Derek Brunson is seeing green in a clash with Gegard Mousasi. Brunson is coming off a quick knockout victory over Daniel Kelly at UFC Fight Night 110. The win should ensure “The Law” a higher ranked opponent in his next outing. Brunson would like that opponent to be Mousasi if the money is right. He […]
Derek Brunson is seeing green in a clash with Gegard Mousasi. Brunson is coming off a quick knockout victory over Daniel Kelly at UFC Fight Night 110. The win should ensure “The Law” a higher ranked opponent in his next outing. Brunson would like that opponent to be Mousasi if the money is right. He […]
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has been out of action for just over a year now. After losing his 185-pound title to Michael Bisping in shocking fashion at UFC 199 last June in California, Rockhold was booked to rematch former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza last November, but he was forced to withdraw from […]
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has been out of action for just over a year now.
After losing his 185-pound title to Michael Bisping in shocking fashion at UFC 199 last June in California, Rockhold was booked to rematch former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza last November, but he was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering a knee injury.
Since then, Rockhold has been quite open in voicing his displeasure with the state of the middleweight division and the path that Bisping has taken since winning his title, although it appears as if Rockhold is now ready to step back inside the Octagon.
Recently speaking with TMZ, the ex-champion said that he would be open to fighting No. 4-ranked Gegard Mousasi, while also saying that he’d be ready to step in for either Yoel Romero or Robert Whittaker, who will fight for an interim title at July 8’s UFC 213, if need be:
“Ask Mousasi, that’s what they want. I like it,” Rockhold said. “It’s just a matter of…he’s a man of principle, so I give him some credit, he’s going to wait and see the best offer. Can’t fault a man for that, but I think that’s the fight that makes sense right now.”
“I’m training. I’ll be ready. Something happens to Yoel, Whittaker, I’ll be ready to fill in too.”
Rockhold also spoke on Bisping, whom he beat back in 2014, saying that a trilogy bout with “The Count” is also a fight he’d obviously like:
“Is he gonna fight anybody in the division that’s worthwhile? I’m just gonna do my thing, I’m gonna fight when I have to fight. I’m looking for a fight. Of course I want a third fight with Michael.”
Gegard Mousasi is not pleased with the UFC’s recent contract offer to him. The Dutchman is currently on a magnificent five fight win streak; having defeated the likes of Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Hall, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. Four of those wins have come by way of knockout. Coming off […]
Gegard Mousasi is not pleased with the UFC’s recent contract offer to him.
The Dutchman is currently on a magnificent five fight win streak; having defeated the likes of Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Hall, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. Four of those wins have come by way of knockout.
Coming off of his controversial win over Weidman at UFC 210 from Buffalo, New York, Mousasi finds himself as a free agent at the moment after having fought out his previous contract with the promotion. While the UFC has made it clear they’d like to retain their No. 4-ranked 185-pounder.
Recently, Mousasi appeared on UFC Tonight with UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping and Kenny Florian to talk about his situation and revealed he has yet to sign a new deal. The former Strikeforce champ did admit, however, that he wasn’t pleased with the UFC’s latest offer at the negotiation table (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“It’s not good,” said Mousasi. “We don’t like it.”
The UFC currently has only six weeks remaining on the exclusive negotiation period before he is able to begin talking with other promotions about a potential signing. Mousasi feels that because of his record as a mixed martial artists along with his fan following, he deserves to be paid on the same level as the elite in the sport:
“I’m co-main event all the time, so it’s not like people don’t know me,” said Mousasi.
Although he may not be inked down with the UFC for the time being, he still works alongside the promotion as he made in appearance for the company in Singapore recently, as well as partook in this past weekend’s UFC Athlete Retreat in Las Vegas.
Mousasi took another jab at the UFC’s payment of fighters, noting that NBA Legend Kobe Bryant guest spoke at the event and told fighters to invest $100 million, while the fighters listening usually don’t make more than $20,000 for their fights:
“It was fun, but then Kobe Bryant comes, he talks about investing $100 million, and you have fighters sitting there who make $10,000 (show money) plus $10,000 (win bonus),” Mousasi said. “So, it didn’t make any sense. Other than that, it was great and they treated us very well.”
Gegard Mousasi was very blunt while appearing on UFC Tonight Wednesday when asked about his contract talks with the promotion. “It’s not good,” Mousasi said. “We don’t like it.” Mousasi became a free agent after his win over Chris Weidman this past April, marking his fifth consecutive triumph since a stunning upset loss to Uriah […]
Gegard Mousasi was very blunt while appearing on UFC Tonight Wednesday when asked about his contract talks with the promotion. “It’s not good,” Mousasi said. “We don’t like it.” Mousasi became a free agent after his win over Chris Weidman this past April, marking his fifth consecutive triumph since a stunning upset loss to Uriah […]
MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be training with one of fighting’s most highly-regarded teams for the final fight of his career at June 3’s UFC 212. Photos surfaced on Alex Garcia’s Instagram of “The Phenom” training at Montreal’s famed TriStar Gym alongside Georges St-Pierre for his upcoming bout agianst fellow longtime veteran Nate Marquardt, a
MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be training with one of fighting’s most highly-regarded teams for the final fight of his career at June 3’s UFC 212.
Photos surfaced on Alex Garcia’s Instagram of “The Phenom” training at Montreal’s famed TriStar Gym alongside Georges St-Pierre for his upcoming bout agianst fellow longtime veteran Nate Marquardt, a move which Belfort later confirmed when questioned by MMA Junkie:
Belfort is unquestionably one of the most powerful knockouts in the short history of MMA, but he’s also undoubtedly fallen upon hard times during a disappointing streak of mounting knockout losses following his unlikely TRT-fueled knockout streak in 2013.
Matching him against Marquardt, who’s also a onetime great past his prime, is an excellent booking for Belfort’s last walk to the cage after recent match-ups with top middleweights like Kelvin Gaastelum, Gegard Mousasi, and ‘Jacare’ Souza. The fight gives him an opportunity to go out with a victory in his native Rio de Janeiro, something many longtime fans of MMA will be rooting for the Brazilian legend.
He’ll always be a polarizing figure, but controversy aside, Belfort secured and still boasts many UFC milestones and could realistically go down as one of them most exciting fighters in MMA history win or lose. Training with Zahabi and St-Pierre in Canada will certainly give him a great chance to deliver one last great performance for his many fans.
Like many middleweight contenders, former 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold isn’t pleased with the current state of the division. Instead of fighting one of the few very deserving contenders, champion Michael Bisping will instead take on former longtime 170-pound king Georges “Rush” St. Pierre at a date and venue that has yet to be confirmed despite
Like many middleweight contenders, former 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold isn’t pleased with the current state of the division.
Instead of fighting one of the few very deserving contenders, champion Michael Bisping will instead take on former longtime 170-pound king Georges “Rush” St. Pierre at a date and venue that has yet to be confirmed despite the fight being announced by UFC President Dana White this past March. St. Pierre hasn’t competed since scoring a highly controversial decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in 2013 and he has never competed at middleweight.
It’s understandable why the top contenders in the middleweight division would be angered by the UFC’s decision and Rockhold recently said that new owners WME-IMG are simply looking to pay off a debt after purchasing the promotion for a record setting $4.2 billion last year:
“I don’t know, man,” he told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour when asked about his situation. “You can’t predict anything these days. So, [the UFC is] just chasing to pay off a debt really, is what they’re doing, trying to put these megafights together that don’t make sense. I don’t know. You never know what they’re going to do these days. Who knows.”
Rockhold was scheduled to rematch former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza late last year, but he was forced to withdraw from that fight after suffering a knee injury.
Now, Yoel Romero is the division’s rightful No. 1-contender, while No. 3-ranked Robert Whittaker and No. 4-ranked Gegard Mousasi have been making waves as well.
As far his fighting future goes, Rockhold sounded adamant when saying that he isn’t interested in fighting unless an interim title is on the line or unless Bisping is matched against a top contender. The 32-year-old also advised Romero, Whittaker and Mousasi to follow his lead:
“If they’re not putting an interim title on the line, or if they’re not making Bisping fight a contender, I’m not fighting anybody,” he said. “And so should the rest of the division, too. What’s the point? Without me, Mousasi, Yoel, and Whittaker? I think everyone should just stand their ground, and say f*ck you. Put a title on the line or else, f*ck, you don’t even have a division.”
“I think everyone is already on strike, aren’t they?” he said. “We’re all waiting on a title. Whittaker’s down. I’ve voiced my opinion, and I think Mousasi should stand his ground too. I mean, without us you have no f*cking division. Make something happen.”
Rock hold did, however, admit that he prefers a fight with Whittaker over a fight with Mousasi if he is indeed going to return sometime soon:
“I asked for the Whittaker fight,” Rockhold said. “I think that’s a more clear cut, straight path to the title. Mousasi’s coming off…you know he looked good, against Weidman, but there was some controversy at the end. Then you got Whittaker who knocked out Jacare. It’s pretty clear-cut. You go put that guy away, and you don’t have to worry about anybody else trying to jump you.”
Do you agree with Rockhold’s comments and who would you like to see him fight next?
The UFC currently has only six weeks remaining on the exclusive negotiation period before he is able to begin talking with other promotions about a potential signing. Mousasi feels that because of his record as a mixed martial artists along with his fan following, he deserves to be paid on the same level as the elite in the sport: