By Lucas Grandsire

Cody Stamann has finally been able to shed the “prospect” label.

The 17-1 bantamweight is coming off of the biggest victory of his career, handing Bryan Caraway his first loss since 2014 earlier this month at UFC 222 in Las Vegas.

Stamann, the former Michiana Fight League bantamweight champion, now moves to 3-0 in the UFC—and big fights undoubtedly await.

“I thought the fight went really well, outside of that takedown I gave up in the first round,” Stamann told FloCombat. “I felt like that was the round where I was starting to figure him out, and then I got taken down so I wasn't able to get my motor going in that round.

"I overcame the adversity knowing I lost the first one and I came back and won the next two. I was disappointed with my performance after the fight. But looking back at it, the dude took 23 shots. There wasn't a whole lot I could do on my feet just because he was shooting so much. I'm happy with it.”

It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Stamann, as the fight would end in a close split decision. Caraway's grinding, pressure-heavy offense has given fighters fits since his pro debut in 2005, and Stamann admits the challenge to overcome it was a significant one.

Once Stamann cracked the code, however, it was his fight all the way.

“In the second and third round, I definitely stuck to the game plan,” Stamann said. “Stick and move, hit and move. Stuff the takedowns and stick and move—that was the game plan going into this fight. I think I'm just better all around. I think I was a better wrestler; I stuffed all his shots. I was the better boxer. I'm faster, younger, I'm in better shape definitely.

"After a round, I beat him up. The first four minutes I was beating him up on the feet. That's why he had to take me down for the last minute. It was enough to win the fight.”

Coming into the third round, the pressure was on Stamann to capitalize on his strong second-round performance and seal the victory. Luckily, the Michigan native thrives under pressure.

“[Going into the third round I] just [knew] that I had to win it,” Stamann said. “I knew that it was one [round] to one. I knew I had to win that fight. I'm the kind of guy that, I do well under pressure. I've always performed well when my back's against the wall."

The win added to Stamann’s already impressive winning streak and earned him a place at No. 12 in the UFC's official bantamweight rankings.

So what’s been the key to Stamann’s impressive run? Similar to NBA legend Tim “The Big Fundamental” Duncan, it’s all about sticking to the basics.

“I didn't realize it, but someone told me it was a 10-fight winning streak,” Stamann said. “I don't know that I look at it like a streak because my only loss as a professional was a really messed up split decision. In my eyes, I've never really lost as a professional. What I've done right consistently throughout my MMA career is just work hard and try to do absolutely everything by the book.

"If there's one thing in life where I put all my effort, time, and organization into it's MMA."

That commitment doesn't just take hold when Stamann has a fight booked. It's a neverending process, and he strives to get better every day, whether it's in the gym, the kitchen, or the film room.

“I've always been on a good diet, I've always been in good shape for fights," Stamann said. "In the offseason, I'm trying to get better. I just do all the simple little things right. I think all of that adds up to making a [high-level] athlete. It's not like I have some secret technique that no one knows about. All it is is just habitual things that I do every day.

"I'm constantly going back and refining my technique, drilling basics even though I'm 10 years into this sport. I think it's just a combination of making good choices over my career.”

With a victory over Caraway, who was ranked No. 7 heading into the bout, in his pocket, Stamann now has his eye set on a potential return in the summer.

And a big-name fighter is the only fight he’ll consider.

“I've got a few stitches in my eye, but other than that I'm pretty healthy,” Stamann said. “I could be looking to get back in there in three to four months. I don't really want a big layoff. It's really just down to the right opponent popping up. My next fight has to be a John Lineker, it has to be someone in the top 15 that moves me up in the rankings.

“John Lineker is a guy I've thought about a lot. John Lineker or John Dodson, because those guys are ranked a little above me. Those are guys I feel I match up well against and they'd be big fights for me. They're definitely, definitely winnable fights for me.”