UFC Fight Night 30: 5 Replacements to Fight Alessio Sakara

Alessio Sakara has had some terrible luck with his next scheduled fight in England. First, Tom Watson was injured and removed as his opponent, and now Magnus Cedenblad has also bowed out.

Sakara is one of the key pieces of the upcoming card in England. He is on the main card, one of the bigger names at the event and incredibly fun to watch.

Assuming they can't find a guy on the roster to fill in this short time period, here are five guys they could sign and put against Sakara.

Melvin Manhoef

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

One man that fans have craved to see in the Octagon is Melvin Manhoef, possibly one of the most powerful strikers in MMA.

The Dutch kickboxer may be a long shot because he is on a two-fight skid, but he has drawing power and a big fanbase. His leg kicks are wicked, his punches are jaw-rattling and his knees tear away the flesh.

Putting him against a boxer in Sakara would not only be a fun striking battle, but could also lead to fight-night bonuses and a knockout.

Scott Askham

sherdog.com

Scott Askham is an obvious candidate. He is from England (where the card is being held), he is undefeated at 11-0 and is a champion of the highly-regarded BAMMA in the UK.

Askham is well-rounded, but his striking is his crown jewel. He can knock you out with his hands and feet, and holds wins over notables Denniston Sutherland, Jack Marshman and Jorge Bezerra.

This guy would be a great addition and could be another marketable guy in a hot spot like the United Kingdom.

Mats Nilsson

sherdog.com

One Swede bows out, another one could step up. That Swede could be a high-level prospect like Mats Nilsson.

Nilsson is 11-2-1 while competing against some very good European opponents. He is a submission fighter that owns victories over Denniston Sutherland, Tom Speer and the man who dropped out of this fight, Magnus Cedenblad.

Not only could he fill in on late notice, but he could follow that up with an appearance in Sweden should that materialize next year.

Tomasz Drwal

sherdog.com

Tomasz Drwal was released by the UFC in 2010 after going 3-3 with the organization. That is too bad, as this guy had potential to be a mainstay with the company.

Since his release, the Polish fighter has gone 3-0 against guys like Leonardo Nascimento and Wes Swofford. He is well-rounded and powerful, something that makes him dangerous in any fight he competes in.

Add to all that the fact that he has 17 finishes in 20 wins and you have yourself a top candidate to re-sign for this bout.

John Phillips

sherdog.com

If excitement is what you are looking for, John Phillips may be your man. He is from Wales, which is in the area of UFC Fight Night 30, so it may be a match made in heaven.

Known as "The White Mike Tyson," his style perfectly compliments Alessio Sakara. Both men love to box and would create fireworks for the fans in attendance and watching all around the world.

Sure, he may not be the most refined fighter at this point, but I am sure he would step up on this late-notice situation. Plus, he has great power, so he would check the sturdiness of Sakara's chin.

Follow me on Twitter for MMA news and other random thoughts (@RileyKontekMMA). Or don't, that's cool too.