
(Photo courtesy of AfricanAssassin.com)
Dropped from the UFC just two weeks ago, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-3) has already been picked up by Affliction, and will reportedly face Renato "Babalu" Sobral (31-7) at "Day of Reckoning" on January 24th. Wisely, the Cameroonian fighter only signed a one-fight contract, which means he won’t be stuck in an EliteXC-style purgatory if Affliction crashes and burns after their second event. Sobral, who won Strikeforce’s light-heavyweight title last month with a doctor’s stoppage victory over Bobby Southworth, was originally slated to face Matt Lindland in a 195-pound catch-weight bout at "Day of Reckoning"; Lindland will now be facing former UFC champ Vitor Belfort.
Not exactly a tune-up match for Soko, who’s coming off a TKO loss to Luis Cane at UFC 89 in October. Sobral is about as seasoned as they come, and he’s looked particularly sharp lately. He certainly has the submission skills to punk Sokoudjou on the ground, though a standing fight could favor the African Assassin. Here’s what "Day of Reckoning"’s main card looks like so far:
- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski
- Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel
- Matt Lindland vs. Vitor Belfort
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
- Renato Sobral vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
- Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon


no shit its like christmas! is it christmas?!?