Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will return to the Hexagon to try and quell the uprising of 205-pound division standout Ovince St. Preux on Dec. 17 at a location to be named.
The promotion teased the upcoming match-up via its official Twitter account late last night:
He's baaaack: Former LHW champ Gegard Mousasi will face rising prospect @003_OSP Dec. 17! Stay tuned for more info...
Mousasi (31-3-2) was expected to rule the light heavyweight roost for many moons following his first round obliteration of Renato Sobral to capture the 205-pound strap back in 2009.
Unfortunately "The Dreamcatcher" was unable to stop the relentless takedowns of Muhammed Lawal and coughed up the belt in Nashville less than a year later.
He would ship himself back overseas to compete for DREAM and abuse a handful of Japanese fighters; however, stateside audiences were left with the memory of his butt-ugly draw against Keith Jardine at the Strikeforce: "Diaz vs. Daley" event earlier this year.
Mousasi will have the opportunity to wash that "Mean" taste out of his mouth, but it will have to come at the expense of one of the division's brightest prospects.
St. Preux (11-4) has been steamrolling the competition since 2009, stringing together eight straight wins in a streak that includes such notables as Benji Radach and Antwain Britt.
Mousasi is unquestionable a major step up in competition for the former college football star, but also a one-way ticket to the top of the food chain if he's victorious.
The Dec. 17 Strikeforce event has yet to be announced but as always, keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for all the latest details as they begin to trickle in.
In the meantime, early predictions for this 205-pound slugfest?