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Born in Rome, Italy UFC fighter Alessio Sakara trains of the Coconut Creek based American Top Team camp. Primarily a boxer, Sakara has been working hard on expanding his striking base by adding Muay Thai. Tonight he faced Canadian army boxing champion and former UFC Middleweight title challenger Patrick Cote. It was very clear from the beginning that Sakara wanted to work his clinch striking, but Cote landed hard, looping punches that clearly hurt the Italian.
Sakara appeared to be in trouble but turned the tables on Cote with some excellent standing elbow strikes that wobbled and then dropped the Canadian. It was then, while Cote was desperately trying to get a take down Sakara threw several hammer fist strikes to the back of Cote's head. Around five strikes landed to the back of Cote's head and neck, and after a short conference the referee declared Sakara disqualified and Cote the winner.
Sakara was very apologetic afterwards and stated very clearly it was not intentional, to the point were even the Canadian crowd, who had been booing him all night, gave him a cheer.