For most fighters 49 fights into their MMA career, they are already retired several times over. Not Gegard Mousasi as he became Bellator’s newest huge free agent signing! The 31 year old has become one of the best Middleweights in the world, and he just took his talents away from the biggest promotion on the planet.
Mousasi had been on a dominant run as of late in the UFC. Winning his last Five straight fights with wins over Chris Weidman, Vitor Belfort, Thiago Santos, Thales Leites and Uriah Hall. He also has impressive wins over Dan Henderson and Mark Munoz in his UFC career.
Eli Mooneyham and myself were in Buffalo in April for UFC 210 and Mousasi made it clear he was furious with the UFC. He claimed because he wasn’t American with Blonde hair, he wasn’t getting main events and title shots. He had a good point, he was the most active fighter in the Middleweight Division while with the UFC. Fighting 12 times in 4 years with the promotion, winning 9 of those.
He was a force in MMA before coming to the UFC in April of 2013. He is the former DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion, former DREAM Middleweight Champion, former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Champion and the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, thus making Mousasi a four-time World Champion.
I’m thrilled to welcome Gegard to the growing Bellator family,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “He’s one of the most well-rounded fighters in all of MMA and can compete in multiple divisions, so that really opens up some exciting matchmaking opportunities for us and for the fans. We’re looking forward to having him compete on Spike very soon.”
It comes to no surprise that Gegard Mousasi has jumped ship and left the UFC for Bellator. Mousasi had been vocal about his displeasure with both his pay and opportunities with the UFC as recently as UFC 210 in Buffalo in April. He will now re-unite with president Scott Coker, who he had a working relationship with when he fought for Strikeforce from 2009-2013 and was the light heavyweight champion.
“I am looking forward to fighting in Bellator,” added Mousasi. “I have a long-standing relationship with Scott Coker that goes back many years. Be ready, I am coming after the Bellator middleweight championship.”
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