Rousimar Palhares vs. Alessio Sakara At UFC 99

by Scott Haber on Mar 30, 2009 2:55 PM EDT

The card for June's UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany just keeps seeing more fights added. MMA Weekly is now reporting that a middleweight bout between freakishly-strong submission specialist, Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares, and former Italian pro boxer, Alessio Sakara has been inked:

The card continues to grow for UFC 99 in Germany, as Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares will return for a middleweight match-up against American Top Team fighter Alessio Sakara. The bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Monday by sources close to the fight.

Sakara (13-7, 4-4+1 NC UFC) was originally rumored to face Alan Belcher at UFC 99, but Belcher is now expected to take on the debuting Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 100. Now training with American Top Team, the Italian-born Sakara has been rounding out his MMA game and improving his already-dangerous striking. Although he has yet to find consistent success in the UFC, with his wins often immediately followed by losses, Sakara has shown some bright glimmers of talent, including in his most recent victory back in September when he KOd Joe Vedepo with a brutal head kick.

Palhares (9-2, 2-1 UFC) is perhaps Brazil's best answer to Masakazu Imanari, with both being well known for their vicious leglocks. "Toquinho", however, also adds a more well-rounded submission game, and phenomenal brute strength that makes his wrestling skills and slams even more dangerous, particularly notable since Brazilian fighters tend to be lacking in the wrestling department. Trained by Murilo Bustamente at Brazilian Top Team, Palhares impressed with his decimation-via-armbar of veteran Ivan Salaverry, but was then possibly fed to the wolves, when he faced Dan Henderson in only his second UFC bout. Although Palhares nearly submitted Hendo at several points, the American grinded out a decision victory. Palhares rebounded, and went on to dominate the ultra-experienced Jeremy Horn for a decision victory at January's UFC 93.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Brutal. Toquinho deserves better competition than this.

by Tim Burke on Mar 30, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Tree Stump’s taking a limb home with him.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 30, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

This is how I would handle this offer if I was Sakara (Really. This IS what I would do.)

1)I would refuse to take this fight if I was Sakara. Give me a different fight!
2)If they insisted, I would beg for a different fight. (I`m not above beggin)
3)If they wouldn`t give me a different fight, I would ask, and then beg, to be released from my contract.
4)If all else fails I would run run run and then tap tap tap as soon as I got taken down.

But then again, I`m a MMA-fan, not a MMA-fighter…

"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)

by BlueberryMuffin on Mar 30, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Over time, you’d steel yourself to swing for the fences and do nothing but try to stand up once your ass hits the ground. This should be fun.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 30, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Good lord. Sakara is probably gonna want pack his bags now.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 30, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Clearly, Dana wanted to bump Sakara off the roster, but needed a legitimate way to do that. Toquinho shredding his knees with a heel hook will do that, and give the German audience a nice show at the same time ;)

by Scott Haber on Mar 30, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

He gets Horn and then Sakara?

hmm..was Palhares on TUF or something?

by Bigperm on Mar 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

No, it’s just that his UFC debut was against DAN HENDERSON.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 30, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

No, pretty sure he fought someone before Dan.

by Bigperm on Mar 30, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Salaverry

was his debut fight.

Hendo was his second fight.

by Scott Haber on Mar 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Goodbye Sakara

It’s going to be a painful send off.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Mar 30, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Am I the only one who has been somewhat underwhelmed by Palhares? I mean, I really WANT to like him; he seems like a great guy who trains like a maniac, and all his training partners talk about is his strength, his determination, and his BJJ skill.

But against Hendo, he really had no idea how to set up his takedowns, which resulted in him just trying to hang onto Hendo and drag him down by weight. Hendo’s an Olympic wrestler; that’s just not going to work. Against Horn, he had a past-his-prime (sorry, but true) fighter down, had his back, had mount, side control, etc… and did very little with it. Horm got mugged, absolutely; it was a dominating win by Palhares. But I just expected MORE, you know?

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Mar 30, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

Palhares came closer to finishing Hendo than Franklin did with that leg lock. That impressed the shit out of me. And he manhandled Horn – that fight was a testament to Horn’s sub defense.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 30, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Horn came close to finishing him at one point in the 3rd. Also, he struggled againt Hendo – not that hendo is a slouch by any means but man, Palhares looked clueless in there. And it’s not like Hendo was being aggressive at all. He was playing defense against Palhares the whole time but Palhares couldn’t do anything in there.

The jury is still out IMO..

by Bigperm on Mar 30, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

He mentioned something about breaking his hand during the first round of the Horn fight. If that is the case, his performance wasn’t bad. And I thought he was pretty impressive against Henderson. I figured he’d get taken out in short order, but he’s got a chin and heart. I think his biggest problem is just how one dimensional he is, it didn’t really allow him to utilize a better gameplan against Henderson.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 30, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess that from such a heralded BJJ wiz, I expect something more like what Maia is doing at MW. Unrealistic expectation? Probably; but at the same time, he’s not threatening anyone standing, so if he can’t submit people (which also makes it necessary for him to get them on the ground, which he hasn’t done consistently either), he’s going to have issues.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Mar 30, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

-5

by Blackout612 on Mar 30, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

stupid matchup..

theyre obviously trying to build up palhares and kickout sakara in the process..

I’d rather see palhares against maia.. That would be a great fight and it would really be hard to call.. assuming their jits are about at the same level or with maia’s a bit higher, i think palhares could out muscle him to a UD.. but maybe maia’s is really better and he overwhelms him with his jits like he does for everyone.. either way, i want to see that fight!

its like dustin hazelett vs aoki, only, instead of a tall lanky guy you get a short stumpy one.. haha. :D

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 30, 2009 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

This match-up is really similar to the upcoming Kang fight. Pitting an (in the UFC) top 11-20 guy against a top 21-30 guy.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Mar 30, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions