Gegard Mousasi On His Way To The UFC?

[Turd Ferguson]

He's been training with Georges St. Pierre in preparations for Dan Hardy. They've become good friends, with them going to Strikeforce: Miami together. It was rumored too that after Affliction folded, he wanted to go to the UFC with the rest of the Affliction refugees. His management at M-1 Global reportedly lied to him, telling him that the UFC wouldn't honor the Affliction contract when they would.

He has one fight left on his Strikeforce contract. And now, he has left M-1 Global.

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi has informed Sherdog.com he has amicably parted ways with his M-1 Global management team and that the two sides will no longer do business together.
"After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest to part ways with M-1 Global," Mousasi stated in an email late Thursday night. "During the time I spent under their wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done for me."

Mousasi has already formulated a new management team, however would only disclose that a person "close" to him would be handling his affairs from here on out.

I think Mousasi has basically already agreed to go to the UFC, and I think that's why Dana kept his mouth shut about GSP going to Strikeforce: Miami as a spectator. I wouldn't be shocked if Mousasi wound up training with Greg Jackson as a result of this.

Mousasi is an out of this world talent, and he's flown under the radar for too long now. Not only is his record 28-2-1, but he FINISHES opponents, having only two career decision wins. He's explosive, exciting, and I've been a huge fan of his for awhile now. The thing is too, he's a tremendous fighter right now, and virtually unbeatable. Could you imagine him under Greg Jackson? I'd imagine that him starting to train with Jackson could start some friction as well. Rashad and Jon Jones also train in that camp, and guys in the same camp don't fight each other. Rashad may be very agitated if Mousasi becomes UFC Light Heavyweight Champion at some point.

But let's focus on the positives here. If Mousasi comes into the UFC, I'd immediately book him against a top talent like Forrest Griffin. He doesn't need to be handled with kid gloves here. He's a world class fighter, and I think he's the third best overall Light Heavyweight right now, and that's only because of the competition or lack thereof he's taken on.

 

[INDYjon22]

This would be huge if Mousasi does sign with the UFC. He is a phenomenal fighter and one of the best in the world. I had no idea he was training with Jackson but that will only make him better. Also, the UFC would make a lot of sense considering the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight division is not very deep right now. If he leaves then the Strikeforce LHW division is in serious trouble. All of their money will have to be banked on Hendo in my eyes.

As for if Mousasi comes to the UFC. I agree, he needs to be put in fights against top fighters from the start. Forrest would be a great starting point. Also, if he does become champion I hope to god it pisses Rashad Evans off enough that they make that fight happen. It would be great to see two strikers off their quality go against one another.

 

[Frozentrash75]

This is great news for the UFC because Mousasi is an amazing fighter and would really bolster the ranks of the LHW division but if you are strikeforce you have to be freaking out because you are getting ready to lose your best fighter other then fedor and you can't afford that so strikeforce has to do everything possible to keep Mousasi.

If he does go to the ufc he needs to fight a bigger name right away maybe a griffin, evans, or a rampage when he comes back no scrubs for him. I feel that he can compete for the title very early in a stacked LHW division and i hope so because i want as much competition as possible to beat machida because i can't stand him. I mean if you are the ufc this makes all the sense in the world and you have to do what it takes to get Mousasi.

 

[jmt225]

I really, really hope this happens.

Gegard Mousasi is easily a top five Light Heavyweight in the World right now, if not 3, and someone like that needs to be in the UFC. Fights against Machida, Shogun, Rampage, etc. would all be fantastic, and personally... maybe besides Shogun, I think Mousasi could beat all those guys in decisive fashion.

But yeah... while I was looking forward to see Mousasi crush King Mo's face, if him going to the UFC means that that won't be able to happen, then I'll still take it.

 

[Kasey]

I'm not even sure how many fights Gegard has left on his Strikeforce deal. Dana White does have a massive hard-on for signing the guy (once quoted as saying Mousasi's signing was a "7" on a scale of 1-to-5 in terms of importance). I think there are a few decent matchups left for Mousasi on the open market (Filho, Lawal, Henderson) and I do know that he's slated for a berth in Dream's upcoming LHW Gran Prix. Coker would be wise to hold on to him, but I think the lack of options will be the deciding factor and Gegard will be fighting for Zuffa in 1 or 2 years. As long as Coker can feasibly hold onto him, though? He'll be sitting pretty in Strikeforce.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Just to update:

Mousasi's last fight on his Strikeforce contract is against King Mo next month on the April CBS card. He was recently asked about his contract status, and here's what he had to say:

"I have one more fight left on my contract, but we are planning to sign a new deal," Mousasi said.

"I'm being treated very well," he said. "I feel like I'm a part of the family, so there's no reason for me to go anywhere else. I fight also in DREAM, so I don't have any desires to go anywhere."

This is a bummer, because I would have loved to see Mousasi in the UFC. I've become a huge fan of his, and seeing him fight the likes of Machida, Shogun, Rashad, Jon Jones, and even Anderson Silva would be awesome, awesome fights. The thing with Mousasi sticking in Strikeforce is: Who's left for him to fight? Besides Hendo and King Mo, I really have a hard time seeing who in Strikeforce can even fight Mousasi, let alone pose a legitimate challenge. Sure, people can emerge through the ranks or become UFC castoffs joining Strikeforce, but Dana's going to want to keep around his top talent. The only two light heavyweights I can even see that are on the verge of getting released are Jardine (who I think will always have job security because of Rashad and he can pull off an upset) and Brandon Vera (who is a loss or two away from getting cut).

If Dana negotiates with Mousasi and offers him a deal, he should really mention the lack of challenges that are out there for him in Strikeforce and Japan. Mousasi is still young and has some great fights ahead of him, but to evolve as a fighter, he needs to be challenging himself. A loss in Strikeforce or Japan would damage him a lot more than a loss in the UFC would as well.

 

[jmt225]

I think that's just Mousasi talking shit, to make himself see, more valuable to the UFC. The more Dana and co. thinks Strikeforce/DREAM wants Mousasi, the more they'll be willing to throw at him to convince him to go to the UFC, since they know Strikeforce nor Japan would be able to come anywhere near close to matching their offer(s).

So, if the UFC sees Mousasi as someone who would be a valuable asset to their company, they will get him; I guarantee it. All he has to do is beat King Mo's ass like he should, and the UFC will come a knockin'.

Also, you can't forget Mousasi is close friends with GSP. I'm sure GSP is telling him the right move to make is to join him in the UFC. There's no doubt in my mind about that.

So, yeah... no matter what Mousasi says, unless he actually signs a new contract with Strikeforce or DREAM, I'm in the firm belief that he will be in the UFC by May/June of this year.

 

[the lineman]

I don't see him going to the UFC anytime soon. I doubt him and GSP will even train again any time soon because of how far away each other is and how hard it would be for GSP to do so much traveling. He already goes from Montreal, to NY, to Denver, Las Vegas, to New Mexico. For him to fit a trip to Holland in there is kinda too much.

 

[Buffalo Dave]

From Sherdog.com

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi has signed a four-fight minimum, two-year contract renewal, the promotion’s CEO Scott Coker confirmed on Friday.

The 24-year-old Armenian-Dutch fighter expressed his intention to re-sign with Strikeforce on Sirius satellite radio’s “The Fight Show” on Thursday. Mousasi, who left M-1 Global’s management last February, has declined to identify his new representation at this time.

Mousasi defends his title against undefeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal at Strikeforce “Nashville” at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The bout, and two others, will air live on CBS starting at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Mousasi won the Strikeforce light heavyweight title last August with a speedy one-minute technical knockout against Renato Sobral. Mousasi earned a second-round TKO over Cameroon judoka Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in a non-title bout last November, which was also broadcasted live on CBS. He is undefeated in 15 fights.

Guess He wont be going to the UFC for at least 2 more years. Gotta say a little disappointed in him resigning with Strikeforce. Strikeforce is very thin at LHW, woulda been awesome for him to sign with UFC with the stacked LHW division they have right now, I really wanted him to go there and have a fight with Couture i think that would be a pretty good matchup plus numerous other fights for him.

 

[jmt225]

Lame.

Seriously, after King Ho, who is there for Mousasi to fight at Light Heavyweight? Hendo maybe, but not if he loses to Shields Saturday. But besides that, there's nobody, not even a rematch against Babula, since he hasn't fought since his lost to Mousasi for whatever reason.

The only good fights for Mousasi is at Middleweight against the likes of Nick Diaz, Jacare, Mayhem, Shields, Hendo, etc. Of course he could go up to Heavyweight, but nobody wants to see that shit unless he fights Fedor, and Fedor's future with Strikeforce is in doubt right now.

So, yeah.... very disappointing. There were so many great potential match-ups for Mousasi in the UFC, but instead... we're going to have to settle with mediocrity from him for the next two years (if Strikeforce stays in business that long).

 

[Turd Ferguson]

So, let's bring up how badly Mousasi's stock dropped last night.

He's supposed to be the best light-heavyweight not in the UFC. I honestly thought the Sokoudjou fight was just him not being on his game, but I think that was a telling sign of how he's been overhyped by a lot of people (myself included). I'm not sure how he lost to King Mo. King Mo is nowhere close to being the elite fighter Mousasi's supposed to be. I don't know if he was just off of his game, or if he underestimated King Mo, or if he's bought into his own hype, but Mousasi showed last night that he's not at this stage in his career, an elite light-heavyweight and one of the best pound for pound fighters. Granted, I didn't see the fight, but everything I've read about it was that it was one sided for King Mo for 5 rounds. That's not good. He will be someday one of the best, if not THE best, no question about it, but right now, he is far from that point.

Right now, he needs to boost his stock back up and get a rematch against King Mo as soon as possible. On the bright side, luckily for him, he extended his contract before this fight. Also, he's probably the #1 contender because let's face it, Strikeforce has no other light heavyweights. He would have gotten low-balled by the UFC and/or Strikeforce if he became a free agent. I really like Mousasi, but you gotta rank him between 8-10 now for the top light-heavyweights overall now. I had him ranked third. I honestly thought he was just below Shogun and Machida.

 

[Slyfox696]

So, let's bring up how badly Mousasi's stock dropped last night.

He's supposed to be the best light-heavyweight not in the UFC. I honestly thought the Sokoudjou fight was just him not being on his game, but I think that was a telling sign of how he's been overhyped by a lot of people (myself included). I'm not sure how he lost to King Mo. King Mo is nowhere close to being the elite fighter Mousasi's supposed to be. I don't know if he was just off of his game, or if he underestimated King Mo, or if he's bought into his own hype, but Mousasi showed last night that he's not at this stage in his career, an elite light-heavyweight and one of the best pound for pound fighters. Granted, I didn't see the fight, but everything I've read about it was that it was one sided for King Mo for 5 rounds. That's not good. He will be someday one of the best, if not THE best, no question about it, but right now, he is far from that point.

Right now, he needs to boost his stock back up and get a rematch against King Mo as soon as possible. On the bright side, luckily for him, he extended his contract before this fight. Also, he's probably the #1 contender because let's face it, Strikeforce has no other light heavyweights. He would have gotten low-balled by the UFC and/or Strikeforce if he became a free agent. I really like Mousasi, but you gotta rank him between 8-10 now for the top light-heavyweights overall now. I had him ranked third. I honestly thought he was just below Shogun and Machida.

With the way he fought last night, 8-10 is easily a gift of a rank. He looked awful. He looked completely uninterested in the first couple of rounds, and then looked gassed in the last three rounds. From what the commentators were saying, his gameplan was to let King Mo wear himself out in the first round or two, and then beat him down in the last rounds. The first part of the plan worked wonderfully, King Mo was so tired at the end of the first and second rounds you thought he may fall over. The problem was, Mousasi, going into the third round, looked completely gassed as well, and he never came close to winning a round.

Mousasi had no takedown defense, had no desire to stand and throw, and while he got off some good shots from the bottom...he was still on his back all night, and never a thread to do anything. King Mo couldn't hit him on his feet, so he just took him down time and time again.

Had Mousasi done ANYTHING to win the fight, he probably could have. But, he didn't. Like I said, ranking him 8-10 would be extremely kind, with the way he fought last night.

 

[jmt225]

Yep, got to agree with Sly on this one.

Just rereading my post I'm disgusted at how much I overrated this guy. Man, he really had me fooled with the Babalu win, but to me now that was nothing more than a fluke.

I hate to say it, but Mousasi with his last two fights is not a top 10 Light Heavyweight.

However, even so... I wouldn't bitch if he got a rematch against King Mo. I mean, as Guy said... who else is there? I firmly believe Babalu would kick the ever living shit out of Mo, but they're not going to give him a Title shot, since he hasn't fought since the Mousasi fight. And Dan Henderson just got tooled by a Welterweight... so, while it wouldn't shock me if Hendo got a shot because of his name and popularity, I still don't think he will.

Mousasi is literally the only person there. It shows just how weak Strikeforce's line-up is. Outside of the Middleweight Division, all the divisions in Strikeforce are heavily limited. It's really going to bite them in the ass in the future.