If Gegard Mousasi was looking to prove he’s still a factor in the UFC’s middleweight division, consider Saturday mission accomplished.
The former Strikeforce and Dream light heavyweight champion put in a one-sided performance at UFC Fight Night 66, as he overwhelmed Costas Philippou at in Pasay City, Phillipines.
The judges scores were 30-27 across the board as Mousasi won for the third time in his past four fights.
“I felt good he was strong, he was defending on the ground, but I kept it smart,” Mousasi said.
Mousasi (37-5-2) set the tone in the first round, as he pushed the pace, scored takedowns, and dominated Philippou on the ground.He worked a pair of chokes late in the round, but Philippou managed to hang on.
And that was pretty much the story of the fight. Unofficially, Mousasi outstruck Philippou 166-14, as he continued to work over Philppou on the ground, looking for a finish which never came.
“He’s dangerous, he has knockout power,” Mousasi said. “On the ground I had an advantage.”
Philippou (13-5, 1 NC), who was on a five-fight win streak when he left the Serra-Longo camp two years ago, is 1-3 since.