CHICAGO -- While some MMA fans and pundits have proclaimed that Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou doesn't have what it takes to upset Gegard Mousasi on Saturday night, the current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion isn't buying into that notion. Mousasi clearly remembers Sokoudjou's past triumphs over Antonio Rogerio Noguiera and Ricardo Arona in PRIDE, and is intent on not allowing "The African Assassin" to pull off the same kind of magic on CBS this weekend.FanHouse spoke to Mousasi on Wednesday about the match-up, his newfound fame in America, and a potential fight against free agent Dan Henderson. The full video interview is below.
Shot and edited by E. Casey Leydon.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
This guy is cool as hell. A lot of people don't think he's marketable, but he's kinda like Hendo with a quiet swagger but not exactly outspoken.
yeah he's a pretty cool dude. not sure how he gets out of defending his title but oh well. it will still be a good fight.
Having Mousasi 'get away,' as you call it, without defending the title is the smartest thing Strikeforce could have done. Not only does it give us, the public, more opportunities to see the division champion-who is one of the more marketable and most impressive fighters on their roster-but the champ also gets more opportunities to compete, earn more experience and gain exposure while the promotion benefits through PR/Media Relations, TV ratings and ticket sales all of which are bolstered Thanks to the card. They use to do it all the time in Pride…Ah, the good days.
If the UFC adopted this practice, we could potentially see the division champs fight more than once or twice a year since they would not have to put themselves through grueling training camps and diets capped off with long periods of rest and recovery after those intense 5 round title fights.
Think about it, it just makes sense...