Stamann: ‘I’m Gonna Say Yes To Anybody’

Sometimes a fighter is willing to do anything to get back on track. Cody Stamann just wants to compete, no matter the cost.

The Bantamweight was supposed to face off against Raoni Barcelos back in March at UFC Columbus. Due to the coronavirus, the event was postponed and Barcelos will not be able to enter the United States as a result of travel restrictions. Stamann (18-2-1) spoke with MMA Junkie and expressed his desire to fight anytime, anywhere. As long as he can step inside an octagon, it is all fair game.

“I’m gonna say yes to anybody,” Stamann stated. “I don’t know who I’m going to get, I don’t know if I’m gonna get a guy in the Top 10, I don’t know if I’m gonna get a random dude from the U.S. I don’t know who’s – I haven’t even had those conversations yet. I don’t know who in the Top 10 is in the U.S. to where they’re even an option to fight.”

Debuting for the UFC in 2017, Stamann is 4-1-1 with the promotion. After losing to Aljamain Sterling back at UFC 228 in 2018, Stamann beat Alejandro Perez at UFC 235 in March 2019. His last fight was in December of that year, facing Song Yadong. In a back and forth affair, the two fought to a majority decision draw.

Barcelos (15-1) was just coming off of a unanimous decision win over Said Nurmagomedov in December as well. Stamann is hoping for the same type of fighter like Barcelos, due to the way he was preparing for the bout. Ranked eleventh in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings, Stamann will be waiting by the phone.

“I have no idea who my options are,” Stamann went on to say. “I think Barcelos is a really tough guy, I was taking him really seriously. After watching him fight I think he was probably one of the best dudes in the world, so I got prepared for that and I’m prepared for anyone. Whoever comes up for this next fight, I’m just gonna say yes. I’m at the point where I don’t really care.”

There is a possibility he competes at one of the several UFC events scheduled for Florida.