Former Italian boxer Alessio Sakara will tangle with Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission specialist Rousimar Palhares at UFC 99 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, on June 13, according to MMAWeekly.com.
Talk about a clash of styles.
"Legionarius" is coming off a brutal knockout of Joe Vedepo via head kick at UFC Fight Night 15 back in September 2008. It was an eye-opening finish from the heavy-handed American Top Team product to say the least.
Sakara was set to lock horns with Jake Rosholt at UFC Fight Night 17 on Feb. 7, 2009, until a late shoulder injury forced him off the card. He was then penciled in to clash with Alan Belcher at UFC 99 before "The Talent" was promoted to a showdown opposite big free agent acquisition, Yoshihiro Akiyama.
The former light heavyweight is currently (2-2) in his last four bouts and the same during his three-year career (4-4, 1 NC) with the UFC. Sakara -- who historically struggles against higher-level competition -- has been branded a gatekeeper of the division.
The up-and-coming Palhares is fresh off a unanimous decision win over mixed martial arts journeyman Jeremy Horn at UFC 93 earlier this year. Prior to the win, "Toquinho," which means "tree stump" in Portuguese, dropped a unanimous decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 88: "Breakthrough" on September 6.
In both performances he demonstrated just how dangerous he can be on the ground -- Horn and Henderson were extremely cautious when their fights went south. Ivan Salaverry -- Palhares’ first opponent inside the Octagon -- was not so lucky, tapping to a super slick armbar at UFC 84: "Ill Will" back in May 2008.
UFC 99 will be headlined by former middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin taking on ex-PRIDE smashing machine Wanderlei Silva in a special 195-pound brawl. Two solid welterweight match ups -- Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders and Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy -- are also currently expected to receive main card billing.
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