MMA News Forums - Coker: 'Feijao' vs. Mousasi likely for vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title Cok

Coker: 'Feijao' vs. Mousasi likely for vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title

Quote:

Following an ACL injury he recently revealed to MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com), Gegard Mousasi won't be back in the cage anytime soon.

And that's just fine with his likely next opponent, who's expected to fight Mousasi for Strikeforce's vacant light-heavyweight title.

Following a grueling training camp, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (12-3 MMA, 5-2 SF) – who made quick work of Mike Kyle at Saturday's Strikeforce event – is looking for a little rest and relaxation before his tentative title fight with Mousasi (32-3-1 MMA, 3-1-1 SF), a fellow ex-champ.

Cavalcante stunned Kyle with a knee and ultimately tapped him out with a guillotine choke just 33 seconds into their Showtime-televised main-card fight, which was part of "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. It was revenge for Cavalcante, who suffered a second-round knockout loss to Kyle three years ago at "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" in his promotional debit.

"It feels good," Cavalcante said. "I'm back on track."

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker concurred. And though many fans felt Cavalcante vs. Kyle II should have earned the winner a shot at the belt (one Dan Henderson vacated with his move to the UFC in late 2011), Coker said the belt soon will be on the line again.

"I think the likely candidate you'll see in the future at some point (for Cavalcante) is Gegard Mousasi," Coker said of the recovering fighter, who's 4-0-1 since losing the belt to Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal in 2010. "When that fight happens happens, I'm not sure – or if it all – but I think it's a natural progression for 'Feijao.'"

Coker: 'Feijao' vs. Mousasi likely for vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title | MMAjunkie.com