Stann continues assault

Brian Stann went through light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall with military precision, much like he has each of his professional mixed martial arts opponents.

That should come as no surprise from Stann, a Marine Corps captain who has served two tours of duty in Iraq and was awarded a Silver Star.

"I try to look at it similarly," Stann said of the comparisons between fighting in the cage and on the battlefield. "I try to revisit the emotions I've felt when I've been to Iraq. I look at my opponents the same way I looked at my opponents in combat. What are his strengths? What are his weaknesses?"

Stann stopped Marshall with a huge left hand at 1:35 of the first round to win the title on the World Extreme Cagefighting card at the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday.

Stann improved to 6-0 in his professional career, with all six wins coming by first-round knockout.

The emotion of the situation hit him seconds later, jubilation turning to tears as Stann dropped to one knee and started crying in the center of the cage.

"The biggest thing that came to my mind is I looked up at the sky and remembered all my friends and all my Marines that aren't here anymore, and that's with me every day," Stann said.

"That belt is just leather with some stuff on it. It symbolizes so much more. I have to live my life to the fullest for them, and that's what this belt symbolizes."

Las Vegan Steve Cantwell, who lost to Stann in March 2007, was nearly as dominating Wednesday in scoring a first-round submission win over Tim McKenzie.

In a lightweight fight, Marcus Hicks finished Ed Ratcliff with a guillotine in the first round to remain unbeaten in his eight fights.

Chael Sonnen had to prepare for a replacement opponent, but it didn't keep him from dominating Bryan Baker.

Sonnen, who was supposed to fight for Paulo Filho's middleweight title, instead took on the young, previously unbeaten Baker.

It was a mismatch from the start.

Sonnen took down Baker with ease and controlled the action on the ground to win all three rounds. Sonnen won two 10-8 rounds on two of the judges' scorecards and one on the third card to gain a 30-25, 30-25 and 30-26 decision.

Sonnen suffered a controversial loss to Filho in December but insisted he wasn't trying to send a message to the champion, who was forced out of this fight when he entered rehab for substance abuse two weeks ago.

"My coaches were saying, 'You have to make a statement to (Filho),' but I was just trying to work on my techniques," Sonnen said. "Tonight, it was just about me and Bryan Baker."

Two Las Vegans on the card suffered defeats.

Blas Avena was knocked out in the first round by Hiromitsu Miura, and John Alessio was disqualified when he kneed a downed Brock Larson.