Alessio Sakara vs Jake Rosholt fight set for UFC Fight Night 17
Octagon veteran Alessio Sakara (13-7) will welcome up-and-coming middleweight prospect Jake Rosholt (5-0) to the big leagues when the pair meet up in a middleweight match at UFC Fight Night 17 from the University of Southern Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on February 7, 2009.
“Legionarius” is fresh off a brutal knockout of Joe Vedepo via head kick at UFC Fight Night 15 back in September. It was an eye-opening finish from the heavy-handed former Italian boxer.
The former light heavyweight is now even (2-2) in his last four bouts and the same during his three-year career (4-4) with the UFC. Sakara – who historically struggles against higher-level competition — has been branded a gatekeeper of the division.
His best chance of winning this fight is to keep it upright, which could be almost impossible against perhaps the best wrestler in all of mixed martial arts.
Rosholt is a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion out of Oklahoma State University (OSU). He turned pro more than one year ago and his gone undefeated ever since.
His limited experience was evident in his recent World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) debut against Nissen Osterneck. Rosholt won the bout via technical knockout, but not before eating several knuckle sandwiches and looking as if he could be stopped.
He more than likely won’t have that same luxury against a guy like Sakara … he hits hard and has one-punch (or kick) knockout power. He’ll need to take this fight to the ground early and often, using his superior takedowns and cardio, to overwhelm the American Top Team-trained fighter if he intends to be successful in his promotional debut.
UFC Fight Night 17 features a 155-pound match up between Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca. Fellow lightweights Mac Danzig and Josh Neer, as well as Kurt Pellegrino and Rob Emerson, are also likely hook ‘em up.
In addition, Cain Velasquez will be in action on the Spike TV special against Denis Stojnic in a heavyweight bout.
To check out the latest UFC Fight Night 17 fight card and rumors click here.
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