TUF Nations Finale Results: KJ Noons Puts Stamp on Prelims with Blistering Knockout of Sam Stout

Who is back? KJ Noons, that’s who!

Having lumbered through his tenure under the Strikeforce and UFC banners, Noons has been in desperate need of some momentum and he got it on Wednesday night.

Just 30 seconds into his The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale bout with Sam Stout in Quebec City, Quebec, Noons blasted Stout with an overhand right that put the Canadian on his backside.

Stout was still head up, but that didn’t last long as Noons dropped to the canvas landing a follow up left-right combination that put Stout out flat. Referee Dan Miragliotta quickly tackled Noons to save Stout from any further punishment.

“Sam’s a tough guy. I trained three months for this. I just came in with the overhand right and he’s never been stopped, this was by far one of my best wins,” said an elated Noons after the fight.

The two had initially been slated to meet at lightweight, but mutually agreed prior to weigh-ins to meet at welterweight. Noons said that he is prepared to fight at either lightweight or welterweight in the future.

“Whatever the UFC wants me to be at,” he stated.

Noons had lost five of six bouts before winning a unanimous decision over George Sotiropoulos at UFC 166 last October. This knockout of Stout was hugely important for the former EliteXC lightweight champion, as Noons now has back-to-back victories on resume for the first time in four years, giving him a solid platform from which to move forward.

For Stout, it keeps him treading water, consistently alternating between wins and losses over the past several years.

TUF Nations Finale Preliminary Results

Preliminary Bouts (on Fox Sports 1)
KJ Noons def. Sam Stout by KO at 0:30, R1
Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith by Unan Dec (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ryan Jimmo def. Sean O’Connell by KO at 4:27, R1
George Roop def. Dustin Kimura by Unan Dec (29-28, 30-27, 29-26)

Preliminary Bouts (on UFC Fight Pass)
Mark Bocek def. Mike De La Torre by Split Dec (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Nordine Taleb def. Vic Grujic by Unan Dec (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Richard Walsh def. Richard Indich by Unan Dec (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mitch Gagnon def. Tim Gorman by Unan Dec (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)