Gegard Mousasi Late Addition to K-1 Dynamite!
Only four days away from Dream/K-1/Sengoku-produced K-1 Dynamite, rumors are circulating that we could see Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi on the card.
The bout being discussed would be a K-1 rules bout between Mousasi and long-time UFC and Pride veteran Gary Goodridge.
Mousasi became a superstar in Japan after taking part in the the DREAM Middleweight Grand-Prix, dispatching Denis Kang, Dong Sik Yoon, as well as recent Strikeforce signee’s Menvin Manhoef and Ranaldo “Jacare” Souza on his way to victory.
Following this, he entered the ill-fated Super Hulk Tournament as an overwhelming favourite. In the first round, Mousasi proved the prognosticators correct with a quick victory over former PRIDE No. 1 contender Mark Hunt.
He then pulled out of the tournament, citing lingering injuries following an August bout with Renato Sobral. Most recently Mousasi defended his Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Championship against Sokoudjou on a November Strikeforce card.
Little has been heard from Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge over the last few years. After leaving Pride in 2003, he entered K-1 Hero’s where he went 2-1. His last bouts of significance were against Paul Buentello and Allistair Overeem, both dominating losses.
After four straight mixed martial arts losses, and 11 straight K-1 fights without a victory, it is unlikely Goodridge has much he can offer the much younger and more proficient Mousasi. The power the veteran contains might be his only chance at a victory. Skill-wise he is outmatched, but as we’ve seen so many times, it only takes one good punch to finish a fight.
The fight will be one of the less competitive on the card and was clearly put together to help pull in a major rating, as Dynamite is broadcast live in Japan on TBS.
The question might not be who is going to win the fight, but rather how long can Goodridge last before getting taken apart by the fastest rising star in the sport, Gegard Mousasi?
K-1 Dynamite takes place live on HDnet Jan. 1 at 3 a.m. EST.
