Former Strikeforce and DREAM champion Gegard Mousasi returned last night in Belfast, facing an old rival and demons of a brutal loss. Against the touted ‘Boogie Man’ of the division Uriah Hall, ‘The Dreamcatcher’ looked dominant. Having been spectacularly knocked out by ‘U-Hall’ in September 2015, the Armenian was looking to put that highlight reel demolition
Former Strikeforce and DREAM champion Gegard Mousasi returned last night in Belfast, facing an old rival and demons of a brutal loss. Against the touted ‘Boogie Man’ of the division Uriah Hall, ‘The Dreamcatcher’ looked dominant. Having been spectacularly knocked out by ‘U-Hall’ in September 2015, the Armenian was looking to put that highlight reel demolition behind him. In a flawless performance, Mousasi shut down Hall early with a grounded TKO win. ‘U-Hall’ is without a win since that KO over Mousasi, and has now lost three straight.
Now looking at big fights against top flight competition, Mousasi has four straight victories under his belt. Arguably looking his best ever last nigh, and before that against Thiago Santos and Vitor Belfort, Mousasi is close to fulfilling his true potential. What’s next for the 49-fight veteran from Holland after his impressive win in Belfast? There are some fights that need to happen to free up the top five, but also some interesting opponents already available.
Per Haljestam for USA TODAY Sports.
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Speaking during the post-fight press conference, the victorious Gegard Mousasi had some fights in mind. Included on that list was popular Stockton bad boy Nick Diaz. Check it out:
“Uriah won that first fight fair and square. I have to respect that he gave me a rematch, but now it’s behind me. I’m tired of that stupid highlight of him putting that kick in my face. I can put it behind me now, and I look forward to a title shot soon. Anderson Silva or Nick Diaz as a superfight that’s a great fight for me. Maybe Luke Rockhold, it depends on the UFC. If they give me top 10, top 15, number two, that’s fine as long as they give me a title shot as the next fight.”
Credit: Per Haljestam USA Today Sports
Middleweight Mix
With all the madness in the UFC middleweight division over the last year, Gegard Mousasi makes a great addition to the title mix. Yoel Romero is targeted for a mid-2017 title fight, so perhaps Mousasi’s next fight, should he win, would work well with the rankings and timings. Jacare Souza, Luke Rockhold, or maybe even Nick Diaz, that’s some fun fights whichever happens.
England vs. Scotland here in Belfast now, as lightweights Ross Pearson and Stevie Ray go at it. ‘Braveheart’ enters the octagon with the bag pipes playing loud. ‘Real Deal’ looks ready to continue his busy year. The crowds are behind both men. Round 1. Pearson moving well, typically tight guard and fast hands, Stevie throwing kicks
England vs. Scotland here in Belfast now, as lightweights Ross Pearson and Stevie Ray go at it. ‘Braveheart’ enters the octagon with the bag pipes playing loud. ‘Real Deal’ looks ready to continue his busy year. The crowds are behind both men.
Round 1. Pearson moving well, typically tight guard and fast hands, Stevie throwing kicks early here. Low kick connects flush for Ray, Pearson stalking. Yet to connect flush to the head for either man at the moment, the crowd is hyping up with the viking chants. Pearson taunting, low kick again by Ray, massive head kick clips Pearson. Ray connecting nicely now, Pearson yet to find his groove. Ross eats a head kick or two, lands a nice punch-low kick combo. Switch head kick by Ray answered by a body kick. This is a lively fight now, nasty body kick brings up a red mark on Ray’s gut. Stevie shoots and scoops Pearson up, runs the octagon and slams the Englishman. Pearson stands as the round ends. Tough round to score, I’d say Ray edges a 10-9.
Round 2. Pearson marching his man down again, Ray lands a lovely straight left, and a head kick now. I sense a finish in the making here, Ray with a wild spinning head kick that misses, and the low kicks again. Ray shoots for the takedown, Pearson with the wizard, stays up. They break and Ray uncorks a solid head kick, oblique kick now, and Pearson fluffs the counter. Low kicks again by Ray, and Pearson answers with the same, ‘Braveheart’ keeping a nice range tonight. Pearson becoming frustrated by Ray’s distance, they trade wild punches, body kicks land. Ray lands a noisy head kick on Pearson, great chins on display! Left hands exchanged, round ends. Another close one, 10-9 Ray at a push.
Round 3. Pearson needs to mix his body and head attacks to get a finish here, Ray can stick with his great work so far. Nice show of respect as they high ten, Pearson eats a few kicks early in this round, nice left hook head right hook body combo by the Englishman. HUGE low kick by Pearson reverberates around the arena. Pearson moving nicely now, avoiding punches, big right hand to the body by Ross now. Ray is landing to the body but Pearson catches the kick and wings a knee. Right to the body, but Pearson needs to go to the head afterwards or it’s just not gonna happen. Ray with a head kick, low kick now, Pearson with a single shot to the body again. One minute left, Pearson misses a punch but lands a head kick. Round ends, maybe 10-9 Pearson, but it’s 2-1 for Ray in my opinion.
30-27 Pearson, 30-27 Ray, 30-27 Ray. Who the heck is that first judge? Ray wins by split decision.
Starting off our double header weekend of UFC action is UFC Fight Night 99. Live in Belfast, Ireland, the card has seen some great action on the prelims, and so we move to the main card. Opening the main card four are a couple of rising featherweights, growing in popularity for their fighting style and
Starting off our double header weekend of UFC action is UFC Fight Night 99. Live in Belfast, Ireland, the card has seen some great action on the prelims, and so we move to the main card. Opening the main card four are a couple of rising featherweights, growing in popularity for their fighting style and personas. Conor McGregor’s training partner Artem Lobov faces ‘Ladies Man’ Teruto Ishihara here in Belfast.
Round 1. Ishihara enters the octagon like a man possessed, Lobov strolls calmly with John Kavanagh in a complete contrast. Conor Mcgregor cheers Lobov on as Joe Martinez reads out their stats. The crowd is rowdy as they engage, Ishihara swings a crazy kick, misses, ‘Russian Hammer’ pushing forward, pressuring his man. Lobov working the body with jabs, low kicks by Ishihara, and to the body, and a nice left hook to the head by Lobov. Tentative first round here, and a peach of a right hand for Lobov lands, that got the attention of the ladies man, and again there. Lobov winning the first frame with his power, high kick from Ishihara, Lobov on his p’s & q’s. Teruto lands a straight left, Lobov savvy to it, huge body kicks exchanged, and Ishihara is wobbled by a right hand, now a left hook weakens the legs. Lobov works the body as the round ends, 10-9 Lobov.
Round 2. More kicks from Teruto, Lobov using feints, beautiful right hand to respond to Ishi’s kick here, Lobov landing big here, and a stepping left hook now from Artem. Low kicks are landing for Ishihara, but he isn’t chaining his strikes. Lead uppercuts land, and Lobov avoids the counters, and a left hand again. Ishihara is slowing, looks out of the pace here, but he lands a nice straight left hand. Spinning body kick, lead uppercut lands for Lobov, great work here. Teruto looking to reset, glances at the clock, HUGE straight left lands for Artem. Teruto lands a big counter, Lobov needs to remain calm here, the low kicks are chopping Teruto down tonight. Left hook, body kick, left hand combo lands for Lobov. Huge punches, Ishihara is HURT! Round ends, saved by the bell, 10-9 Lobov.
Round 3. Ishihara needs a finish to win, or at least a 10-8 for a draw. More of the same here from Lobov, more low kicks and big punches to the head. Teruto shoots, but it’s telegraphed and from a bad angle, Lobov muscles away. Lobov wobbles Ishi with a low kick, big left hand to the chin by Lobov, and a standing hammerfist, but Lobov gets dropped, WOW! Ishihara follows down, but Lobov pulls guard, amazing fight here. Lobov looking a little tired as the clock winds down, still winging punches. Big left hand lands, Ishi looks OK but he needs to finish now, big slam by Artem as the 10-second sound goes off. It’s over, 10-9 Lobov in my mind, even if they score it for Ishsi, overall I’m picking Lobov for the win.
The UFC will look to continue the momentum of last week’s blockbuster UFC 205 with a doubleheader of events on foreign soil this weekend, with the first event, UFC Fight Night 99, going down in Belfast. Veteran middleweights Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall will face off in a main event rematch of their shocking first
The UFC will look to continue the momentum of last week’s blockbuster UFC 205 with a doubleheader of events on foreign soil this weekend, with the first event, UFC Fight Night 99, going down in Belfast.
Veteran middleweights Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall will face off in a main event rematch of their shocking first bout at UFC Japan last year, where Hall knocked out the stalwart former Strikeforce champ with a monstrous spinning heel kick followed by a flying knee. “The Dreamcatcher” has been fighting like a man possessed ever since, however, while Hall has dropped two straight to surging competitors Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson.
In the co-main, longtime UFC mainstay Ross Pearson will fight Scotland’s Stevie Ray. Find out who we picked to win the main events of UFC Fight Night 99:
Gegard Mousasi vs. Uriah Hall:
Mike Drahota:
The first fight between these two drastically different fighters left me with my jaw agape just like everyone who watched it, and Hall flashed one of those elusive moments of just how dangerous his unique striking skill can be. Aside from his flashy arsenal of tools, Mousasi brings a more reserved boxing attack and a wholly dangerous ground game as well, making him the far more well rounded fighter.
‘The Dreamcatcher’ comes in a huge -525 favorite according to BigOnSports.com, a surprising line considering how Hall brutally beat him in their first meeting. Yet Mousasi has been on fire as of late, defeating three straight strong contenders. I think he uses his jab to work his way inside of Hall’ kicks, taking the fight to the ground for the win. Mousasi by first round submission (rear-naked choke).
Rory Kernaghan:
This is a tough one to call, with both men experiencing highs and lows inn their respective careers. Uriah Hall smashed Gegard Mousasi last time out, but ‘The Dreamcatcher’ has been rampant since then. My gut tells me experience will win the day in this fight, Mousasi by submission.
Mike Henken:
Hall is obviously an explosive striker with legitimate finishing ability, and he may have a slight mental advantage here given the fact that brutally knocked out Mousasi back in September 2015. With that being said, however, I feel as if Mousasi is the far superior fighter. The Dutchman possesses a high-level kickboxing background and a strong submission game that is, at times, over looked. I expect him to be more cautious on the feet this time around before taking the fight to the canvas and finishing Hall off there. Mousasi by second-round submission.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman for USA TODAY Sports
Ross Pearson vs. Stevie Ray:
Mike Drahota:
This fight is a close match-up in my opinion, as Ray will certainly be motivated by the hometown crowd while Pearson is a tough out regardless if he’s largely alternated wins and losses in the last several years. ‘The Real Deal’ has his back up against the wall after two losses, and Ray is hungry to bounce back from his first UFC loss in four fights. The odds are matched evenly at -110 for each fighter according to BIgOnSports.com, and I expect the Scottish fighter to edge out a slight upset in Belfast. Ray by split decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Ross Pearson has proved to be a tough nut to crack in the past, but Stevie Ray has looked promising in his young UFC career. Keeping in line with the main event, I feel Ross Pearson has the edge in experience, and I like his boxing in this pairing. Look for nice footwork and big body shots en route to a decision win for Pearson.
Mike Henken:
Pearson is a battle-tested, durable veteran with well-rounded skills, but he’s hit some rough times as of late, losing three of his last four bouts. Ray is also coming off of a loss, but prior to that he had won an impressive five straight. This is a pick ‘em fight for me, but I feel as if the younger “Braveheart” will outlast his veteran foe in this bout. Ray by unanimous decision.
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