By Elias Cepeda
Talk about highs and lows. Steve Cantwell became a world champion at just 21 years of age in 2008, but went winless in 2009. So as he prepares for a new year and a bout against respected veteran Vladimir Matyushenko
on January 2nd at UFC 108, the young light heavyweight admits to having struggled with the ups and downs of these past two years.
In August of 2008, Cantwell scored a dramatic second round TKO win over Brian Stann. The victory not only avenged a prior KO loss to Stann but it also earned Cantwell the WEC 205-lb title belt.
His championship status was short lived, however, as Zuffa, the parent company for both the WEC and UFC, decided to do away with the light heavyweight division for the WEC and bring the organization’s top guys from that class, like Cantwell, over to the UFC. One can imagine Cantwell being disappointed at going from being a titlist to just another contender in a crowded division, but he says he wasn’t fazed by the transition.
“The long term goal was always to fight in the UFC,” Cantwell says. “I was enjoying the WEC and getting exposure, experience and ring time. But I grew up wanting to become a UFC champion.”
And Cantwell certainly seemed ready for the UFC stage with a first round finish of Razak Al-Hassan in his Octagon debut back in December of ’08. But in April and again in September of 2009, Cantwell followed that big win with two decision losses, including the rubber match with Stann.
Cantwell could deal with losing his title and moving to the UFC, but not with losing in the Octagon. His first ‘09 loss to Luiz Cane and the one that followed to Stann were very different in Cantwell’s eyes, but equally dissatisfying.
“The sky was the limit for me going into 2009 but I bombed this year. I had some little things to work out; personal issues, spiritual issues. I think I have them all figured out now,” he says.
Cantwell feels that he got robbed in the decision loss to Cane but admits to a “horrible” fight against Stann last September.
“Brian Stann is the kind of guy you never want to fight. I don’t want to fight war heroes and good, hardworking guys like him. He’s the hardest guy in the world to train for because it’s like having to beat up your brother. It just wasn’t a motivating fight for me. I trained as hard as I could because I don’t know any other way, but I didn’t do as well as I should have,” Cantwell says.
Cantwell is having no issues getting motivated for his next opponent, Matyushenko, a wrestling legend and experienced fighter with world championship level experience. To prepare, Cantwell has been putting in work at his usual spots, going to One Kick’s Gym for striking and MMA work and Sergio Penha for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Cantwell knows he’ll need to bring everything he can to the table come fight night against “The Janitor.”
“He’s a big, gnarly, Russian wrestler and a tough fight for anybody, especially for me because I have these decision losses and this is a guy who wins decisions,” Cantwell says.
“In the back of my mind I know I have to go out there and finish this guy. I don’t know how to win decisions. He’s a good guy with decent stand up and real good control on the ground and he looks strong as hell. I just have to keep it in his mind and show him throughout the fight that I’m the younger, stronger and faster fighter out there.”
Ever since Stann began watching the UFC at 13 years of age, it was his dream to become a mixed martial arts champion. Even before that exposure he says he knew he wanted to be, “a tough guy of some sort.”
Barely out of his teens, he became a champion but that soon slipped out of his grasp. Now he’s driven to get back to where he was and surpass his former accomplishments. Surrounding himself with the right people and making the right life choices, even while living in a city of temptation like Las Vegas, is crucial for Cantwell.
“Being 21 and winning a world title on national television, the hard part was not getting too ahead of myself and not getting too cocky – partying and stuff like that, especially living in Vegas. I just tried to stay grounded by staying in the gym. I’m also surrounded by good people, good trainers, a great girlfriend, a good family, and they all have healthy lifestyles. I live in ‘Sin City’ but the last place you’ll ever see me is in a bar or club. You are who you hang out with,” Cantwell says.
Impressive wisdom from a young man, to be certain. But it’s because Cantwell knows what is at stake – bringing his childhood dream to fruition.
“What’s motivating me in the gym every day is keeping my dream alive. It’s always been a dream of mine (to become a UFC champion) and I’m real close to achieving it. I stumbled the last couple times but I’m doing work to come back and make it happen.”
