Introduction to European MMA: Italy

Date submitted: 01 February 2007

Submitted by: Dino Fuoco

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Although there are few big name fighters and events, MMA in In Italy is growing up.

Day by day new MMA gyms are opened and new teachers arrive.

Italian MMA’s Golden Boy is Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara. Sakara has fought at Cage Warriors, Jungle Fight and has represented Italy four times in the UFC, the fifth coming at the 70th edition in Manchester, England.

Despite his young age, Alessio has fought fourteen times in his career.

Born in Rome in 1981, Sakara has trained in the USA and with the Nogueira Brothers in Brazil. Sakara lost his last two UFC fights but is in great shape to come back for UFC 70.

The true pioneers of the sport in Italy are Michele Verginelli a 34 year old Middleweight and Ramon Pisciotta, a 30 year old Heavyweight.

Michele’s first appearance in a cage happened in Brescia, a small town in the North of Italy. At that show he won a four man tournament beating Rodney Faverus in the final. Unfortunately Verginelli did not get many more opportunities to fight until 2005 when he fought in Meca Vale Tudo 12, and then again at Cage Fury 2 in 2006.

Ramon Pisciotta first took to the bags at age 21 and made a name fighting in Eastern Europe, the results of which events are mostly unknown. Ramon most recently won at World Freestyle Challenge 2 in Slovenia.

Alessio Sakara is the most active fighter in Italy at the moment but another mention needs to be made of two-time Ultimate Combat Welterweight World Champion, Fabricio Nascimento. Fabricio holds a Black Belt under Novia Uniao in Brazil but has lived in Italy for many years. Nascimento has fought all over Europe at events like Ultimate Combat, EVT, Shooto Switzerland and World Freestyle Challenge.

There are many other guys training hard for their shot in Italy. There is the massive Ivan Serati a 37 year old Heavyweight. Serati is a Cage Warriors veteran. There is also Francesco Ligato, a 32 year old Welterweight who fought at Cage Rage 19: Fearless. Matteo Minonzio is 34 years old, a Light Heavyweight with a great pedigree in May Thai. Imad Barakat is a 29 year old Heabyweight originally from Marocco but now living in Italy. His most notable fight was against Sanjin Kadunc at Ultimate Nokaut 1.

The main MMA event in Italy is La Resa dei Conti. Most of the above mentioned fighters have fought on this show.

On May 20th 2006 the first edition of the New Generation Tournament happened. The next instalment is on March 25th and will feature fighters from Italy, Greece, USA, Holland, France and Japan. Remco Pardoel, Mathieu Nicourt's and Enson Inoue' will all bring their fighters for the event.

New Generation Tournament is the big show at the moment in Italy because of it’s young hungry fighters, great teams and an excellent opportunity for the Italian fighters to represent on home soil.

Mixed Martial Arts is still an emerging sport in Italy but it has much more to show the World. Italian MMA is finally working in the right direction… and the fighters will continue to show their characteristic skill and heart.