been unfortunate, it worked out for Stann who has a chance to return to the octagon at the same time that a few other injured middleweights are also returning. Most notably, Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort. Both are currently ranked ahead of Stann in the middlweight standings and are in Stann’s crosshairs. Stann was careful to say he doesn’t care who he fights next as long as they are above him in the standings. Stann, like any other fighter, wants to fight for the title someday. The only way to get there is to beat guys ahead of him.

Blogger Opinion:

A fight between Stann and Bisping would be interesting since it has a US vs England dynamic and the two have traded barbs before but a fight between the two never came to fruition. The only issue is that Bisping’s injury may have benefited him even more than Stann. Bisping was scheduled to fight and expected to beat Tim Boetsch. Had he done so, and if Chael Sonnen beat Anderson Silva, Bisping would be in line for a title fight since he was robbed of a decision the last time the two fought. Even now with his injury and inactivity, if Sonnen wins, Bisping could still legitimately make a good claim to the title fight without actually having fought anyone since his loss to Chael Sonnen earlier in the year.

Even if Anderson Silva wins, Stann still lost badly to Chael Sonnen. Bisping was actually competitive against Sonnen even if he was perceived to have lost that fight. So Bisping would never go for a fight with Stann who is below him in the rankings. I expect, win or lose, Bisping and Sonnen will have a rematch. With that, a fight between Stann and Belfort actually makes the most sense. Stann would definitely take the fight since Belfort is ranked ahead of him but Belfort may not. The only other options for Stann would be Yushin Okami (a tough fight), the Mark Munoz/ Chris Weidman loser (possible), and Tim Boetsch if he loses to Hector Lombard. Like I said, I think the Stann/ Belfort fight would be most interesting and marketable since both guys like to trade and force the action. Belfort would probably take the fight as well in hopes a name opponent could launch him back to the top of the middleweight division.