UFC 122 Preview: The Main Card

Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara

Say this for Alessio Sakara: he comes to bang, and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva is happy to oblige him. With a dance partner like the rejuvenated Rivera, this will be the kind of bout where you warn the guy going to the fridge that he’d better skip the food run and stay put.

Sakara’s hands are very capable and Rivera is always willing to entertain a slugfest, even when he’s seemingly outgunned. One thing that makes Sakara’s hands so good is that he’s eminently relaxed in the pocket, popping off clean punches and setting down on them. It’s a highly unnatural act to plant your feet and swing at someone trying to tee off on you, but “Legionnarus” does it extremely well, especially with his counter left hook.

Rivera is tough, but has a little less head movement and may be at a technical disadvantage in a stand-up war. However, he has loads of persistence, which served him well in his impressive upset beatdown of Nate Quarry. Rivera is one of those guys that just keeps coming and this should play into Sakara’s game. Look for the Italian to pick his spots effectively on the feet and get the better of the ground game, if it goes there, en route to a decision win.