Silva KOs Stann in UFC bout in Japan

Las Vegan Wanderlei Silva turned back the clock Saturday night.

Silva knocked out Brian Stann with a series of right hands in the second round of a thrilling light heavyweight main event on the UFC on Fuel TV 8 card in Saitama, Japan.

The 36-year-old Silva became one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts during his days in the Japan-based Pride Fighting Championships, but he was 3-5 since the Ultimate Fighting Championship purchased the organization.

Silva, fighting in Japan for the first time since 2006, crushed Stann with punches in the second after a back-and-forth first round in which each fighter was knocked down several times.

“I’m so proud to fight for you,” Silva said to the Japanese crowd.

An emotional Stann, who appeared to suffer a broken nose in the first round, was nearly in tears as he addressed the crowd. He said Silva inspired him to become a fighter.

The rest of the card was comparatively lackluster.

Mark Hunt won his fourth consecutive fight with a third-round knockout of Stefan Struve in a heavyweight bout.

Diego Sanchez took a controversial split decision over Takanori Gomi in a lightweight bout, and Yushin Okami won a split decision over Hector Lombard in a matchup of top-10 middleweights.

Also on the main card, Dong Hyun Kim won a unanimous decision over Siyar Bahadurzada in a welterweight bout, and featherweight Rani Yahya took a unanimous decision over Mizuto Hirota.