Gegard Mousasi, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Renato Sobral will all be participating in the Dream Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, which will begin on May 30 at Dream.15.Mousasi confirmed his own participation in an interview with MMAFighting.com on Wednesday, and Dream officials confirmed that Sokoudjou and Babalu will be part of the tournament as well.
"I'm going to be busy," Mousasi said. "I'm fighting for Strikeforce in April, then I'll start the Dream light heavyweight tournament in May, then I'll be back to Strikeforce, then the next round of the Dream tournament, and I hope to fight in Japan in New Year's Eve as well."
Mousasi said he doesn't know all the details of the Dream tournament, but it is expected to be an eight-man tournament that will conclude some time in the summer or fall.
Mousasi, Sokoudjou and Sobral all fight for Strikeforce as well as Dream, and their presence is part of the co-promotional strategy of the two organizations. Sobral's manager told MMA Junkie he views the tournament as an opportunity to represent Strikeforce in Japan. Most of the best light heavyweights in MMA fight in the UFC, but the presence of multiple Strikeforce fighters will allow the Dream tournament to showcase the best of the light heavyweight division outside the UFC.
UPDATE: Chrisian M'Pumbu is also expected to participate in the tournament.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'm confused. Once Mousasi fights Mo, he's completed his 3 fight contract. After the DREAM tournament, he should come to the UFC. It seems like he'll have to fight guys he's already beaten in the tourney anyway.
i think he's signed to a 2 year 7 fight contract with strikeforce. i doubt we'll see him fight in ufc. until they open up their gates so their fighters can fight elsewhere also. which won't happen. ufc is on their own island. i wouldn't count on it.
Yes it's true Mousasi signed a 7 fight deal with SF after the fallout between himself and M-1. He'll be with SF for at least two more years after his defense against Lawal.
well, after gegard beats mo, as he should.
then he's going to fight guys he's already easily beaten?
not much challenge or real motivation there, if you ask me.
i guess it is just easy paydays for him.
mmmn, wtf, why not.
i actually don't have a problem with it.
i truly believe, when the time is right, he'll make the move.
he is still young and still in his prime and hasn't taken hardly any damage in any of his fights, so like i said, i agree make the moolah without taking big chances right now.
and actually, there are two really great match-ups for gegard in sf....
1st - if hendo wins, as he should, then a match between him and hendo would be a great match for sf. eventhough, i personally, don't think hendo stands a chance at this point in his career. too much of an age difference.
and i don't think hendo is in his prime anymore.
2nd - would obviously have him move up and fight fedor.
and this is where it gets weird, because he actually has a better chance against fedor...than lets say rogers. gegard could easily get up to 220lbs but i really don't see him putting on too much more, effectively.
a 10lb difference is not much. however, 45lbs is.
well, those are my thoughts on gegard and his next 2 year future.
Mousasi and Fedor used to train together not too long ago (like last year). I don't even know if he'd be inclined to fight Fedor. Hendo match-up is money.
Once Mousasi beats Mo, and Hendo beats Shields (Mo has a good chance at the upset, but Shields not really), that sets up a really good match-up.
Strikeforce could sell it like Mousasi is taking a step towards greatness after beating his first elite opponent, and Hendo has the incentive of holding 2 belts at the same time (middle and light-heavy).