world extreme cagefightin
Captain America Lives
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941).
And yes, Captain America was created to aid the U.S. war effort (WWII, that is). And the fictional figure that he is, he wears a costume that bears an American flag motif and he is armed with an indestructible shield. But you know that already, right?!
In my unrelenting pursuit of intruiging stories and inspirational real-life characters, I believe that I have actually found a real-life Captain America.
Two years after being born on Yokota Air Base in Japan, he and his family moved to Scranton, PA, where he spent his childhood and teenage years.
He then atttended the U.S. Naval Academy where he very successfully played football as a linebacker.
After graduating, he was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps where he rose to the rank of Captain.
While serving with the Marines, “All American” Brian Stann was awarded the Silver Star. And the citation reads something like this:
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Brian M. Stann, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Second Mobile Assault Platoon Leader, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, Second Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, SECOND Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 8 May to 14 May 2005. During Operation MATADOR, Second Lieutenant Stann led his reinforced platoon on an assault through a foreign fighter and Mujahedeen insurgent defense-in-depth to seize the Ramana Bridge north of Karabilah, Iraq. On three separate occasions, he traversed four kilometers of enemy occupied urban terrain in order to maintain his battle position. With each deliberate attack he controlled close air support and the direct fire systems of tanks and heavy machineguns destroying enemy positions along the route. At one point, the enemy massed on his platoon and fired over 30 rocket propelled grenades, machineguns, detonated two improvised explosive devices and attacked the unit with three suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive devices. Second Lieutenant Stann personally directed two casualty evacuations, three vehicle recovery operations and multiple close air support missions under enemy small arms, machinegun and mortar fire in his 360-degree fight. Inspired by his leadership and endurance, Second Lieutenant Stann’s platoon held the battle position on the Euphrates River for six days protecting the Task Force flank and isolating foreign fighters and insurgents north of the river. Second Lieutenant Stann’s zealous initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional presence of mind reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”
Brian Stann got hooked on martial arts while attending the MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) and he very impressively acquired some very effective cage fighting skills which took him to becoming WEC Light Heavyweight Champion.
After the UFC took over WEC, all WEC-Middleweight and WEC-Light Heavyweight fighters were brought into the UFC family.
Brian Stann dropped from Light Heavyweight to Middleweight where he is currently ranked number 6 in the world with a MMA record of 11-3.
But the Octagon isn’t the only place that Brian Stann is leaving his mark.
The married father of two knows the true meaning of leaving no man behind. He is the very active President of Hire Heroes USA.
Hire Heroes USA’s (HHUSA) mission is to offer transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the US military – and to their spouses – in order to reduce veteran unemployment. HHUSA prioritizes veterans statistically most likely to be unemployed: veterans of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and veterans that are wounded or disabled.
As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HHUSA’s services are provided at no cost to the veteran.
And let’s recap with some visuals:
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Do You Think And Act Like WEC-Champion Jose Aldo?
I will be honest with you: I didn’t get to watch yesterday’s World Championship bout between these two great featherweight mixed martial artists, who both fight for WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting):
Urijah “The California Kid” Faber vs. Jose “The Phenom” Aldo
Let’s not forget that the bout took place in Faber’s hometown of Sacramento and I am guessing the overwhelming majority of the 15,000 screaming spectators was probably screaming for Faber.
But that did not deter the reigning world champ from Brazil, Jose Aldo, from dominating the match and inflicting serious pain to former title holder, Urijah Faber, who was in charge of this weight division for some time before losing to Mike Brown.
Jose Aldo has now 17 wins and only 1 loss to his record and Urijah Faber’s record 0f 23-4 is nothing to sneeze about either.
Anyway, I found a statement by Jose Aldo that I really think are true words by a true champion:
“My dream of winning the belt came true. I’ve worked my butt off to get here.
But now every time I have a match, I don’t look at it like I’m defending the belt, I’m going out there like this is a brand new fight and I’m going to win a brand new belt.
It’s like I have a brand new dream and that is to get another belt. So even though I am the champion, when I go to the gym I’m still very humble, always wanting to learn and wanting to get better.”
That’s the kind of attitude I can appreciate.
Kudos, Jose “The Phenom” Aldo!
Fight Deal For Manny Pacquiao Vs. Floyd Mayweather Set For March 13, 2010
Will this really be “The Fight Of The Century”?
And if so, the 20th or 21st century?
Can professional boxing thrive in direct comparison with mixed martial arts events such as UFC, Strikeforce or World Extreme Cagefighting in general? And not only on the exceptional nights featuring amazing fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather?
The announced fight has all the necessary ingredients for a commercial success.
The top two Pound-For-Pound Fighters in the world:
Pacquiao, WBO welterweight champion, has a record of 50-3-2, with 38 knockouts.
Mayweather, currently No. 2 (who previously held the top pound-for-pound spot), holds a clean 40-0 record with 25 KOs.
I will be heading back to my Filipino-American barber in the very near future to get my hair cut and I will let you in on all the insider information.
Urijah Faber, The California Kid Of World Extreme Cagefighting
Featherweights that are like steamrollers.
Last week some of you might have heard about or even watched the WEC title fight between Featherweight Champion Mike Brown and Jose Aldo.
And yes, the contender won: The new champion is now Jose Aldo.
But there is someone I have been trying to follow ever since he stormed into the limelight of WEC Featherweight division and that is The California Kid, Urijah Faber.
I have seen a couple of his fights leading to Urijah’s championship status. Never a dull moment in the cage.
He was a very successful college wrestler, always taking the cake. Even though that’s probably not part of his diet.
Urijah Faber is known as a very strong advocate of a really healthy diet and working out. And that formula has obviously worked very well for him.
He has never really had to go the full distance in a fight, except for maybe fighting another extremely talented fighter by the name of Jens Pulver of Pat “The Croatian Sensation” Miletich’s team some time ago. The win went to Urijah Faber.
In countless matches Urijah Faber, the very skilled grappler that he is, has been able to apply a rear naked choke and a guillotine choke so convincingly that he has won fights very early on. Many times in the first round.
But then comes along a fighter who rains on his party and who has become the man to beat for Urijah Faber.
And that fighter is Mike Brown who has been able to beat Urijah Faber twice now.
According to the latest rankings Urijah Faber is number 2 in the world and is scheduled to fight Rafael Assuncao on 1/10/2010 at WEC 46.
Assuming that Urijah Faber wins, I am thinking he will probably get a title shot at Jose Aldo.
So far his MMA record that started in November 2003 is pretty impressive with 22 wins and only 3 losses (2 by Mike Brown and 1 by Tyson Griffin).
So where is Mike Brown is this equation? Any thoughts?
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