Strikeforce Preview: Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 10:09 AM EST
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Perhaps no one burst on the national scene quicker than Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. After suffering the first loss of his career to Glover Teixeira, Sokoudjou when on to dispatch two top ten light heavyweight fighters in less than 2 minutes while fighting in PRIDE. The UFC purchased PRIDE and obtained Sokoudjou's services to make his UFC debut against Lyoto Machida at UFC 79. However, the future UFC light heavyweight champion made quick work of Sokoudjou and exposed a huge weakness in his ground game. Sokoudjou is a physical specimen. He's a big light heavyweight, explosive with good standup skills, and has knockout power. However, he's shown that if you can weather his storm early on, he'll begin to fade the longer the fight goes on. Also, despite having a decorated background in Judo, Sokoudjou's skills on the ground are clearly lacking. Having been submitted with relative ease against Lyoto Machida and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Babalu Sobral. If he wants to win against Mousasi, he'll need to come out with guns blazing.
Gegard Mousasi is similar to Sokoudjou in that he has gained popularity fairly quickly after fighting in relative obscurity for much of his early career. He rose to prominence quickly among hardcore fans after winning the DREAM Middleweight GP in 2008. However, he decided to move up in weight to challenge himself, and submitted super heavyweight Mark Hunt at DREAM 9. In his next fight, Mouasasi would take on the UFC veteran and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Babalu Sobral. Mousasi blitzed Sobral in exactly one minute to become the new Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Mousasi is a well rounded mixed martial artist. He can win the fight standing or on the ground and is very calm during the fight. Mousasi will need to weather Sokoudjou's early onslaught and then start picking him a part, or take him down and submit him.
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Mousasi faced a better and more experienced striker in Melvin Manhoef. I really don’t think he’ll have a problem against Sokoudjou.
Rameau needs a totally different approach standing. He needs a smart boxing coach that will teach him how to conserve his energy and ESTABLISH the jab as opposed to trying to knock his opponents head off early and often.
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by VeeisAnimated on Nov 4, 2009 11:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yea
Sokoudjou just needs to change camps entirely IMO…his skillset doesn’t mesh well with Team Quest IMO…if he’s wrestling and sub defense hasn’t improved up until this point…it’s not going too…he needs to go somewhere where that explosiveness can be harnessed…and as you said implemented more effectively.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I want to see him Judo throw somebody in MMA. Everyone forgets he is a Judo guy
by EVeezy on Nov 4, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
His judo throws didn’t work against Machida.
The nicest judo throws in MMA that I’ve seen so far was Parysian and Hiromitsu Miura.
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by VeeisAnimated on Nov 4, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He's done one Judo throw in MMA
That was against Babalu if I’m not mistaken.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I don’t see this going well for Soko. Agree on the approach thing as well…calm the fruck down.
by The Real T-Bone on Nov 4, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Predator Helmet, It Does Nothing
I thought at least one person would vote for Sokoudjou.
by troy_doney on Nov 4, 2009 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
i was going to be that one person who voted for sokoudjou but i followed the crowd and
i did get lost in it.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 4, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
Nice!
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
haha
I know right…welcome to the site Troy….where are you from?
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
who picked sokoudjou. you traitor! lol.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
lol
I thought we were going to get the shutout.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Mrs. Sokoudjou
she joined the site?
by The Real T-Bone on Nov 4, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha!
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by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 4, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
harsh. only one vote….rameau just has not impressed as of late.
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by theworldsoldestsport on Nov 4, 2009 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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!["It's going to take a lot of time," he said. "I have to take it step by step. I cannot put so many pounds on in a short time. First, I will be a small heavyweight, and slowly I want to put more pounds on. It will take two, three years before I'm a solid heavyweight."
"They wanted me to sign for six fights," Mousasi said of the original deal. "I didn't want that. They didn't pay me that much. But money will come. I want to grow with Strikeforce as they grow with Showtime and CBS. I think it's a good place to be.
"If I had it in my mind, like OK, I'm going to the UFC, then I would have gone. But I have a new contract with DREAM, so I'm planning to stay busy and fight in Strikeforce and Japan constantly."
"I don't want to fight for too long," he said. "(At) 30, I'm finished. In my mind, (I just want) the amount of money that [would give me] a good life. Anymore than that, I don't need.
Gegard Mousasi Talks About Moving Up To Heavyweight And Retiring By Age 30(He's 24 now).
HT: MMAJunkie](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/94789/gegard_mousasi3-300x360_small.jpg)
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