From the desserts of Iraq to the UFC's ultimate battleground, Brian Stann is no stranger to war. Now, for the first time ever, look inside the military hero's training camp and discovers he's just as deadly in the gym as he is on the front line. Oor-rah!
There's no questioning a man's dedication and intensity when he has lead his troops through an onslaught of gunfire, dodged numerous Iraqi insurgents' bullets and held his enemies off long enough to neutralize their attack, ultimately saving the lives of 42 soldiers.
UFC middleweight and former US marine Brian Stann knows what it is like to go to war and march on through the face of adversity.
Now, hot on the heels of 'Rampage' Jackson's new MusclePharm camp in Denver, Colorado, we traveled to Greg Jackson's gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for an exclusive insider's glimpse at Stann's entire training camp from start to finish as he prepared for his biggest challenge against Chael Sonnen at UFC 136.
For the first time ever, we reveal what it's like for an elite UFC fighter to shape themselves for battle in an intense and punishing training regime. From gameplan development and mental conditioning, right down to the minute details of his nutrition, we discover that the hero's work ethic is just as fierce in the gym as it is in the trenches.
So get to ready to lock and load, because it's time to enter the firing line with the UFC's very own universal soldier.
Week 1 Training:
“My main focus this week has been to develop a gameplan to defeat Chael. I've worked on my wrestling technique specifically for Chael's relentless style. He's a very powerful, explosive wrestler so I've also been focusing my strength and conditioning on power and sprints to neutralize his attack.
Diet
“This week I've loaded my diet with white meats, salmon, walnuts, almond butter, Greek yogurt and a lot of berries and green veggies.
I've also been eating a lot of complex carbs such as yams, Waxy Maize, sweet potatoes, gluten-free breads and supplements such as Gaspari Myofusion Protein, Anavite, Superpump Max and BCAA Max.
Complex carbs are great because they release energy slowly and fuel you for those long, hard training sessions.”
Focus
“I always come into camp in pretty good shape so that I can get a lot of volume in my training days. This first week is very heavy on technique so we can establish the specific attacks that we feel will work against Chael. I'm training 3-4 times a day, six days a week. Things are intense.”
Week 2 Training:
“This week I'm really honing my new techniques that are specific to my gameplan. Now, though, I'm pushing my conditioning a little harder while still maintaining a high number of training sessions each day.”
Diet
“As my diet sets in I'm really starting to feel energized. The veggies are doing wonders at balancing my body's pH due to their alkalinity and the salmon is full of protein helping me to recover and build muscle.”
Focus
“This week I've focused heavily on takedown defense and scrambling positions. I've been training a lot of wrestling for the last two years and I am really starting to progress in my counter-wrestling skills.
These skills will be essential against a fighter the caliber of Chael Sonnen.”
Week 3 Training:
“Week three is very wrestling intensive. I am wrestling at least once a day to prepare for certain positions my opponent will be trying to put me in. In addition, I am still working on my striking and submission game multiple times a day.”
Diet
“As things get more intense it's important for me to stay focused and not get too stressed. I'm particularly eating a lot of berries as they cut down my cortisol (stress hormone) while still eating lots of white meat and fish full of protein to build muscle.
Then lots of white meats, salmon, walnuts, almond butter, Greek yogurt, green veggies, yams, Waxy Maize, sweet potatoes, gluten-free breads and bread supplements such as Gaspari Myofusion Protein, Anavite, Superpump Max and BCAA Max.”
Focus
“Wrestling is the main focus, specifically scramble positions when someone is on my back and defending takedowns in both the open mat and against the cage. I know Chael is going to work the fight like this so it's essential for me to be prepared for the onslaught.”
Week 4 Training:
“Much of the same. I am training 3–4 times a day and working on every aspect of my game.”
Diet
“I'm really enjoying Greek yoghurt this week. Having just a small amount provides a natural fat burner without muscle loss as it's still fueled with protein. I'm still eating white meats, salmon, walnuts, almond butter, lots of berries and green veggies, yams, Waxy Maize, sweet potatoes, gluten-free breads and supplements such as Gaspari Myofusion Protein, Anavite, Superpump Max and BCAA Max.”
Focus
“Wrestling and specific striking attacks for my opponent are the main focus this week. I am working on being in the right position with proper angles when I attack my opponent. This enables me to be offensive without being taken down.”
Week 5 Training:
“This week my wrestling coach Israel Martinez came to Albuquerque to help me train for two weeks. He has studied my opponent and planned daily training sessions for myself and my training partners.
I'm working with Derek Brunson (two-time All American wrestler), Jon Jones, Shawn Jordan, and many more, specifically on takedown defense and scrambling.”
Diet
“As the fight approaches the reality begins to set in that I'm going to war with Chael. I need good rest and recuperation in such an intense training camp so I'm eating a lot of walnuts. They contain melatonin which naturally helps you sleep. I'm also maintaining the rest of my camp diet and supplements.”
Focus
“Takedown defense is obviously still a big focus of the week. Also, we've been focusing on developing the pace at which we want the fight to take place.”
Week 6 Training:
“Coach Martinez is still in town and working me hard on my wrestling.
I am also hitting pads daily with coach Mike Winkeljohn, working on refining my skills and learning some new techniques. Coach Jackson and I are doing daily private lessons on specific techniques to counter Chael's ground attack.”
Diet
“Going this long without desserts would drive any man crazy. Fortunately, the almond butter is doing a good job at satisfying my sweet tooth without raising my blood sugar levels. It's also rich in antioxidants and high in protein, fiber and monosaturated fats (the good fats).
It's actually helping with my fat burning as we approach the weigh-in. Other than that it's more of the same.”
Focus
“This week we focused on my all-round wrestling technique and getting back to my feet when taken down. I have also been consistently working on my submission skills from my back. Keith Jardine has been coaching me a great deal on my defense against the cage and working on improving my technique to fight back to my feet.”
Week 7 Training:
“I'm still training three times a day but my execution of the gameplan and specific techniques for this fight are really coming together well.
I have some world-class training partners helping me. Strikeforce middleweight Tim Kennedy has flown in for my last two weeks of training to help me prepare for this fight.”
Diet
“Much of the same. My weight is finally starting to get into the range I like to be for fight week. I am now lowering the carb intake as well. Again, I'm still fueling my body with white meats, salmon, walnuts and almond butter, Greek yogurt, fruit, and Waxy Maize for my carbs.
Then my supplements are Gaspari Myofusion Protein, Anavite, Superpump Max and BCAA Max.”
Focus
“I am training all of my skills and really increasing the intensity in my training. Cardio is a huge focus for the next two weeks to ensure I peak correctly for this fight.”
Week 8 Training:
“This is the last hard week so I'm backing down the volume of training and still keeping the intensity. I am no longer lifting weights and not taking unnecessary risks that could cause injury.”
Diet
“With the weigh-in this week I am really keeping an eye on my fluid intake, but I’ve done the diet right and so feel strong at the weight I'm at. Got plenty of fluid and good carbs ready for after the weigh-in too.
But I don’t venture away from the food list that I have stuck to for the past eight weeks.”
Focus
“Focus is all on the gameplan now and I have decreased the volume of training I am doing while increasing the intensity. This
is the last hard week of training so it is important that I do not get injured. I'm focused and I've had a great camp so I'm ready for war.”
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