Gegard will not defend his title against either Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou or Paulo Filho ! He will face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou thought in a non title bout !
M-1global.com recently had a chance to speak with Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion about his next fight and possible opponents. Mousasi who defeated Renato “ Babalu” Sobral on August 15th of this year to win the Strikeforce title confirmed with M-1Global.com that he is scheduled to return to action on November 7th to defend his belt.
At this time an opponent has not been officially named, however speculation is surrounding two possible opponents. One would be Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, the Team Quest light heavyweight who recently defeated Bob Sapp in easy fashion in the semi-finals of the DREAM Super Hulk tournament, a fight that Mousasi withdrew from due to a shoulder injury.
While a fight against Sokoudjou would give the two fighters the chance to finally meet, the other name being talked about would be an opportunity to settle a grudge.
Paulo Filho and Gegard Mousasi have recently squared off in the press, with both fighters expressing their thoughts and feelings about the other. With Filho telling the Brazillian website Tateme.com “I wanna fight Mousasi and show that with against me is a whole different thing… He doesn’t have my strength, he doesn’t have my level on the ground. He can be a better striker, but he doesn’t have my strength and he’ll go down once and be submitted…He’s well trained, but I don’t think he’s healthy enough to beat me…If he wins, I don’t even want my salary.”
Mousasi has expressed his interest in fighting the former WEC champion, provided it take place in a country that tests for performance enhancing drugs. “We all saw what happened when he came to America,” Mousasi said. “He got beat up. Now he’s back in Japan, and he feels like a kid in a candy store. He can use all kinds of steroids, and I think the steroids have gone to his head,” Mousasi told Fighters.com in a recent interview.
LMV, fair and balanced
