Synopses & Reviews
This is the story of a kid from the wrong side of Scranton who made it to the Naval Academy, played linebacker for the Navy football team for four years, became a Marine officer, graduated first in his infantry officer class, led his men in two intense combat tours in the Anbar Province, received the Silver Star for gallantry, and now has emerged as one of the most interesting figures on the mixed martial arts (MMA) professional circuit.
Review
Fight Magazine
Brian Stann knows a thing or two about fighting—he’s been doing it the last 29 years. From fighting off gangs as a kid to serving as a Marine Officer in the Middle East to stepping into the Octagon, Stann has chewed some steel. His new book, Heart for the Fight, documents his trials and tribulations.
Reason to Read: Stann is a badass. There’s just no other way to describe him. If he never wins another fight in the Octagon, he’ll still be a badass. The man led his troops through two intense combat tours and received a Silver Star for gallantry. Now, he fights for the UFC and works as Executive Director of HireHeroes USA, a link to job opportunities for servicemen and women.
Review
Ground and Pound (Vancouver Sun MMA blog)
“Heart for the Fight is a heckuva read that takes you from Stann's rough and tumble childhood years to college football glory, the front lines in Iraq and a WEC title. Definitely worth the cover price - a surprisingly insightful and interesting read.”
Review
Brawl Sports (Houston Chronicle)
Fighter autobiographies are nothing new, but Heart for the Fight stands alone. His story is completely unique, but it's a willingness to open up and identify his own flaws and his own emotions that separates Stann from the crowd. It's a must-read and a valuable look at one of the good guys in the MMA world.
About.com
Sport biographies are often predictable and tend to focus on athletic prowess. Duh, right? Perhaps that's what makes the majority of these stories boring to me...I've heard it all before. Which is why Heart for the Fight was such a refreshing read. You see, Heart for the Fight tells the story of former WEC champion Brian Stann, and it's hardly about MMA alone. In fact, I wouldn't even call this a book about an MMA fighter specifically. Rather, it's the story of war hero that's already done more with his life than most…
Think about that: Stann made it through tough times in Scranton, played football for Navy, served his country as a platoon commander in Iraq, and now fights professionally in MMA. That's a book by itself. Add in his relationship with his wife and some controversy surrounding allegations made by a woman and you have one gripping page turner.
Heart for the Fight is one of the better sports biographies I've read in a long time because it's not all about sports—it's about the heroic spirit of a man that has done more in his short time on earth than many do in a lifetime. Don't pick this book up if you're looking for a cookie cutter story on an MMA athlete. Rather, pick it up if you want to be inspired. I highly recommend it.
About the Author
Brian Stann served two tours in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom III and IV. As a Marine platoon leader during Operation Matador, he received the Silver Star for valor after his unit encountered vastly superior enemy forces. Brian is a 2003 Annapolis graduate and was starting linebacker on the Naval Academy football team. A former light-heavyweight champion in the WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting), he now fights in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the \u0022big leagues\u0022 of mixed martial arts. He is also president of Hired Heroes, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that finds employment for America\u2019s veterans.John R. Bruning has been a professional military historian and writer