Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ, and current DREAM champ, Gegard Mousasi (31-3-2) is set to take on quick rising talent Ovince St. Preux (11-4) at an upcoming Strikeforce event on December 17.
The promotion announced the fight on Wednesday via Twitter (@Strikeforce).
– He’s baaaack: Former LHW champ Gegard Mousasi will face rising prospect @003_OSP Dec. 17! Stay tuned for more info…
This bout is the first official match for the unannounced card, which is expected to host a couple of title bouts featuring lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, and a women’s featherweight title match between champ Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos vs. an unnamed opponent.
Mousasi is undefeated in his last four, and is 18-1-1 in his last twenty-bouts. ‘The Dreamcacther’ was last in action in July, defending his DREAM title against Hiroshi Izumi, earning a first round TKO win. Before that, Mousasi fought last minute replacement Keith Jardine to a majority draw in April at the Diaz vs. Daley event.
Mousasi will certainly have his hands full unless he’s vastly improved his takedown defense as he faces a bigger fighter in St. Preux, a former University of Tennessee football player.
St. Preux has won his last eight straight matches, seven of which occurred in the span of one-years time from February 2010 to January 2011. ‘OSP’ was last in the cage at the same July at a Challengers show, where he earned a first round stoppage against Joe Cason. In the eight fight stretch, St. Preux earned three decision wins, four by (T)KO, and one by submission (Strikes).
For St. Preux, Mousasi represents a much tougher, and experienced opponent, which should prove an excellent test of his abilities to compete at the upper levels of the 205 lb division.