MMAFighting has reported that a light heavyweight contest between former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi and Jake O’Brien will soon be official for Dream 15. According to the report, both camps have agreed to the fight it could be finalized in days.
The light heavyweight bout will be a part of Dream’s first ever light heavyweight tournament. The only other announced bout is a fight between Melvin Manhoef and Tatsuya Mizuno. MMAJunkie has reported that it will only be a four-man tournament, but nothing has been made official by FEG, the parent company of Dream.
This will be Mousasi’s third appearance in a Dream tournament. He won the promotion’s middleweight tournament back in 2008 by defeating Denis Kang, Dong Sik Yoon, Melvin Manhoef and Ronaldo Souza. He then participated in Dream’s Super-Hulk tournament, but pulled out after besting Mark Hunt in the first round. In 2009, Mousasi won the Strikeforce light heavyweight title in dramatic fashion when he knocked out Renato “Babalu” Sobral. However, in April, Muhammed Lawal wrestled the title away from Mousasi with a five-round decision victory.
O’Brien began his UFC tenure with three-straight victories. The streak included a surprising decision win over Heath Herring at UFC Fight Night 8. However, after that his career fell on hard times and he lost three of his next four fights and was quickly Zuffa jettisoned the former Purdue wrestler. Since leaving the promotion, O’Brien has put up back-to-back wins over Dave Hess and Toni Valtonen.
Headlining Dream 15 will be a lightweight title fight. Dream champion Shinya Aoki will defend his title against fellow Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri.