Gegard Mousasi
The Strikeforce promotion made two previously identified bouts official for next months Strikeforce: Champions event adding a light heavyweight bout between Gegard Mousasi (32–3–2) vs. Mike Kyle (19-8-1, 2 NC) and a lightweight bout between K.J. Noons (11-5) vs. Ryan Couture (5-1).
Both bouts will appear on the Showtime broadcasted main card.
Strikeforce: Champions, the last show for the promotion, is expected to take place on January 12, 2013 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The event will feature a welterweight title bout between defending champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine and a heavyweight match between Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier versus promotion newcomer Dion Staring.
Mousasi is undefeated in his last five bouts going 4-1 with a unanimous decision victory against Ovince St. Preux last December under the Strikeforce banner. His other bout was a DREAM title defense against Hiroshi Izumi in Japan in July 2011, with first round TKO stoppage.
Kyle had a submission loss to Rafael Cavalcante last May after ‘Feijão’ tested positive for a banned substance and had the result changed to a “No Contest.” Kyle earned his last win over a year ago in September 2011, with a unanimous decision over Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Noons is 1-3 in his last four fights, having lost a lightweight title eliminator to Josh Thomson last March. His last win came in December of last year, winning a decision against Billy Evangelista in San Diego.
Couture has steadily increased the level of competition he’s faced and will have his hands full against Noons. The lightweight has won three straight having beaten Joe Duarte last July by split decision, Conor Heun via TKO last March, and Maka Watson via split decision in September of last year.