mma / News

Gegard Mousasi Signs Multi-Fight Deal With Bellator

July 10, 2017 | Posted by Joseph Lee

MMA Junkie reports that Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has signed with Bellator MMA following a four-year run with the UFC. UFC waived the matching period on their contract with him. He negitated a new deal with UFC after the last fight on his previous deal at UFC 210 (a second round TKO of Chris Weidman, his fifth straight UFC win), but he said in May he wasn’t happy with their offer. Swedish website Kimura.se had reported that a UFC attorney didn’t think Mousasi was a big enough name for what he wanted to get paid. He joins other former UFC fighters like Rory MacDonald, Ryan Bader and Lorenz Larkin in jumping to Bellator.

Bellator President Scott Coker said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Gegard to the growing Bellator family. He’s one of the most well-rounded fighters in all of MMA and can compete in multiple divisions, so that really opens up some exciting matchmaking opportunities for us and for the fans. We’re looking forward to having him compete on Spike very soon.

Mousasi and Scott Coker previously worked together in Strikeforce, where Mousasi won the light heavyweight title in 2010 (he later lost it to Muhammed Lawal in his first defense). When Zuffa acquires Strikeforce, Mousasi went to the UFC.

article topics :

Gegard Mousasi, Joseph Lee