With former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort refusing to agree to former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi’s challenge to meet at a catchweight, a new opponent for Mousasi has been secured for his first-ever fight on U.S. soil to take place on at Affliction: Trilogy.
Sources close to Mousasi have informed www,M-1Global.com that current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and former UFC competitor Renato “Babalu” Sobral is expected to finalized as his opponent.
Affliction has yet to issue an official comment regarding the possible Sobral vs. Mousasi showdown. However, both fighters have been advertised for the event and a formal announcement by Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio could be made as soon as Wednesday during a scheduled press conference in New York.
Mousasi, 25-2-1, competed last Tuesday during DREAM’s “Super Hulk Tournament.” Matched up against former PRIDE and K-1 standout Mark Hunt, Mousasi recorded his 12th consecutive win after submitting Hunt with an armbar at 1:19 of round 1.
Sobral, 32-8, has won his past five fights and holds notable wins in his career over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Cyrille Diabate, Chael Sonnen, Maurcio “Shogun” Rua, Trevor Prangley, and Maurice Smith.
Affliction: Trilogy will emanate from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. and will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett. Additional bouts featuring Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon and Jay Hieron vs. Paul Daley have also been officially confirmed by Affliction.
