Who Should You Know?: Sokoudjou (MMA: Edition 3)

Welcome back to the Whoyou should know in MMA. This week, or should I say today, I feature none other than Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Nkamhoua, or otherwise known as "The African Assasin", from Cameroon, Sokoudju.

Sokoudju has made waves from very early on in his career and already has profile type fights, but is only 5-2, with 4 knockouts. Other than his very 1st fight wich was a decision, the man has only been out of the 1st round once, and that was a brief 2 rounder.  Most fighters don't get a high profile fight within their 1st ten fights, Sokoudju has had 3 at very least. This is the reason why I chose Sokoudju among other fighters on this very solid card at UFC 89 tonight.

I usually cover a veterans key fights and last 5 fights, but since this rising star only has 7 fights, I can very briefly go thru them all. As most fighters do, Sokoudju lost 1 of his 1st 3 fights, after going 2-0 against Gary Padilla (3 round Decision) at Total Combat 15 and Paul Weremecki (1st round, KO in 2:11) at SF 17. The he got the call by WEC, and at WEC 24 was squared up against the Brazilian Glover Teixeira who at the time was 3-2. Teixeira, a former feature of the show TapouT, who should be making his UFC debut soon and I am sure will be a star to watch as well, outslugged and gained quick control over Sokoudju, winning by TKO due to Strikes within 2 minutes of the 1st round.

Sokoudju did not fight in WEC again and bolted to Pride. This is where The African Assassin made his name. Being a huge underdog to world renowned Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his very 1st match at Pride in Pride 33, Sokoudju would shock the world. Minotoro, or Lil Nog as he's affectionately known, is the smaller of the Noguiera twins, but just as successful as his twin, and at the time was 12-2. Minotoro came off 2 key victories to Alistair Overeem and another versus Dan Henderson before facing Sokoudju, so with his limited experience, no one argued the 16-1 underdog role. The African Assassin came out and made his name in a KO of Lil Nog in 23 seconds. His very next fight, at the very next Pride, Pride 34, he squared off against Ricardo Arona. Arona, who holds ke wins over Overeem, Wanderlei Silva, Murillo Ninja Rua, Dan Hendersonand Jeremy Horn and took Fedor Emelianankoto a decision even if a loss, was undoubtedly the favorite in this match as well. Sokoudju took a little longer to feel out Arona but wasted only a little more time, KO'ing Arona nearly at the 2 minute mark.

The well documented collapse of Pridemaybe affected the hot streak Sokoudju created, and as he was signed by UFC, he was set to make his debut against Lyoto Machida at UFC 79. Machida handled the powerful African Assasin in the second round, neutralizing Soukudju by taking him down and utilizing his BJJ skills, winning via Arm Triangle Choke Submission. But just a short 5 months later at UFC 84, he returned and faced off against wily veteran Kaz Nakamura. Nakamura could not answer after the 1st round and the fight ended in a TKO for Soukudju.

Back on his winning ways, The African Assassin challenged Mauricio Shogun Rua immediately after the fight, saying styles make fights. This may come true someday, but he must 1st square off against a solid Luis Cane(8-1, 7 KOs 1 Sub).

Sokuodju has been training with Team Quest and Dan Hendersonover in Southern California. Before that he was the 2001 US Open Judo Champion. He picked up kickboxing and then chose to go pro in MMA. But since in professional MMA debut in July of 2006, The African Assassin has had 7 pro fights in 2 years. Good productivity by the Cameroon native. And if history predicts future, he should win his 2nd in a row for the 3rd time in his career. If there was to be a prediction, this fight does not leave the 1st round. and Sokuodju should overpower his opponent, if not, Luis Cane will be sure to be on one of this editions soon.

Whether or not the Shogun match takes place sooner than later, one can be sure to say that The African Assassin will not back down from any fight, just don't blink, or you might miss it.