PRIDE 33 UP TO SIX BOUTS PLUS A TEASER

By Loretta Hunt

Dream Stage Entertainment has officially announced its second rematch bout for Feb. 24’s PRIDE 33 “The Second Coming” at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lanky 205-pound Dutchman Alistair Overeem (24-9) will get his opportunity to avenge his August 2005 loss to Brazilian Chute Boxe prodigy Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (15-2), the sixth bout revealed by the Japanese promotion’s sophomore effort in the U. S.

Earlier this week, The Fight Network’s Aaron Crecy reported Team Quest’s Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (2-1) has signed on to make his PRIDE debut on Feb. 24 as well, where he will face Brazilian Top Team’s Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-2) in a middleweight (under 205 lbs.) match-up. Sokoudjou is a 2001 U. S. Open Judo Champion, under the watchful eye of PRIDE Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson. PRIDE is expected to announce this match-up shortly.