Gegard Mousasi is a Dutch-Armenian mixed martial artist who has competed in various promotions including UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and DREAM. He has a long and impressive career, and here are some of his best performances:
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ronaldo Souza (DREAM 6, 2008)
This fight took place in the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix finals. Mousasi was a relatively unknown prospect at the time, but he made a big statement by defeating the highly-regarded Souza in just over two minutes. Mousasi caught Souza with an upkick while Souza was on his knees, knocking him out cold. This was a stunning finish, and it announced Mousasi as a legitimate threat in the middleweight division.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mark Hunt (DREAM 9, 2009)
Mousasi took on the much larger Mark Hunt in this fight, moving up from middleweight to heavyweight. Mousasi used his superior grappling skills to take Hunt down and work for submissions. He eventually locked in a triangle choke and forced Hunt to tap out, despite the size difference. This win showed that Mousasi was a versatile fighter who could compete in multiple weight classes.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince Saint Preux (UFC Fight Night 50, 2014)
This fight was Mousasi’s first in the UFC, and he was matched up against the dangerous Ovince Saint Preux. Mousasi controlled the fight with his striking and grappling, landing clean shots and taking OSP down at will. He won a unanimous decision, proving that he belonged among the top fighters in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 204, 2016)
Mousasi faced the former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in this fight. Belfort came out strong in the first round, landing some heavy shots and nearly finishing Mousasi with a head kick. But Mousasi weathered the storm and came back strong in the second round. He landed a hard knee to Belfort’s head and followed up with punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight. This win showed that Mousasi was a dangerous striker who could finish fights against top-level opponents.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Rory MacDonald (Bellator 206, 2018)
Mousasi took on former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald in this fight, with the Bellator middleweight title on the line. Mousasi controlled the fight from the start, using his superior striking and grappling to dominate MacDonald. In the second round, Mousasi landed a hard elbow that cut MacDonald’s face, and he followed up with punches until the referee stopped the fight. This win showed that Mousasi was a complete fighter who could beat elite-level opponents in multiple organizations.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Lyoto Machida (Bellator 228, 2019)
Mousasi faced former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in this fight. Machida had defeated Mousasi in their previous matchup, but Mousasi was determined to even the score. The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with both fighters landing hard shots and displaying their technical skills. In the end, Mousasi was awarded a split decision victory, proving that he was one of the best middleweights in the world.
Mousasi is one of the most accomplished mixed martial artists of his generation. He has fought in multiple organizations and weight classes, and has defeated some of the biggest names in the sport. His best performances include his upkick KO of Ronaldo Souza, his submission of Mark Hunt despite a significant size difference, his dominant win over Vitor Belfort in the UFC, and his TKO victory over Rory MacDonald to win the Bellator middleweight title. Mousasi has proven himself to be a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and grappling skills, and he continues to be a top-ranked fighter in the sport today.
