Mike Pyle's experience and accuracy proved to be too much for fellow welterweight Ricardo Funch.
Although Funch brought a considerably sharper-looking standup game to the fight, Pyle's punches and knees brought a stop to the fight at the 1:22 mark of the first round.
The preliminary-card bout was part of UFC 142 and aired on FX prior to the pay-per-view main card. It took place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
"I think that's probably my best finish that I have in the UFC," Pyle said after the fight.
After a few inconclusive exchanges, a straight right from Pyle put Funch in a bad way. Retreating toward the cage, the Xtreme Couture fighter pursued with a leaping knee and immediately locked in a clinch, where he planted a knee that dropped Funch.
A flurry of punches on the downed fighter merely sealed the deal, and referee Mario Yamasaki saw enough and waved off the bout.
Pyle (22-8-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) rebounds from a TKO loss to Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 while Funch (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), a late replacement, is now 0-3 in the octagon and could be facing a pink slip.
