Stann is aiming to bounce back from defeat to Chael Sonnen at UFC 136 when he takes on Sakara - who is returning from a year-long injury lay-off - and re-establish himself as a top contender in the UFC Middleweight division.

The American was on a three-fight winning run before Sonnen submitted him

in the second round of their clash in Texas, but Stann does not believe a knee-jerk reaction is necessary following a defeat.

He exclusively told skysports.com: "I always bring in different people to help me train for a fight, but nothing major.

"I have one new coach who is a five-time world kickboxing champion from Thailand and he has helped me in this training camp, diversifying my striking and adding to what I do well already."

Stann may have suffered a setback when he lost to Sonnen, but he believes he will be entering the Octagon in better shape than Sakara - who suffered foot and knee injuries following his defeat to Chris Weidman last year.

He continued: "I think I have is a bit of an advantage, perhaps not because he hasn't fought in a while, but that he is coming back from injury when I have been active.

"I have had two fights in the same time against top quality opposition and I have always been improving.

"I have fought the number two guy in the world at this weight class and I have only been getting better which is dangerous for anyone who is going to fight me, not just if you have been injured."

He added: "I think it is a fun style match-up for the fans and certainly a stylistic match-up that I like."

Accomplishments

Stann is a former US Marine and his accomplishments outside the cage have been well-documented in the MMA press after he was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest military award.

Even though he battled for six days against Iraqi insurgents when trying to secure a bridge in the country and in doing so saved the lives of his platoon, he is quick to downplay his role as a hero.

His story is used as recruitment tool by the military, but he is understandably coy about his heroics, but admits it has given him perspective on what matters when he steps into the Octagon.

He said: "It is sport and there is pressure, but the things I experienced in the armed forces would make almost anything seem tame by comparison."

Stann comes across as well-balanced fighter, whose dedication to the sport only pales in comparison with his dedication to his family.

The 31-year-old has two young daughters and is more concerned with their best interests instead of indulging in any of the distractions that can hinder other fighters in his position.

"The only thing I care to do outside the Octagon is spend time with my kids. Everything I do in my life is a means to provide for them and it's why I fight, it's why I work and it's why I do a myriad of different things, it's for my family and it is really what I enjoy doing," he revealed.

"I don't play golf, I don't go to bars, I don't go to the pub, I don't go to the clubs. I stay at home at watch Disney films with my two little princesses."

Favourite

Stann is the big 1/4 favourite with Sky Bet to win this bout, but he is not keen to look too far into the future - though he admits he would relish another crack at Sonnen.

He said: "Chael is the number two guy in the world and he may have the belt soon. It is nothing personal with Chael - we have a good relationship - I hate losing. I hate losing at Monopoly! If I lose at a board game I will want to play you right away.

"So imagine what it is like for a fight? It is just the way I am and it is nothing personal, I don't hold a grudge against anybody. In the fights I've lost it just shows that the other guy was the better guy that night."

He added: "This is what I do for a sport, it is competition. I would love to fight all the guys I have lost to and do it better."

Sonnen is an obvious choice for Stann, but is there anybody else he would like to face in the Middleweight division?

Outspoken British star Michael Bisping is ranked as one of the top five fighters in the weight class and Stann believes a clash with 'The Count' would be an intriguing contest.

He concluded: "I'd love to, that match would be highly marketable, but his performance by Sonnen and my last performance v Sonnen means that I have to win some fights for that to materialise, but it would be a great fight.

"The fans would be behind it as it's an attractive fight and I'm sure it would attract a lot of attention."