Recent American Top Team addition Alessio Sakara did much to rejuvenate his standing in the UFC’s middleweight division Wednesday at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb. He scored a highlight-worthy knockout of Octagon newcomer Joe Vedepo to cap off a UFC Fight Night preliminary card filled with explosive finishes.

Sakara, a native of Rome, Italy, has been criticized for his inconsistency and his chin, as the slugger has been stopped by punches in three of his eight previous UFC bouts. Bucking the trend with an aggressive game plan and a torrent of strikes, Sakara (13-7, 1 NC) set the pace early with two head kicks that narrowly missed their target. Following a failed shot from Vedepo (7-2), Sakara seized the much-needed win by slamming a right-legged head kick into the face of the Team Extreme brawler.

Referee Yves Lavigne watched closely as a heavy punch rained down on the fallen Vedepo, which prompted the third man in the cage to call an end to the contest at just 1:27 of the first.

ATT product Wilson Gouveia made good on his 185-pound debut, securing an armbar submission of Ryan Jensen after dropping the first round on the Sherdog.com scorecard.

Gouveia (11-5) was a step behind Jensen (13-5) in the opening frame, giving way to the Nebraska native’s wrestling and control. After shaking off an unintentional kick to the groin in the first minute of round two, Gouveia gave up a takedown, which played right into his game. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt moved his hips in search of an armbar and forced a tapout from the painful technique at the 2:04 mark.

“The Ultimate Fighter” season five cast member Joe Lauzon rallied from an early scare to stop Kyle Bradley with punches at 1:34 of the second stanza.

Bradley (13-6, 1 NC) buckled the lightweight’s knees with a hard right hook early in the opening round. Lauzon recovered quickly and peppered Bradley with one-two punching combinations and a stiff knee to the midsection.

In the second stage, Lauzon took control with a fast trip takedown and side-control. The Massachusetts-based fighter, now 17-4 with the win, moved effortlessly to the mount and back of Bradley, where he landed punches to the head until referee Josh Arney stepped in to save the punished fighter.

Hometown favorite Jason Brilz overwhelmed Aussie Brad Morris en route to a technical knockout stoppage in the second round of their light heavyweight tilt. The Nebraskan dominated the action throughout in his big-show premiere, striking often from side-control and moving to his opponent’s back with both hooks.

"I love that position right there," said Brilz (16-1-1) of the advantageous spot that had set up the finish with punches.

Morris, now 9-4, is 0-2 in the UFC with both losses coming by way of TKO.

Mike Massenzio claimed victory in his UFC debut with a first-round submission of hard-hitting middleweight Drew McFedries. Massenzio, 11-2, secured a kimura on the heels of a scramble at the 1:28 mark. McFedries dropped to 7-4 with the loss.

In the evening’s opening bout, IFL middleweight champion Dan Miller (9-1, 1 NC) easily submitted Rob Kimmons (21-4) with a rear-naked choke at 1:27 of the first.