Igår blev det klart att Alessio Sakara kommer att möta Brian Stann på UFC on Fuel TV 2 i Sverige den 14 april. Så för att ta reda på hur det var för honom att få reda på den kommande matchen så tog jag och slog en signal till Italen för att ta ett litet samtal med honom.
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Marcus Kowal: How excited are you to get to fight in Sweden and for this historic moment?
Alessio Sakara: Very happy – Italy is close to Sweden and it will be like fighting in my backyard for once.
There’s a connection between Italy and Sweden and a fairly big Italian population there. In fact, one of Sweden’s most famous fighters, former boxing world champion Paolo Roberto, has Italian heritage – were you aware of that?
Yes, I’m aware of Italian heritage in Sweden and I’m both really happy and proud to get a chance to perform in front of a crowd, who will – hopefully – be rooting for me, rather than the American, which is usually the case when fighting in the U.S.
What’s your opinion of your opponent, the American hero Brian Stann?
Ultimate respect for what he’s done for his country as a soldier and inside the Octagon as well. However, I’m just as he’s nationalistic and proud of being an Italian, as he is for his country.
Have you had a chance to study your opponent Brian Stann, who just fought and lost to Chael Sonnen? If so, what do you see in Stann’s game?
Me and Chael Sonnen have very different fighting styles, since I’m primarily a striker but yes, I have watched it. I believe my striking skills will be the main difference.
You are 9-1 as a pro boxer. Do you think your pro boxing career makes a difference? Your superior striking skills?
In the UFC, it’s not that much of an advantage because the gloves are so small and everyone is dangerous. However, I do believe that will be one of the areas I will be superior.
Lately, we see a turn towards more knockouts vs submissions and strikers, with strikers such as the heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos leading the way. Why do you think that is and how much does it favour your style?
Well, knockouts is always more exciting to see and the crowd loves it. We are, ultimately, performers and want to please our fans and I believe fighters both train more striking and look for the knockout more today than previously. However, at this level, everyone knows how to fight; grapplers learn how to strike and vice versa. It does favour me somewhat but again; at this level, all fighters know how to do everything.
You’re no newcomer; you made your debut in UFC 55 way back in 2005 but you’re still not that well known to the casual MMA fan, even though you’ve fought big names, such as Chris Leben and Thales Leites. Why do you think that is?
MMA wasn’t very big in Italy and I’m not an American fighter but no, I’m definitely no newcomer to the sport. I’m planning on changing the popularity, however!
What makes you interesting to watch as a fighter and how have you improved/changed as a fighter over the years?
It’s not just me; it’s a very exciting sport to watch – doesn’t bore and it’s a spectacle! However, I think my striking skills make for exciting fights and I’m now a more complete mixed martial artist
In Sweden, the news of UFC coming have been huge. Sweden’s martial arts scene is immensely excited for the event; how big is the MMA scene in Italy?
It wasn’t big but over the past 2 years, it’s been growing tremendously! As soon as my fight was announced, people started talking about it online and forums. Italians were booking flights to Sweden and talking about buying tickets next week when they go on sale – I expect 100s of Italians to be present for the fight!
Sweden, just like Italy, has mainly been known for boxing in the past – you’re the face of Italian MMA and the only ”true” Italian to fight in the UFC. What are your hopes and aspirations with MMA and the UFC, when it comes to the Italy?
I am 100% sure the UFC will come to Italy. My biggest dream is to fight for the UFC in Rome. I’m a very humble guy and I see it as my job to be the ”true face” of not just MMA in Italy but a true athlete. I work very hard on being a role model and to showcase that fighters aren’t street thugs but true athletes.
The Euorpean MMA scene is growing but doesn’t compare to that of for example Brazil or the U.S. Can you associate with the excitement for Swedish fighters – the feeling to walk out in home country and compete in front of home crowd?
Absolutely! This is just like the Rugby World Cup or Football World Cup! That’s why I’m so excited too; this is as close to fighting ”at home” as I’ve ever been and every athlete’s dream is to get to perform in front of their own fans!
This is the first time the UFC is hosting an event in Scandinavia and obviously a new market to them. Do you feel any added pressure to represent and perform in the “new” market of Sweden? In other words, do you feel the need not to perform just for yourself but also for the sport and organization?
There’s a responsibility every time you step into the Octagon to show that you are worthy of your job; just like any other job. I see it more as excitement – an excitement to get to showcase my skills and my job live to the European fans!
In a country like Sweden, where pro boxing was banned until 4 years ago and there’s been several debates about the legality of pro MMA – what would you say to naysayers?
There are worse things and more dangerous sports in the world. This is a very controlled sport and the athletes that partake are at the highest level and the referees and people involved are at the highest level.
Just like in Italy there’s a huge chunk of the population who doesn’t watch or know much about MMA. What would you say to the average Swede, who has never watched MMA or UFC?
Come and give the sport a chance! Come and watch it live and your opinion of it will change for ever! It’s a sport that draws you in emotionally in a way that no other sport does!
How do you see your fight go? Any predictions?
People that have watched me fight have never been bored. I always put on a great performance, win or lose. This is a great opponent and a big fight and it will be a war!
