Cody Stamann is known for handling his business as a mixed martial artist in the ring. However, it seems his next opponent will be the North Carolina Boxing and Combat Sports Commission after he was wronged during his recent fight against Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Charlotte.

The situation occurred during the opening round when Stamann performed a takedown, and de Andrade caught him with an upkick while his knees were still on the ground. This is an illegal move, so the referee, Wayne Spinola, gave de Andrade a warning. However, he then immediately restarted the fight on the feet without penalizing de Andrade or giving Stamann back his top position.

Stamann was taken aback by what was happening and couldn’t comprehend it. This momentary lapse affected his game, and he had to regain his focus in the second round. Stamann knew that he was wronged and that the referee made an egregious error, so his manager filed an appeal with the commission. It remains unclear how much this mistake affected the fight’s outcome, but Stamann believes that regaining his top position would’ve given him more time and control the fight.

Stamann’s argument is compelling, and the unified rules of MMA are clear on the matter. The rules state that unless the top contestant is injured, the fight must continue after a foul. Spinola did not adhere to this rule, and Stamann believes that it was a result of the referee not knowing the rules.

The bantamweight is disappointed that such a thing could happen in the UFC, and it makes him question where he fights next, especially if the UFC goes to states or countries that don’t hold regular MMA events. Stamann is uncertain about his next fight, as he’s still waiting for the appeal’s outcome.

Stamann’s eager to book another fight as soon as the process is over, stating that the only way to get the bad taste out of his mouth is to get back into the ring. Stamann is a fighter, and he’s ready to take on anyone as long as there’s no damage that could endanger his health.