LAS VEGAS — Rashad Evans stopped Forrest Griffin to win the light heavyweight championship Saturday night in UFC 92.

Griffin, the winner of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality television show, and Evans, a second season winner, became the first two winners from the show to face off for a championship.

After two rounds of exchanging punches and kicks, Evans dropped Griffin to the mat in the third.

Evans landed multiple shots and a flailing Griffin was unable to defend himself. Evans landed a hard right which dazed Griffin then continued to connect with punches and the fight was stopped at 2:46 of the third round.

"It sounds good," said Evans, asked how it sounded to be called the champ.

"It was a great fight," he said. "Forrest gave me all I could handle the first two rounds."

Evans remains undefeated and now becomes the second winner of The Ultimate Fighter to capture a title.

In the co-main event, former champion Frank Mir stopped Antonio Nogueira at 1:54 of the second round, earning a title shot against newly crowned heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Both Mir and Nogueira were coaches on the latest season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

The two stood toe-to-toe in the first round with Mir landing numerous shots, flooring Nogueira twice.

Mir continued to apply pressure in the second round and landed a left that sent Nogueira to the mat. Mir immediately pounced on his downed opponent. He landed a flurry of punches and the referee jumped in and stopped the fight.

"I've never been more afraid in my life than when I walked into the ring," Mir said, relieved. "I didn't even think I could beat Nogueira."

On the undercard, former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson knocked out Wanderlei Silva in the first round.

Silva had knocked out Jackson in both the two previous meetings. Jackson got his revenge, rocking Silva with a left hook and at 3:21 of the first.

"This is really sweet," Jackson said. "I've been waiting for this for a long time, Rampage is back."

Cheick Kongo used a devastating ground and pound, stopping Mostapha Al Turk by TKO at 4:37 of the first round and C.B. Dollaway stopped Mike Massenzio by TKO at 3:01 of the first round.

In the preliminary bouts, Yushin Okami defeated Dean Lister by unanimous decision and Antoni Hardonk stopped Mike Wessel by TKO in the second round.

Matt Hamill knocked out Reese Andy in the second round. Brad Blackburn earned a unanimous decision over Ryo Chonan and Pat Berry defeated Dan Evensen by TKO in the first round.