Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Sapp Tapped to Face Sokoudjou at DREAM.11

Popular Japanese fight scene veteran Bob Sapp has been tapped to replace an injured Gegard Mousasi against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the semifinals of DREAM’s first-ever “Super Hulk” tournament, which continues at DREAM.11 on October 6.

Sapp confirmed his participation at the event with MMA Weekly on Wednesday. He re-enters the tourney after falling in the opening round to Ikuhisa Minowa back in May. “The Beast” last competed on June 27, suffering yet another defeat to former WWE star and undefeated heavyweight prospect Bobby Lashley. It marks the first time Sapp has suffered consecutive losses in his career.

Continue reading "Sapp Tapped to Face Sokoudjou at DREAM.11"

Mousasi Withdraws From DREAM “Super Hulk” Tournament

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi has pulled out of his upcoming bout with Rameau Thierry Sokodjou in the semifinals of the Super Hulk tournament at DREAM 11. No replacement has been announced at this time.

According to MMAWeekly.com, Mousasi may have suffered a shoulder injury last month while taking part in a grappling exhibition with former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko at M-1: Breakthrough.

Continue reading "Mousasi Withdraws From DREAM “Super Hulk” Tournament"

Fight of the Day: Hong Man Choi vs. Jose Canseco

From DREAM.9, courtesy of HDNet Fights

Also, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs Jan Nortje after the jump.

Continue reading "Fight of the Day: Hong Man Choi vs. Jose Canseco"

Fedor KO’s Arlovski at “Day of Reckoning”

Quick results for Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” show last night are below. Fedor Emelianenko scored a first-round knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski to retain his WAMMA heavyweight belt in the main event. More coverage to come.

Brett Cooper def. Patrick Speight - TKO (Strikes)
Albert Rios def. Antonio Duarte - Unanimous Decision
L.C. Davis def. Bao Quach - Unanimous Decision
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Vladimir Matyushenko - KO (Knee)
Dan Lauzon def. Bobby Green - Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Paul Buentello def. Kirill Sidelnikov - TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
Renato Sobral def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Submission
Vitor Belfort def. Matt Lindland - KO (Punches)
Josh Barnett def. Gilbert Yvel - Submission (Strikes)
Fedor Emelianenko def. Andrei Arlovski - KO (Punch)

Previewing Affliction: Can Arlovski Defeat the King of Heavyweights?

Now that perennial heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko has returned to fighting viable competition, he will face his biggest test in over three years in the form of a newly-confident and conditioned Andrei Arlovski at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” event this Saturday night.

Critics continually slammed Emelianenko for his choice of opponents after his hard-fought decision win over Mirko Filipovic in August 2005, but the Russian silenced them with a 36-second destruction of Tim Sylvia, a man that has twice beaten Arlovski, this past July. However in a rare instance, it’s Arlovski’s own trainers that are questioning the fan-favorite in the weeks leading up to his toughest challenge to date.

Arlovski has been spending the majority of his training camp learning how to box under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, who has trained champion boxers such as Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, and Oscar De La Hoya among others, and his usual coaches, such as jiu-jitsu specialist Dino Costeas, have been left with a limited amount of time to work with their client.

Continue reading "Previewing Affliction: Can Arlovski Defeat the King of Heavyweights?"

Hungry Like a Wolf: Babalu vs. Sokoudjou

Seal Beach, CA — There is only one meaningful question to ask about the upcoming fight between Babalu and Sokoudjou: will it be won by strikes or submission? Renato “Babalu” Sobral (31-7) and Rameau “The African Assassin” Sokoudjou (5-3) will meet on January 24th at Affliction M1 “Day of Reckoning” at Honda Center in Anaheim to engage in battle as part of the event’s main card.

The fight pits Babalu’s well-honed Jiu-Jitsu skills and veteran experience against Sokoudjou’s exploding strength and dangerously potent striking skills. Both fierce combatants attack with an animal ferocity that combines technique and heart in a brutal assault on opponents.

Famous for his grappling prowess, relentless fighting style, and high-caliber submissions in the ring, Brazilian import “Babalu” Sobral is a six-foot one, two hundred and five pound Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who shows no mercy in the ring. Out of the ring, Sobral follows one of the most intense training regimens, ranging from lifting weights (even bench-pressing fellow workout partners), to running up steep mountains, and swimming over 2000 yards in one hour.

Continue reading "Hungry Like a Wolf: Babalu vs. Sokoudjou"

Video: “Babalu”, Sokoudjou Discuss Upcoming Battle

In the above video courtesy of Showtime Sports, former UFC title challenger Renato “Babalu” Sobral and one-time PRIDE upstart Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou discuss their upcoming light heavyweight bout, which will take place at Affliction Entertainment’s “Day of Reckoning show on January 24 in Anaheim, California.

“Babalu” vs. Sokoudjou Added to “Day of Reckoning”

Affliction Entertainment has added a light heavyweight bout to its upcoming “Day of Reckoning” show on January 24 as UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou will face Renato “Babalu” Sobral on the event’s televised main card.

The bout is currently listed on the event’s official website, however various sources are reporting that Affliction VP Tom Atencio has stated that the bout is not yet official - both fighters have agreed to fight, but bout agreements and additional paperwork have yet to be completed.

Sokoudjou, who currently trains at Team Quest’s Temecula, California location along with Dan Henderson, joins the Affliction stable of fighters following his recent release from the UFC, where he went 1-2 over the past year.

Continue reading "“Babalu” vs. Sokoudjou Added to “Day of Reckoning”"

CKA for November 28, 2008

Gurgel, Sokoudjou among recent UFC cuts

Jorge Gurgel and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou are among the recent cuts from the UFC roster.  Both were involved in losses in their last fight within the octagon.

Gurgel never fails to give a wild performance, such as the one against Aaron Riley that garnered him Fight of the Night honors at UFC 91.  But more often than not, he has come out on the losing end, having lost three of his last 4 fights.  He has been widely criticized for not utilizing his BJJ Black Belt skills more and instead choosing to stand and trade with his opponents.  Gurgel will not be out of work long as he has already signed an exclusive contract with the Strikeforce promotion.  In the end, it would not surprise me if Zuffa didn’t help get him signed right away.  His time in the UFC was clearly up and yet he was a real favorite of Dana White’s.  A demotion to WEC would be seen as just that while also inadvertantly degrading the WEC’s lightweight class.

Continue reading "CKA for November 28, 2008"

Quick Results: UFC 89

Here are the full results from Saturday’s UFC 89 card, which saw Michael Bisping continue his rise up the middleweight ranks in winning an unanimous decision over fellow “Ultimate Fighter” alumnus Chris Leben in the show’s main event.

Per Eklund def. Samy Schiavo - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Jim Miller def. David Baron - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Terry Etim def. Sam Stout - Unanimous Decision
David Bielkheden def. Jess Liaudin - Unanimous Decision
Shane Carwin def. Neil Wain - TKO (Strikes)
Dan Hardy def. Akihiro Gono - Split Decision
Marcus Davis def. Paul Kelly - Submission (Guillotine)
Chris Lytle def. Paul Taylor - Unanimous Decision
Luis Cane def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - TKO (Strikes)
Keith Jardine def. Brandon Vera - Split Decision
Michael Bisping def. Chris Leben - Unanimous Decision