Mousasi out of Super Hulk tourney

Gegard Mousasi has been forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Rameau Thierry Sokodjou in the semifinals of the Super Hulk Tournament at Dream 11, MMAWeekly.com has been told by multiple sources close to the situation. The Japanese promotion is currently trying to find a replacement opponent for the Oct. 6 event, which also features the promotion's Featherweight Grand Prix Finals.

According to one source, Mousasi may have injured his shoulder during a grappling exhibition with Fedor Emelianenko at M-1: Breakthrough last month in Kansas City.

Less than two weeks prior to the exhibition, Mousasi dazzled in his American MMA debut at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, stopping Renato "Babalu" Sobral in a minute to win the promotion's light heavyweight title. The 24-year-old Dutch Armenian picked up his first major belt last year when he defeated an impressive field of contenders to take the Dream middleweight belt in September 2008. He vacated the belt shortly after to take fights in the light heavyweight class and beyond.

Mousasi's manager, Apy Echteld, declined comment on the situation.