Sokoudjou Confirms Talks With Ufc Have Taken Place

[ChuckBooty]

Although he is still contracted to Pride for two more fights, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has told CBS SportsLine that there have been talks between him and the UFC.

Under the terms of his current contract, Sokoudjou can turn down matches proposed by Pride, and although he refused the offer put forward to him by UFC President Dana White, there is also interest from other MMA promotions, including Bodog and K-1. Whether either of those two promotions get the opportunity to sign Sokoudjou remains to be seen. He has gone on the record as saying he is looking to fight against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to see how he is progressing as a fighter. Rua’s contract is believed to let him fight in both UFC and Pride.

Sokoudjou will likely made a decision on his future in the next week or so. Should he sign with the UFC, he’ll join several other former Pride fighters who have made the jump over the UFC in recent months, including recent signees Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and Dan Henderson.


http://www.wrestlemag.com/news/index.php?p=6069

[Rockx]

I am betting he will be on the Pride Card in August, by then he will be signed a UFC+Pride contract!

[BigBanda]

Suck if he doesnt end up in the UFC. Hopefully UFC wil llet him fight sometimes if his contract allows it should he sign with someone else like K-1 or Bodog. Dan Henderson mentioned recently in an interview that the offer made to Soko was not something he was interested in because the $$$ wasn't right.

[neonatural45]

The Dude is a beast and he will beat the shit out of any grappler with that takedown defense.

[drop toe hold]

hendo said those offers were less than stellar, lets how they beef it up, his stock is hot right now, coming off two ko victories off some big names

[NinjaShogunRua]

Yeah Dan Henderson said that the UFC lowballed Soko. I hope they pony up and offer him what he's worth. He's still green and all, but he KO'd 2 guys that were considered top 5 LHW at one time in back to back fights. Both guys were gonna get a PRIDE title shot soon too. That's pretty impressive. I'm not on the Sokoudjou bandwagon or anything, but he's an exciting fighter to watch, and the UFC could really benefit from signing him.

[dudefella]

Every business lowballs in negotiations. If someone accepts your first offer, you fucked up. I'm sure they'll get Soko in the fold... Dana's not an idiot, the man knows Sokoudjou has a bright future in MMA.

[ScottS]

Before this interview, where I learned the offer was less than what he is making in Pride, I thought Quest was just expecting too much. As a promotion I would still want to see him in a fight that lasts longer than one round before offering large sums.

[leedogg900]

if sokodju signs to the ufc, ufc hw/lhw divisions are going to be immensly stacked. their doing another ultimate fighter for 170 which is already stacked. so really they only need middleweights [the worst] and some top lightweights would be nice too. ufcs lw division is looking pretty decent right now but i think they should try and sign gomi and possibly 2-3 more top 10 lightweights. the 185lb division needs top fighters pretty badly [altho their hard to come by]. they should really try and sign baroni, dennis kang, i know evan tanner is comming back, and maybe 1 more solid 185lber like misaki or something.

[scottsec]

I hope he signs but he might just be looking at the money. if so he may wind up in bodog or K-1.