Alessio Sakara
Italy
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.
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 .
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'
IN SEASON
DIET
Breakfast:
300 g egg whites
2 whole organic eggs or 30g avocado
60g oats
10 g extra coconut oil
Snack at 10.30:
30g ISO FUJI protein isolate with water
3 Brazil nuts or 6/8 almonds
Lunch
80g rice/pasta/quinoa
200g pineapple
150g chicken or turkey
Snack at 5.30pm:
150g Greek yogurt
1 apple
Dinner
200g turkey or chicken
Green vegetables at will with 10g extra virgin olive oil
Snack at 11pm: 30g isolated
OFF SEASON
Breakfast:
200g egg whites or 30g of isofuji
1 whole organic egg (sometimes you can alternate with 2 scrambled eggs and 200g egg white but remove coconut oil)
80 g gluten-free cereals
50 g blueberries
10 g extra virgin coconut oil
Snack at 10.30am:
30g ISO FUJI protein isolate with water with 1 apple or 1 Alphazer dehydrated fruit bar
Lunch
150g rice/pasta/quinoa
200g chicken or turkey
150g pineapple
Snack at 5.30pm:
100g bresaola or 100g turkey breast with 3 brown rice cakes or 30g isofuji or hydrocarn
1 alphazer dehydrated dried fruit bar
Dinner
120g rice or 350g potatoes
200g turkey or chicken or 250g white fish (try to alternate)
(Red meat or salmon trout fillet 3 times a week)
Green vegetables at will with 10g extra virgin olive oil
Snack at 11pm: 1 sachet of Aminodex + 30g isofuji or 15cp Alphatech or 30g hydrocarn
