Sobral vs. Mousasi showdown

[keithlewis]

Babalu vs. Mousasi Official


Originally rumored to fight Vitor Belfort, Dream's 185-pound tournament champion Gegard Mousasi will instead face Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral in a 205-pound contest at Affliction 3 on August 1 in Anaheim, California.

Mousasi (25-2-1) is on a twelve-fight win streak since losing to Akihiro Gono in PRIDE in August of 2006. During his win streak he has defeated the likes of Hector Lombard, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, Denis Kang, Dong Sik Yoon, Melvin Manhoef, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and most recently Mark Hunt.

Mousasi was offered, and accepted, a bout with Belfort to take place at a catch-weight of 195 pounds. Instead Belfort In Mousasi's most recently appearance in Dream's Super Hulk open-weight tournament he fought Hunt at 218 pounds. declined, opting to stay at 185 pounds.

Sobral (32-8) has a thorough history in the sport dating back to 1999 and including a run at the UFC light heavyweight title, an exciting run in the now-defunct Rings, and bouts with fighters such as former UFC champion Chuck Liddell, former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko, former PRIDE 183 and 205-pound champion Dan Henderson, PRIDE 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Kiyoshi Tamura, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Jeremy Horn, and Kevin Randleman.

Sobral is currently on a five-fight win streak, most recently submitting Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction 2. Starting off his win streak he submitted David Heath at UFC 74 with an anaconda choke, but held the submission after Heath tapped out – forcing his opponent into unconsciousness. Sobral was subsequently kicked out of the UFC. He has since won his Affliction debut over Mike Whitehead and toppled Bobby Southworth for Strikeforce's light heavyweight title.

Sobral was originally expected to fight Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in his first Strikeforce title defense, but was forced out of the card. He is now expected to defend his title shortly after the Affliction bout with Mousasi.


Source

[NWOWolfpack]

This could be fight of the year......................

[TheBrokenVow]

I expect Babalu to end Mousasi's over-185 dreams.