Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, holds a 2014 win over ex-Strikeforce 205-pound kingpin, Gegard Mousasi, after both combatants made their long-awaited drop to middleweight.
“The Dreamcatcher” is apparently still butthurt over it.
That’s why Mousasi continues to rail against Machida in the mixed martial arts (MMA) media, according to “The Dragon,” who suggests the Brazilian smear campaign (sample) is nothing more than Mousasi acting like a sore loser.
”Everything Mousasi says only motivates me,” Machida told MMA Fighting. “I have a win over him and I think he’s a little bothered by it. But I think it’s an easier fight to promote now. I’m very motivated and I want this opportunity, especially with him as a champion. I want the Bellator belt. I’m not here to be part of the roster and just fight. I came here to become champion and remain champion for as long as I can.”
Mousasi (44-6-2) ran out his UFC contract last summer and quickly hooked up with Scott Coker and Co. where he now holds a perfect 2-0 record, as well as the middleweight strap, following his May destruction of Rafael Carvalho.
Machida (24-8) recently followed suit and announced his Bellator plans back in June. While “The Dragon” has yet to make his Paramount Network debut, he probably needs just one victory to secure a middleweight title shot.
But it may be against this guy, depending on how things shake out.