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Stann open to UK fight with Bisping

Brian Stann would love to fight in England © UFC

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Brian Stann insists he would leap at the chance of fighting Michael Bisping in the UFC middleweight division - even if it was in the Brit's back yard.

Stann takes on Alessio Sakara this weekend in a fight he is expected to win. Having lost to Chael Sonnen last time out it is time for the American to rebuild his career.

Victory, in Stann's eyes, lifts him right back among the 185lb contenders, which is where he expects to be at the end of UFC on Fuel 2 this weekend. And if the UFC offers him Bisping in the future, he would not think twice about accepting the bout.

"A decisive victory on Saturday puts me back among those names," Stann told ESPN. "Bisping had a really good performance against Sonnen so I'd have to have another couple of wins before I get a shot at a guy like him, but a win Saturday night gets me in the mix.

"It's definitely high on my agenda, he's one of the top middleweights out there. It makes sense from a style point of view, from a marketable view - it's the fight a lot of fans ask for.

"I would love to fight in England. I've never been to England but I'm very close to Tom Watson, I'd love to go over there to fight. I've heard so many fantastic things, I've served with members of their military and they were fantastic, it'd be a great opportunity for me."

First Stann must overcome Sakara, the Italian with dangerous hands and a slippery ground game. Stann does not think his rival will want to stand for three rounds.

"I think he'll try to use his hands, stick and move and use combinations, he won't want to be in front of me for too long to avoid my power," Stann said. "At some point he'll try to take it to the mat, but for the most part we'll just be trading punches."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.