athlete - combat sports

Alessio Sakara

Nationality

Italy

Date of Birth 02/09/1981

Height 1,87m

Weight 101kg

Professional Rio de Janeiro 08/09/2001

Biography

I was born in Pomezia, a quiet town on the outskirts of Rome, and I started playing football at the age of five. However, at eleven years old, I discovered my true passion: boxing. This discovery led me to win the regional championship three consecutive times and, subsequently, the Italian boxing title on points.

Despite these initial successes, I decided to take a short break from boxing. During this period, I never stopped training and discovered Sanda, a specialty of Chinese martial arts, in which I won the Italian professional title and obtained a second place in the world championships.

At the age of eighteen, I broadened my horizons by moving first to Colombia for six months, where I fought a few bouts as a professional, and then to Rio de Janeiro. I lived in Brazil for five years, honing my fighting techniques and fully immersing myself in the local culture.

In 2006 my career took a significant turn when I moved to the United States to join American Top Team, one of the most prestigious teams in MMA, based in Miami. During the four years I spent with them, I became the first Italian to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), participating in fights that left their mark on the history of the promotion.

One of the most memorable moments was in September 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska, where I won the "KO of the Night" award for defeating local athlete Joe Vedepo in just 86 seconds. This victory was followed by another major success in 2009 against Thales Leites, which brought me to fourteenth place in the world middleweight rankings of MMA and the top ten of the UFC.

Since 2016, I have competed for Bellator MMA in the 94kg weight class, where I have continued to demonstrate my superiority, winning by knockout against Brian Rogers and, six months later, against Joey Beltran in just two minutes.

On December 9, 2017, I fought for the Bellator MMA world title in Florence, and the following year, on December 1, 2018, I fought in Genoa at a charity event, donating the entire proceeds to the victims of the bridge collapse in city.

In 2018, I was honored to become an ambassador for Bellator MMA, a recognition of my impact in the ring and my positive role in the sport.

In 2024, I took on a new challenge by signing for four fights with George Masvidal's GameBred Fighting Championship, competing in the bare-knuckle MMA category. This new adventure not only demonstrates my versatility as an athlete, but also my continuous desire to evolve and face new challenges, always maintaining the spirit of perseverance and dedication that has always characterized me.

Palmares

2000-2003

Joins Inoki Army

2005

Signs with UFC at 24 years old

2007

Joins America Top Team

2008

Won the award for “KO of the Night”

2009

He reaches #14 in the world ranking and enters the UFC top ten

2013

He becomes the first European to spend multiple years on the UFC circuit (8 years).

2016

He made his debut in Bellator MMA facing the American Brian Rogers at the Bellator 152 event, organized for the first time in Italy. Halfway through the second round, Alessio scores with a right hook that heavily stuns Rogers and with a straight right end

2016

December 10 In his second fight in Bellator, he faces Joey Beltran in the main event of Bellator 168. Sakara gets the victory via first-round knockout.

2018

Sakara's signing for the Bellator MMA promotion as ambassador for Italy and Europe is announced.

2019

OPES is pleased to announce that Alessio Sakara is the new National Manager of the MMA Sector of OPES, as well as Director of the Sports Promotion Body recognized by CONI.

Curiosity

In October 2013, I participated in the second edition of the television program "Beijing Express", venturing into a television experience that added a new dimension to my public profile. In the same year, Discovery Channel launched a documentary series about my life: "Sakara the Legionnaire", followed by "Sakara Back to Brasil" in 2014 and "Sakara The Fighter", also in 2014. These series explored different stages of my career and personal development.

In 2014, I had the honor of hosting the "Fattore Alfa" program on Rai 2 together with my faithful dog Saki, and in the autumn of 2016, I was at the helm of "Ilpiù forte", broadcast on Dmax. These experiences have allowed me to integrate my passion for sport with media communication.

Since September 2017, I have co-hosted "Tú Sì Que Vales" on Canale 5, alongside Martín Castrogiovanni and the Argentine showgirl Belén Rodriguez. This show has given me an even bigger platform to reach the Italian audience. Furthermore, I participated as an actor in the films "Arrivano i prof" directed by Ivan Silvestrini and "Even without you" directed by Francesco Bonelli in 2018.

My connection with the Marvel universe materialized when I appeared in the trailer of "Avengers: Infinity War" together with Valentino Rossi and the pilots of the VR46 Academy, an unforgettable experience that united two of my favorite worlds: cinema and the races. The creators of South Park also recognized my impact on mixed martial arts by including me in an episode of their popular show in animated form, a tribute I found both flattering and entertaining.

My tattoos reflect my passion for ancient Roman and Greek history and are a living tribute to the history and values that these civilizations represent. Currently, I am also involved in the creation of a comic series entitled "The Legios", designed to introduce young people to contact disciplines and convey positive values through compelling narratives.

As the official ambassador of Bellator MMA, I am dedicated to promoting mixed martial arts and the sporting values they represent, especially among young people. During anti-bullying seminars in schools and universities, I show the educational side of contact sports to combat bullying and improve the personal safety of young people.

My autobiography "Every Day in Battle", published in 2020, talks about how sport has changed and improved my life, emphasizing how dedication and discipline in sport can provide a way out of violence and a path towards personal success.

I continue my career in acting with the protagonist role in the Rai TV series "Il Santone", whose second season is scheduled for 2024, and recently I took on the role of protagonist and artistic director in the film "The Cage", released in cinemas in 2023 and available on Netflix in 2024.

In 2023, I became an American resident, recognized for my sporting merits, and continue to host the widely followed program "Tú Sì Que Vales" for the seventh consecutive year, confirming my commitment to bringing entertainment and inspiration through my varied career .

Training

OFF SEASON

One 2-hour workout per day from Monday to Friday, while on Saturday and Sunday I practice other sports such as canoeing, biking, swimming, climbing, etc.

IN SEASON

2 workouts per day from Monday to Saturday

Morning technical training (specific sport)

Evening athletic training

Sunday active recovery Run or swim 30'

Diet

IN SEASON

DIET

Breakfast:

300 g egg whites

2 whole organic eggs or 30g avocado

60g oats