Strikeforce Preview: Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi (26-2-1, 1-0 Strikeforce) vs. "The African Assassin" Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4, 0-0 Strikeforce)

The Story So Far

One of the featured attractions on Strikeforce's inaugural CBS show is a non-title bout between rising star Gegard Mousasi and Cameroonian judoka Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

This bout was originally set to take place during the semi-final round of the Dream Super Hulk Tournament tournament but didn't occur then due to Mousasi sustaining an injury during his August exhibition grappling match with Fedor Emilianenko.  Many feel that Scott Coker and Co. dropped the ball by not scheduling this bout for the Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight title.  Sokoudjou is a credible opponent and it makes little sense to have your champion scheduled to fight a non-title bout when your organization could benefit from a stronger presence in its weakest division.

Since winning the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix last year and claiming the Strikeforce 205lb title this past June, Gegard Mousasi is quickly establishing himself as one of the world's top fighters.  Barely 24 years old, "The Dreamcatcher" has already compiled an astounding record of 26-2-1.  In just the past year and a half, Mousasi has gained notable wins over Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Mark Hunt, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Melvin Manhoef, and Denis Kang.  Mousasi trains out of the Red Devil Fight Club alongside another really good fighter you may have heard of -- Fedor Emilianenko.

After blazing onto the MMA landscape with two first-round knockouts of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona in 2007, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou came crashing back down to earth after losing three of his next four bouts.  Although there's no shame in losing to Lyoto Machida, Luiz Cane, and Renato Sobral, Sokoudjou desperately needed a couple of wins to help boost his confidence. 

Enter the Dream Super Hulk Tournament. 

In the opening round, "The African Assassin" defeated Jan Norte via TKO and then subsequently mauled his fallen opponent and the referee.  Earlier this month, Sokoudjou followed up his win over Norte with a victory over Bob Sapp who replaced an injured Mousasi.  Sokoudjou is hoping (against hope) that a win over Mousasi will give him some momentum heading into his Super Hulk Tournament Final match-up against Ikuhisa Minowa at Dynamite!! 2009.

Conventional Wisdom

Tailor-made for casual fans, this is the bout that CBS and Strikeforce should lead their card off with.  This fight is guaranteed to be quick and exciting and will more than likely end in highlight-reel fashion.  

Well-rounded and getting better with each fight, Mousasi is expected to blow through Sokoudjou and further cement his status as the top light heavyweight outside of the UFC.  The only way that Sokoudjou wins this is if he catches Mousasi with a Hail Mary bomb ala Arona or Nogueira.

WKR Analysis

Outside of Sokoudjou's most ardent supporters not many people are giving him a chance against Mousasi.  Currently oddsmakers have Mousasi listed as a -500 favorite, while Sokoudjou is listed as a +365 underdog.  All one has to do is look at their fights with common opponent, Renato Sobral, to understand the difference in talent between the two men.  Against Sobral, Sokoudjou looked sluggish and had very little to offer in the way of offense before being submitted rather easily in the second round.  Mousasi, on the other hand, buzz-sawed through "Babalu" in 60 seconds, leaving him lying stiff on the canvas after decimating him with a brutal ground-and-pound assault.

WKR feels that Mousasi holds the advantage over Sokoudjou in all aspects of this bout.  If the fight doesn't end in the first 60 seconds you have to consider Sokoudjou's largest liability -- his gas tank.  Mousasi will be able to establish the tempo of the fight and take it wherever he wants to.  Whether it's standing or on the ground, Mousasi is light-years ahead of his opponent and should be able to end the fight in dominating fashion.  Let's just hope he gets paid more than $2,000 this time around.

Fun Fact

You're not the only one who hates Gegard Mousasi's nickname.  He isn't fond of it either.  Much better than "The Young Vagabond" though.