UFC on Fuel TV 2 Preview: The Main Card

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Middleweights
Brian Stann (11-4, 5-3 UFC) vs. Alessio Sakara (15-8, 6-5 UFC, 1 NC)

The Matchup: Stann saw the momentum of a three-fight winning streak come to a screeching halt with an arm-triangle submission loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC 136. While the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts fighter has improved markedly since his days in the WEC, that bout showed that Stann still has some improvements to make in his wrestling before he can be considered a serious title contender at middleweight.

Luckily for him, Sakara is not the type to test the ground game of the “All American.” Like Stann, Sakara was grounded for much of his last outing, a unanimous decision loss to the highly-regarded Chris Weidman at UFC Live 3. A knee injury kept “Legionarius” out of a proposed showdown with Constantinos Philippou at UFC 133, so he hasn’t competed since March of last year.

Stann has always liked to stand and bang, but he has long since ditched the brawling style that first propelled him to light heavyweight gold in the WEC. Under the tutelage of Mike Winkeljohn, Stann has a better understanding of how to use angles and when to change levels with his strikes. He is also more tactful in the Octagon, displaying a keen awareness of when to be patient and when to go all-in for the finish.

A more measured approach will be beneficial against Sakara, who is an excellent counter puncher with fast hands. The Italian doesn’t need much time or space to unleash a flurry, but he also has a tendency to abandon his footwork and fundamentals when the pace becomes more frantic. This is a very real possibility against Stann, who has brought significant power with him since cutting to 185 pounds. The Pennsylvania native owns noteworthy knockouts of the ultra-durable Chris Leben and former Sengoku Raiden Championships title holder Jorge Santiago in recent fights.

The Pick: Since neither one of these men is likely to shoot for a takedown, this contest comes down to who can get the best of things on the feet. While Sakara has a penchant for exciting fights, the results have been mixed. The American Top Team export’s chin has been exposed in losses to Leben, Drew McFedries and Houston Alexander. If he gets tagged early by Stann, he’ll likely leave himself exposed for a follow-up. Given Stann’s athleticism and intelligence, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Silver Star recipient doesn’t capitalize on such a mistake. Stann by second-round TKO.

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