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There was no easing into the first UFC event in Baltimore.
Chris Beal jolted the sold-out crowd to attention with a flying-knee knockout of Patrick Williams in the second round of the night's first fight.
Danny Castillo then flattened Charlie Brenneman with a punch to win the second fight of the card by knockout.
In many places where the UFC holds its pay-per-views, the fans file in throughout the preliminary card.
Not in Baltimore.
Fight fans hungry to welcome mixed martial arts' biggest promotion had Baltimore Arena looking almost full by the opening bell. And it hasn't been quiet.
The big early roar came when Beal -- who competed on the popular "Ultimate Fighter" reality show -- landed his flying knee to the head of Williams intheir bantamweight bout.
"I've been practicing knees and kicks all camp so that flying knee was definitely part of the game plan," Beal said. "I went for it and smashed him in the face. ... I'm going to keep fighting and move up the division and hopefully someday be a champion. I want to finish fights and make it exciting for the fans."
Castillo wasted little time delivering the second knockout of the night in his lightweight bout with Brenneman.
"It as an overhand and it just connected flush," Castillo said. "When he fell, I saw his eyes roll back and I knew he was out. I didn't want to cause anymore damage then I needed to. He's a great opponent, a good dude and he never disrespected me once so I didn't want to hurt him anymore. I knew the fight was over after that punch. "
Bethe Correia won the lone women's fight on the card with a unanimous decision over Jessamyn Duke.