Dream 11: Gegard Mousasi scratched from 'Super Hulk' event on Oct. 6 with injury

by Akimitsu Kuwabara on Sep 8, 2009 7:57 PM EDT

mousasi

It appears that Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will be forced to take a break from his busy schedule.

"The Dreamcatcher" has withdrawn from his bout against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the semifinals of the Dream 11: "Super Hulk" tournament on Oct. 6 with an undisclosed injury, according to Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) officials.

It's possible that Mousasi injured his shoulder during an exhibition match with Fedor Emelianenko at M-1: "Breakthrough" a week and half ago. The promotion is currently on the hunt for a last-minute replacement with less than one month until the event takes place at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan

After capturing the DREAM Middleweight belt last year, Mousasi embarked on an ambitious 2009 campaign with a move to light heavyweight. In the preliminary round of the Super Hulk Tournament at DREAM 9, the 24 year-old Armenian/Dutch fighter easily dispatched of Mark Hunt with a first round submission.

And just last last month, he scored an emphatic victory over Renato "Babalu" Sobral in his American debut, demolishing the veteran grappler in 60 seconds to capture the Strikeforce's 205-pound title.

In addition to the bout between Sokoudjou and the yet-to-be-named replacement for Mousasi, "Super Hulk" will also pit Hong-Man Choi and Ikuhisa Minowa in the other semifinal match. DREAM 11 will also feature the semifinal and final rounds of the featherweight tourney.

Stay tuned to MMAmania for further information regarding Mousasi and DREAM's "Super Hulk" tournament.

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Comments

NOOOO!!! this is extermely disappointing news~!!! i was looking forward to to him destroying sokodjou, this sucks.

by Blunt N' Beer on Sep 8, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

yeah this news is funny to me just because of all the people posting about how this kid is the greatest thing that’s come along in a long time. And they all knew he was going to be big before anyone else did. But he’s not big yet. He’s ok so far but I would have liked to see what he could do against Soku. Jury is still out on this guy, and pulling out of this fight ain’t helpin’.

by theCloser on Sep 9, 2009 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions

The guy just clowned Babalu (the same Babalu who clowned Soko), a consensus top 10 LHW and won the Dream MW GP upsetting Jacare in the final. What more do you want from the guy? Soko sucks and would have easily been submitted, that guy is a punk and a loser who has done nothing since Pride.

Shows how pathetic that grappling thing was, well done M-1 now you have cost Mousasi a win in the freakshow tournament. Seriously it’s a joke that by fooling around with Fedor M-1’s only other good fighter is injured, please Gegard leave the Russian crooks.

by David W-S on Sep 9, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions

that sucks, but its not a big loss for him. fighting soko would mean nothing right now and losing to him would be bad. i would not of minded seeing him win the tourney though but he is better off focusing on his belt and fighting for strikeforce.

by roy on Sep 8, 2009 8:02 PM EDT reply actions

No way was Mousasi gonna lose to Soko – he would have finished him in R1 either by sub or KO. Mousasi is the brightest prospect in MMA at the moment imo – he’s a young fighter with an abundance of talent and he’s only gonna get better. I can see Mousasi signing with the UFC before 2012 having beaten all of the top LHWs fighting outside the UFC (which aren’t many).

by jayshogun on Sep 8, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

meh, sokojou is better on the feet and definetly had a chance at beating mousasi

by JG on Sep 8, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Soko has better stand-up than Mousasi, who destroyed Musashi in K1? Stick to NFL dude.

by jayshogun on Sep 8, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, JG i don’t know where you came up with that unless you’re trolling us. Sok definitely packs way more power though.

by NameNotRequired on Sep 8, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont think for one second that Mousasi is hurt! I think he wants to fight in strikeforce ASAP. I wont be surprised to see him on the Fedor/Grim card, even if its October 10th. I think MOusasi wants to build his name in the states and realilzes that he is above this silly tournament!

As for a replacement: I say bring in the LEGENDARY Kazushi Sakuraba!

WAR SAKURABA!!!!

Sakuraba vs. Soko!!!!

by john G on Sep 9, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Man, john i don’t know if you love or hate Saku. I can’t stand to see him laid out again like in the Manhoef fight. His fight with Sanae Kikuta was so horrible, it like he lost everything. Him and Fujita- i don’t know man.

by NameNotRequired on Sep 9, 2009 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

havent seen his latest fight…bUt I adore Saku! I miss that guy! I def dont want to see him laid out again like Melvin did to him

by john G on Sep 9, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Let’s hope John is correct about Mousasi I like being able to see him live and not against a freak show. I thought Fedor doesn’t fight till November?

by jay on Sep 9, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

October-November is when Fedor will fight…they are just keeping the date quite so the UFC doesnt have a lot of time to counterprogram it!

by john G on Sep 9, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Minowa is the man. he will fight anyone any time! Usually loses but still!

Easily fought the toughest fights ever:

Kondo-Evan Tanner-Semmy Schilt-Chris Lytle-Filho-Tamura twice-Almeida-Rampage-Wandy-Ryan Gracie-Leko-Yvel-Baroni twice-Kimo-Bustamante-Sakuraba-Crocop.

I’ll even throw Don Frye in there.

Add to that the extreme disadvantages facing the freakshow fighters of Sapp, Butterbean, Giant Silva. Now Hong Man Choi. The man is insane

by Bob Lawblah on Sep 8, 2009 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, Minowa is a warrior – he’ll throw down with anybody!

by jayshogun on Sep 8, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

man i love minowa lol…nothing tops his drop kick 2 start the fight against butterbean….or that summersault he did to grab giant silvas leg and get the takedown

by JG on Sep 8, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That was awesome JG!

He’s fought 80 fights!

I forgot he fought Zulu too, who’s nearly a foot taller and like 250 pounds heavier haha.

He said he’d fight an alien if he had to.

by Bob Lawblah on Sep 8, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

gotta love the Mullet topped warrior but the red speedos got to go!

War MinowaMan!

by john G on Sep 9, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Minowaman’s a true warrior, he’s not the most talented fighter but p4p one of the toughest the guy will fight anyone anytime. I’m hoping that he wins this thing and considering how awful Choi is and how piss poor Soko’s gg is then it wouldn’t be that crazy an upset.

by David W-S on Sep 9, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions

it is hard not to respect someone that is not afraid to die in the ring because he loves to fight.

by Bill Maher on Sep 8, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Best news Sokodjou ever received… DARN YOU FEDOR!

by Sean on Sep 8, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

This is a godsend for Sok! He is going to be able to exit 8-4.

by Bill Maher on Sep 8, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

he only got hurt because of the stupid fagdor match!

by ben dover on Sep 8, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

Sokou has a punchers chance but that’s about it. Mousasi would have easily dominated in my opinion. Sokou gasses easily and gets sloppy when he’s tired. He’s like a Houston Alexander “All hype” because they both have flash KO’s but they seemed to have no longevity against top competition. All power and no technique.

by skelow on Sep 8, 2009 8:50 PM EDT reply actions

Sucks man Soku wouldve been a nice win to add to the resume.

by Khaos_Warrior on Sep 8, 2009 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

better call shaq

by buddy on Sep 8, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

armenian fighters are the best…
karo the heat manny and now gegard mousasi .loll

by albert on Sep 8, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Time to get serious. What would this fight have done for him? Nothing! Now he has a belt, and can only face real competition. No more freak show, steroid infested japanese based fighting. Good call in my opinion.

by jTp on Sep 8, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions