Desperately seeking a momentum-building performance in his latest promotion, 11th-ranked middleweight Gegard Mousasi got that and more by making quick work of seventh-ranked Mark Munoz at UFC Fight Night 41 on Saturday afternoon in Berlin, Germany.
Aside from an early slam from Munoz, this bout belonged to Mousasi from the jump.
After countering Munoz’s second attempt for a takedown and winding up in the top position, Mousasi attempted a modified guillotine choke, which the former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler defended.
Mousasi didn’t fret, however, and regained top control, a place where he made Munoz pay with thunderous punches and elbows.
Munoz eventually scrambled to his feet and attempted a body-lock takedown, only to get reversed by Mousasi and end up on his back with one of the Dutchman’s hooks in.
Mousasi wasted little time going for the kill and almost immediately locked up a rear-naked choke with a Gable-grip that stretched Munoz out and forced him to tap with one minute and three seconds left in the first round.
The always soft-spoken Mousasi took to Twitter afterward to celebrate in typical Mousasi fashion.
Friends…. are you satisfied?!?!
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) May 31, 2014
UFC president Dana White also voiced his opinion via Twitter, offering the following sentiments regarding the Armenian-born fighter hours after his win.
WOW!!!! Total domination by Mousasi. I never understood how the media had him ranked 11 after going distance with #1 Machida
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 31, 2014
The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ, Mousasi ran his UFC record to 2-1 and his mark under the Zuffa LLC umbrella to 6-2-1.
Munoz, who won seven of his first 10 UFC bouts, has dropped two fights in a row and three of his last four bouts.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com