It didn’t take long for some of the fighters from the soon-to-be-defunct WEC light heavyweight division to make their move to the UFC and none could be happier than former 205-pound champion Brian Stann, who will make his promotional debut in a third fight against Steve Cantwell at the UFC Fight for the Troops show on Dec. 10.

Stann and Cantwell have fought each other twice in the past with each gaining a victory, most recently with Cantwell taking the 205-pound divisional crown away with a TKO win in early August.

Now that the WEC light heavyweight class is being swept out the door, the title is a moot point, but the rubber match isn’t.

The rematch had already been discussed internally at the WEC, and according to Stann, as happy as he was to get another shot at Cantwell. He was a little sad that a week later a fight would take place in front of the military and he wouldn’t be involved.

 “They were talking to me about a rematch right after I lost that fight, so I was already excited about that and I thought it was going to be Dec. 3 in Vegas, so I’d be fighting Steve (Cantwell) in his hometown for the third time,” Stann said in an exclusive interview with MMAWeekly.com.  “It was kind of like a tear in my heart because all of a sudden I was watching Spike TV and watching the Fight Night and they announced this special featuring the Fallen Heroes Fund and it’s going to benefit TBI (traumatic brain injury) patients.

“I have so much experience with my guys that suffer from TBI and to get to fight on a military base.  I was in Iraq when they fought on the marine base last time so I didn’t get a chance to fight or even be there, and I just thought this is a dream come true.”

The dream will indeed come true for Stann who will get the chance not only to settle the score with Cantwell, but he will have the fight in front of his heroes, the men and women who serve in the military.

“Most people go to fights to watch their heroes or their role model fight,” Stann commented.  “For me, to fight in Fort Bragg, and Fort Bragg is only an hour and 15 minutes away from my old Marine corps base, so a ton of my marines are going to be up there, plus all the young soldiers.  That’s like a dream come true to me.  Now, I’m fighting in front of my heroes, the people who inspire me.”

Not that Stann will need much more motivation for the fight, he will also move his training camp to New Mexico and work with Greg Jackson and his camp to prepare.

While the fight is Stann’s main focus, he can’t help but talk about the troops that will get the chance to attend the fight and a particular soldier and friend who will be front row and center for the bouts.

“I’ll fight till I’m dead in front of those guys.  It’s a lifetime experience right there.  I’m really excited.  I was already calling a bunch of my Marines,” said Stann. 

“One in particular, a guy by the name of Robert Gas, who when we were hit by a suicide vehicle during my first tour and he took some severe shrapnel damage to the head and he had several brain surgeries since then and obviously suffers from severe TBI, and I’m going to be contacting him and getting him cage side seats and flying him up for that.”

Brian Stann will have the honor to fight in front of the men and women of the U.S. military as a part of the UFC Fight for the Troops show on Dec. 10 at Fort Bragg, NC.

For more information on or to donate to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, check out the Fallen Heroes Fund website.