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MONTREAL, CANADA - NOVEMBER 16: Alessio Sakara weighs in during the official UFC 154 weigh in at New City Gas on November 16, 2012 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Alessio Sakara

TRAINING: In Rome we do a lot of strength and conditioning in the morning and boxing and BJJ in the evening. Now I’m in Florida at ATT and we do a lot of great sparring with elite fighters.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I was 11 years old when I started to train boxing. At 18 I started to train BJJ and MMA.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 29-3 in amateur boxing.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? 8-1 pro boxing record, fought for IBF youth cruiserweight boxing title. Black belt in BJJ under Marcus “Conan” Silveira

Do you have any heroes? Minotauro and Minotoro Nogueira.

What is your favorite technique? Leg Kicks

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? A dream come true! I get to test my power at a higher level.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Just basic studies.

What was your job before you started fighting? I had all kinds of jobs but I was born a fighter and that is what I’ve always done.