Even by Japanese standards, Dream's open-weight tournament has an eclectic mix. There's Gegard Mousasi, ranked fourth among middleweights in the new USA TODAY/SB Nation rankings. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has slipped in light heavyweight rankings. Bob Sapp, a former NFL lineman turned Japanese ring celebrity, will squeeze in an appearance between his Dec. 31 demolition of a cartoon character and his upcoming bout with former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley. Then we have two kickboxers who occasionally dabble in MMA -- Mark Hunt and 7-foot-2 Korean Hong Man Choi.
Choi's first opponent: former baseball player Jose Canseco. Yes, that Jose Canseco.
Multiple sources are reporting this, Sherdog and MMA Junkie among them. The official Dream site has a cardboard cutout of Canseco next to a cardboard cutout of Choi. Safe to say Choi will have the reach advantage.
Canseco's boxing experience is mixed. Former NFL player Vai Sikahema knocked him out. He then earned a majority draw against radio personality and former Partridge Family star Danny Bonaduce.
Choi mostly sticks to kickboxing but has been a fixture of New Year's Eve MMA cards for the past three years, including a credible bout against No. 1-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. He's 1-2 in official MMA bouts.
By Beau Dure
Say it ain't so! I don't know how much training Canseco has had in MMA, but how old is he? 40-something going on 50? He has had steroid issues, marital issues, and I'm sure financial issues, in which this appearance at Dream may be one of the last paydays he may see. I hope I'm wrong ... I want Canseco to prove me wrong and be successful... I want him to have had MMA training and I hope he wins. But I really cannot help but think this is one of his last shots at any kind of payday. Good luck to Jose Canseco!
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