Former Italian boxer Alessio Sakara will finally tangle with Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission specialist Rousimar Palhares at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale in Las Vegas on December 5, according to Tatame.com.

The two were originally set for battle at UFC 101 back on August 8 until Palhares suffered a tibia fracture during training that required surgery.

Thales Leites stepped in for his fellow Brazilian to face Sakara but went down on points and eventually got booted from the UFC altogether.

That win made it two straight for "Legionarius" -- the first time he's been able to string together consecutive wins since his Octagon debut at UFC 55 back in October 2005.

Prior to defeating Leites, he scored a brutal knockout of Joe Vedepo via head kick at UFC Fight Night 15 last September. It was an eye-opening finish from the heavy-handed American Top Team product to say the least.

The up-and-coming Palhares hasn't seen action since 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" in September 2008.

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."

Stay tuned for more information on this still-developing fight card.