In what could turn out to be one of the more lopsided battles on the main card at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers, DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix champion and surging light heavyweight prospect Gegard Mousasi (26-2-1) will battle underachieving former UFC and PRIDE veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4) in a three-round non-title bout. Sokoudjou is coming off two straight wins within the framework of DREAM's Super Hulk tournament over former K-1 kickboxer Jan Nortje and Japanese MMA icon Bob "The Beast" Sapp. Mousasi enters this contest as unbeaten in thirteen straight bouts with his most recent victory coming at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg in which he dispatched of former RINGS and UFC veteran Renato "Babalu" Sobral in one minute.

Mousasi's kickboxing and amateur boxing background coupled with his Judo and jiu-jitsu training have made him one of the most complete light heavyweights in the world today. At only 24 years of age, he has yet to fully grow into his frame as many expect will happen in the next few years. There is talk that he'll eventually ascend to the heavyweight ranks and fill out his frame with muscle, but for now -- he seems content with gaining more exposure in North America within the structure of Strikeforce with the potential to head to the UFC in the future.

Sokoudjou has his work cut out for him. Mousasi's stoic demeanor, calmness, and ferocity once a fight begins could be compared to that of Fedor Emelianenko in the context of the light heavyweight frame that Mousasi currently embodies. He's managed to finish off eleven of his last thirteen opponents, and he crushed what many consider to be his toughest test in Renato "Babalu" Sobral. Sokoudjou, on the other hand, has continued to have problems following his upset victories over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona at PRIDE 33 and PRIDE 34 respectively.

Most complaints have stemmed from Sokoudjou's reluctance to unleash his hands on opponents, and his grappling game is lacking as he was submitted by both Lyoto Machida and Renato "Babalu" Sobral. While the Cameroon-born judoka could provide a stiff test for Mousasi in a clinch game in which his superior Judo skills could come into play, Mousasi's hands and abilities on the floor are much more polished than that of Sokoudjou.

The Super Hulk appearances by Sokoudjou didn't suggest that we should have any real confidence that he can give Mousasi a challenge, but Sokoudjou's strength and power are always a factor. I'd give him a puncher's chance at connecting with a shot against Mousasi in this battle, but the ground war will be to Mousasi's advantage. Mousasi can outclass Sokoudjou in the stand-up game as well as he seems to be a much more technical puncher than that of Sokoudjou. It just becomes a question as to whether Mousasi wants to risk wading into the power of Sokoudjou's hands or not.

Gegard Mousasi should be able to defeat the former UFC veteran in this non-title contest. Sokoudjou only truly offers a danger in his power in the striking department, and he'll need to overcome his inability to unload his hands in order to punch out Mousasi. While I'm keen on Mousasi, this is still a brutal sport in which upsets do happen. It just so happens that Sokoudjou was the winner in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Could he pull off another major upset? We'll find out on Saturday night.