Brian Stann had something to prove after a bad performance against Chael Sonnen last year, and he definitely made a statement with a knockout of Alessio Sakara in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel 2. Stann blasted Sakara with two knees that floored him, and followed up with some hard ground and pound that turned Sakara's lights out at 2:26 of the first round.

Stann started out trying to establish a kicking game, but Sakara threw some nice counterpunches. Stann landed a huge right and two brutal knees that floored Sakara, but Alessio managed to cover up and stay in the fight. Stann worked from Sakara's full guard, unleashing some powerful right hands that briefly put Sakara to sleep. Stann landed one more punch that seemed to wake Sakara back up and he put his arms up to defend, but Stann had already let up and the referee jumped in to stop the fight.

Stann entered the bout with a 4-1 record at middleweight, the only loss coming to the aforementioned Sonnen. Sakara was stepping into the cage for the first time in 13 months after a serious knee injury.

SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva