I've been wondering for a while now why and how Alessio Sakara has been getting fights in UFC. You just have to question Joe Silva and Dana White's thinking here. With numerous fighters getting cut from UFC due to 1 or 2 bad performances, this guy rides the coat tales of his highly questionable boxing career in Europe and a decision win over Elvis Sinosic (no offense Elvis, you're cool) where his punching looked kinda good.  Dana and Joe Rogan just couldn't get over him and his supposedly amazing striking skill when they initially pushed him.

With all the hype about Sakara's "amazing" boxing background, he managed to actually win only 1 fight by TKO out of his 2 wins in six outings in UFC (I'm definitely not counting the James Lee fight, that should have been a no-contest). Both of his wins were over journeymen fighters at best. He's had 3 decisive losses 1 by submission from to Dean Lister and two TKOs from Drew McFedries and Houston Alexander. None of the guys that beat him, all in the first round I should add, are knocking on the door to the title condenders room either.

So how the hell does he get fights? It's not like he was impressive in his losses either, those fight were only decent because of the other fighters. WTF is going on here? Why doesn't UFC scrap him like they've done with even better fighters after a loss or two? If UFC just in love with his tattoos? What is it? What's surprising is that nobody, at least I think..., has publicly spoke out on this - till now that is. 

Chris "The Crippler" Leben finally said something in at his myspace blog, which I found via MMAMania. In Leben's last fight against the always dangerous heavy handed Terry Martin, he showed himself as a greatly improved fighter - he was calm, methodical, fought with a good game plan and when push came to shove when Martin rocked him at the end of the third round, he didn't back down and went forward to knock Martin out. It was a great fight. Anyways, Chris Leben always says what's on his mind and here is what he said on Mr "WTF, u still in UFC?!" Sakara:

“Honestly, as much respect as possible to him, but I really don’t think he deserves to be in the UFC. I haven’t seen him win the fights or do what he has to do to prove himself at this level. You know, we’re going to pressure him and test him and I’ll tell you what , he has a pretty good opportunity to prove himself if that’s what he wants to do.” more at his blog.

Chris Leben is fighting Sakara on March 1st at UFC 82 with Anderson Silva vs Dan Henderson headlining. Also, check UFC.com's article on Leben's recent maturing.