Sokoudjou has sort of underachieved since he came over from PRIDE but its important to realize that he’s still relatively new to the fight game. Sokoudjou is a world class judoka which hasn’t really been demonstrated in his MMA game as of yet. Cane is just a tough dude and Sokoudjou will have his hands full…Luiz Cane’s nickname translates to “Chubby”. Apparently he was chubby as a kid….Dan Henderson said yesterday that Sokoudjou could be a NFL running back and that’s hard to argue with. He’s insanely conditioned and very talented. If he can get some momentum here in the UFC he’s got the “look” and persona to be a superstar in the US. Apparently Sokoudjou’s parents in Cameroon don’t know that he’s a professional fighter. Wonder what they think he’s doing. Sokoudjou’s knee is heavily taped as Rogan points out, suggesting that its more taping than you’d expect to see.

ROUND ONE:

Fighters stalk each other without any strikes thrown :30 into the round. Sokoudjou with a kick, Cane counterstrikes with a straight left. Sokoudjou throwing nice punches and kick combinations–Rogan just reminds us that Sokoudjou is only 24 years old. Sokoudjou pushing forward but Cane countering with kicks, including one on the heavily taped knee. Sokoudjou with a nice punch/kick combo. Sokoudjou’s handspeed is sick–maybe he needs to spend some time with Freddy Roach as if he could get some better technical form behind those hands he’d be a monster. Cane just a punching bag at this point as Sokoudjou mixing up his strikes nicely. 2 minutes left now and Cane having trouble figuring out a strategery. Cane still hanging around and Sokoudjou is just throwing wild strikes and not exactly fighting a tactical fight. Nice body kick by Cane. Rogan suggesting that Cane’s strategery may have been to weather the initial assault by “The African Assassin” and hope he gasses. Nevertheless, round 1 goes to Sokoudjou based on the early onslaught. 10-9 Sokoudjou on the SAVSCI card…

ROUND TWO:

Dan Henderson in Sokoudjou’s corner conferring with his fighter between rounds. 2nd round begins in much the same way as the first when Sokoudjou eats a misplaced low kick “right on the button” to the gonads. Sokoudjou takes time to recover as Rogan and Goldberg discuss why Rogan wanted to see the replay of the low blow. Cane wearing a big ‘CondomDepot.com’ logo on his trunks–big bodykick by Sokoudjou. Sokoudjou with a combination, Cane countering well. Low kick by Sokoudjou–Rogan says that he’s breathing heavily with just over 3 minutes left in the round. Cane starting to establish the jab, looking for an opening for a power shot. Big body kick by Sokoudjou, Cane keeps coming forward. Sokoudjou not nearly as effective backing up. Cane starting to score with his superior tactical striking, Sokoudjou not skilled enough with his striking to counter effectively. Low kick to the knee by Cane with just over a minute in the round–Hendo yelling at Sokoudjou to take him down. BIG straight left by Cane off of a knee strike that hurts Sokoudjou and a ground and pound assault followup until the referee jumps in for the stoppage.

LUIZ CANE WINS BY TKO

Sokoudjou is sort of in a rough place as a fighter–he’s such a great athlete that he’s best served leveraging that advantage, but he also has a tendency to over rely on that athleticism and not develop the more tactical aspects of his game. Can’t imagine that this is news to Dan Henderson and the SoCal Team Quest braintrust, but he really needs to polish up his striking game.