Alessio Sakara vs. Joe Vedepo likely for UFC Fight Night 15

Another Midwest-based fighter could make his UFC debut when the organization heads to Omaha next month.

A source close to UFC newcomer Joe Vedepo (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the middleweight fighter has verbally agreed to meet Alessio Sakara (12-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at next month’s UFC Fight Night 15 event.

The bout has not been signed, but bout agreements should be distributed shortly, the source said.

UFC Fight Night 15 takes place Sept. 17 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and airs on Spike TV. The event, co-headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Josh Neer and Mac Danzig vs. Clay Guida, precedes the debut episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.”

Vedepo, a part of the Cedar Rapids-based Team Hardrive MMA, won the Midwest Cage Championship middleweight belt with a June victory over Brian Green (15-10). Both fighters entered the bout knowing that a major-league contract offer could be on the line. The bloody, back-and-forth main-event fight ultimately ended via a third-round verbal submission in favor of Vedepo.

The 25-year-old former light heavyweight and stand-out high school wrestler has never gone to decision; he’s won four fights via knockout and three by submission.

Sakara, meanwhile, will look to push his UFC record to .500. He most recently suffered a loss to Chris Leben at UFC 82 in March. The hard-hitting Italian’s other losses have come to Houston Alexander, Drew McFedries and Dean Lister; victories have come over James Lee and Victor Valimaki via knockout, and Elvis Sinosic via unanimous decision.

The American Top Team fighter has lost four of his past six fights.

For the latest UFC Fight Night 15 fight card, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.