Can Augusto Sakai claim a statement win over battle-tested Blagoy Ivanov?
Augusto Sakai may not be the most well-known heavyweight in the UFC, but if he can pick up a big win Saturday in Las Vegas, people will be forced to sit up and take notice.
Since earning his spot on the UFC roster with a win on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil, Sakai (14-1-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has won three in a row as a UFC heavyweight, notching victories over Chase Sherman, former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and Marcin Tybura. Those wins have earned him a shot against seasoned veteran Blagoy Ivanov at UFC on ESPN 9.
If Sakai can produce another impressive performance to defeat Ivanov (18-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), a big-name opponent will surely be next. But can he find his way past the durable Bulgarian on Saturday?
Next up: Dueling Contender Series 155ers get set to throw down
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