Italy, a nation celebrated for its art, cuisine, and history, hasn’t necessarily known for its plethora of Mixed martial Arts (MMA) talent. While the country’s MMA scene is still maturing compared to powerhouses like the United States, Brazil, or even the UK, its fighters are steadily climbing the ranks in global promotions like the UFC, Bellator, and Cage Warriors. MMAherd takes a look at some of the best Italian MMA fighters below.
Marvin Vettori: The Top Italian UFC Fighter
Marvin Vettori, nicknamed “The Italian Dream,” is arguably Italy’s biggest MMA export and he has become a mainstay in the UFC’s middleweight division, boasting a professional record of 19-7-1 as of March 2025. His journey began at age 13 with kickboxing, transitioning to MMA after being inspired by legends like Fedor Emelianenko. Vettori’s UFC debut in 2016 saw him submit Alberto Pereira in the first round—and in doing so, became the first Italian to be victorious on his UFC debut.
Since then, Vettori has faced the middleweight elite, including a win over Paolo Costa and involvement in a high-stakes title fight against Israel Adesanya in June 2021, a rematch of his 2018 defeat. Though he lost by unanimous decision, his durability, relentless pressure, and evolving skill set have kept him there or thereabouts in the middleweight rankings.
Alessio Sakara: The Pioneering Italian MMA Star
Known as “Legionarius,” Sakara holds a special place in Italian MMA history as the first Italian to compete in the UFC. Born in Rome in 1981, Sakara debuted in the promotion in 2005 and competed in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. His career record is 21-13 overall, 6 of those coming in his 14 fight stint with the UFC. A highlight for Sakara was when he earned a Knockout of the Night bonus with a devastating headkick finish of Joe Vedepo in the first round back in 2008.
While his UFC tenure ended in 2013 after a string of losses, he later competed in Bellator MMA before he decided to hang up the gloves. It’s likely that his early success paved the way and inspired the current crop of Italians like Vettori as he proved that they could compete for the top organisation.
Alessio Di Chirico: The Retired Italian UFC Knight
Like Sakara, the 35 year old was also born in Rome, Italy. Before turning pro in 2011, it’s hard to believe the middleweight played linebacker for the Grizzlies Rome American football team. After turning his attention to MMA, His amateur success included winning the 2014 IMMAF Light Heavyweight World Championship, attracting ther interest of the UFC in the process.
Di Chirico’s UFC record of 4-7 wasn’t barnburning, but his highlights shine bright. He earned Performance of the Night bonuses for knockouts, including a memorable head-kick finish of Joaquin Buckley in 2021. Rejecting the “gladiator” label, Di Chirico called Italian fighters “knights,” emphasizing skill over brute force. He called it a day on his MMA career in 2022 after a loss to Roman Kopylov.
Michele Martignoni: Italian MMA’s Bantamweight Champion
It’s not just the UFC where Italian fighters have made a name for themselves. Another Rome native (there’s a theme here) Martignoni captured the Cage Warriors bantamweight title in 2022 with a points win over home favorite Dom Wooding. As of 2025, he continues to defend his belt, establishing himself as one of the top Italian MMA fighters outside the UFC. Who knows, maybe we see him fighting in the Apex down the line? He is just 27 years old after all and still has time on his side.
Carlo Pedersoli Jr.
Nicknamed “Semento,” a playful nod to the word “cement” from his training stint in Japan, Pedersoli entered the UFC in 2018 with a 10-1 record. Despite the impressive win ratio, his time in the UFC was short as he went 1-3, he’s since got back on track in Bellator MMA prior to its merger with the PFL, holding a 2-1 record as of 2025. Pedersoli’s versatility—six stoppage wins before the UFC—highlights his ability to finish fights with strikes or submissions and his career is far from over as recent fights since leaving the UFC show an added level of maturity.
Emerging Italian MMA Prospects in 2025
Beyond these established names, Italy’s MMA talent pool is deepening. Fighters like Danilo Belluardo, a lightweight who briefly competed in the UFC, and Micol DiSegni, a women’s strawweight making waves in European promotions, signal a new wave. The Italian Grappling Mixed Martial Arts Federation and regional gyms are producing athletes with international potential.
The History and Future of MMA in Italy
MMA’s roots in Italy are relatively young, with the sport gaining traction just prior to shows such as The Ultimate Fighter debuting. In 2025, Italy’s MMA scene benefits from organizations like Cage Warriors hosting events in Rome and the rise of grappling/jiu-jitsu tournaments. Expect to see more Italians fighting at the top level soon, particularly as a result of Marvin Vettori’s influence over the past few years in the UFC’s middleweight division.
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