HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Gegard Mousasi vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, a light heavyweight bout on the CBS card.Mousasi, the Strikeforce 205-pound champion, was supposed to face Sokoudjou in the DREAM Super Hulk tournament but withdrew due to a shoulder injury suffered in an exhibition match with Fedor Emelianenko. Strikeforce liked the matchup and rebooked Mousasi and Sokoudjou in a non-title bout.
The live blog begins below.
Round 1: Mousasi taunts his opponent by holding both hands up and then throwing a jab. Sokoudjou moves forward with a leg kick. They collide legs on leg kicks. Mousasi misses a high kick. Sokoudjou pops jabs and Mousasi lands a leg kick. Sokoudjou hits Mousasi and Mousasi backs. Two separate low blows cause momentary pauses. Sokoudjou jabs. Sokoudjou lands a loud leg kick. Sokoudjou shoots and misses. Sokoudjou sets up a leg kick with a jab. Mousasi with kicks. Mousasi stuns Sokoudjou but Sokoudjou tosses Mousasis into Mousasi's half guard. Mousasi sweeps for side control. Sokoudjou bumps Mousasi off. Sokoudjou with another toss that puts Mousasi down. Mousasi stands and they clinch. Mousasi pulls Sokoudjou down but Sokoudjou lands on top. Mousasi throws upkicks and trips Sokoudjou into Sokoudjou's guard.
FanHouse scores the round 10-9 for Sokoudjou.
Round 2: Mousasi clinches and defends a judo takedown attempt. Mousasi hits Sokoudjou with short knees to the thighs. Mousasi unloads with a flurry of left and right punches. Sokoudjou weathers the strikes and clinches. Sokoudjou puts Mousasi down into Mousasi's halfguard. Mousasi goes for a kimura. He doesn't get it but it positions him inside Sokoudjou's guard. Mousasi drops punches to the face of Sokoudjou. Sokoudjou is hurt and the fight is stopped.
Mousasi wins via TKO (punches) - R2, 3:43
