Bellator MMA Announces April 16 Event in Italy, Signs UFC Veteran Alessio Sakara

Bellator has officially revealed a date and location for its first international event of 2016.

The California-based promotion will travel to the Pala Alpitour in Torino, Italy, on April 16 for an event to be co-promoted with Italian organization Oktagon Kickboxing. Much like Bellator “Dynamite,” the card will feature both mixed martial arts and kickboxing bouts. According to a release, only the Bellator fights will air in the United States on Spike TV.

Bellator President Scott Coker and Oktagon Kickboxing head Carlo Di Blasi announced the joint effort at a press conference in Paris on Friday. The card is likely the first of three international events for Bellator in 2016, as the promotion recently announced plans to hold fights in London and Israel as well.

“We are very excited to be working side by side with my friend Carlo Di Blasi and his team,” Coker said in a release. “Carlo is a great ally, and someone who I admire for all of the amazing work he has done in combat sports throughout Europe over the past twenty years.”

Oktagon Kickboxing was founded in 1996 and has provided a platform for such notable athletes as current Bellator welterweight contender Paul Daley as well as kickboxing stars like Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven, Artem Levin and Giorgio and Armen Petroysan.

While no bouts were announced on Friday, Bellator did reveal the signing of 15-time UFC veteran Alessio Sakara, who is expected to compete at the event against a yet-to-be-named opponent. The 34-year-old Italian earned his first victory since 2010 this past September, when he scored a first-round technical knockout over Dib Akil at Final Fight Championship 19.