Issue 042
October 2008
At first glance, most would assume that 23-year-old Gegard Mousasi is just a baby in the world of MMA – a rookie in the early stages of his career.
But with a 22-2-1 record, and with wins over several respected Pride veterans (including Dennis Kang), nothing could be further from the truth. He may be just 23 years old, but the reality is that Mousasi is already a grizzled veteran, with only one goal on his mind – to make it to the top of the middleweight division.
Many already rank Mousasi in the top ten of the 185lb weight class and, with nearly a decade before he hits his physical peak, Mousasi has an excellent shot at attaining his goal. So, what’s the key to the naturalised Dutchman’s success? “Probably the fact that I hit hard,” chuckles Mousasi, before coming up with a straight answer. “It’s just about wanting to be a better fighter, wanting to be a champion, wanting to make some money.”
The fact that he trains with top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (28-1-0) might also have something to do with it. Though Mousasi’s based in the Netherlands, he finds time to train with the top pound-for-pound fighter before every bout, and it truly shows, both in his record and style. “When you train with him [Emelianenko] it makes you want to be a better fighter,” says Mousasi. “You watch him, and it makes you want to train harder.”
The Team Jurojin fighter also admits that much of his success is due to good fortune. Born in Iran to Armenian parents, Mousasi came into the world just as the brutal Iran-Iraq war was hitting its climax. Mousasi’s ethnic Armenian parents decided to leave for the Netherlands in search of a better life. It was there that Gegard Mousasi found a home and friends. “It was in the Netherlands where I was able to train, study and work,” says Mousasi. “It’s a great country, except for the shitty weather.”
Like many other Dutch fighters, Mousasi started his combative career with kickboxing. But everything changed after his brother introduced him to grappling. Before long, Mousasi was training alongside a black-belt judoka and one of Holland’s best wrestlers, both of them intent on seeing him succeed. “No one I train with regularly has a big name,” says Mousasi. “I train with close friends and everyone is good at something. But each one wants to help me with my training.”
On September 23rd Mousasi will go head to head with fellow Dutchman Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) in the semi-final round of the DREAM middleweight Grand Prix. Both men have a habit of ending fights early, and with Mousasi announcing he’ll stand with Manhoef, the contest could very well be a stand-up war to remember. Not to mention that the winner will get a shot at the DREAM middleweight and grand prix titles, as well as a serious boost in ranking.
Despite his upcoming fight in the Land of the Rising Sun, the hungry middleweight has his sights set westward, toward America and the high level of competition there. After all, if you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. “My [DREAM] contract allows me to fight in other organisations,” says Mousasi. “My manager had contact with EliteXC, but it didn’t work out. But I will fight in America, probably next year.”
