Issue 057
December 2009
Gegard Mousasi is a fighter who brings new meaning to the term ‘dark horse’. While he may have once been somewhat obscure, The Dutch-Armenian has spent the last two years shocking the MMA world with win after notable win, despite always being considered an underdog. Promoters want him, hardcore fans love him and casual fans don’t know him – although that will soon change.
Though he has never entered the UFC Octagon, Mousasi has earned respectable spots in top ten middleweight and light heavyweight rankings. He also holds titles in the organizations Dream and Strikeforce, and sports an impressive 13-fight win streak, undefeated since 2006. Even more shocking is the fact that Mousasi is only 24 years of age – a young gun with years ahead of him before he reaches his physical peak.
All in all, it seems that the days of Mousasi having to constantly prove himself are coming to a close. Once referred to as ‘Europe’s best kept secret’, Mousasi has stepped out of the shadows and slowly begun to gain popularity around the world, especially after signing with the California-based MMA promotion Strikeforce.
“I don’t think I’m a secret anymore,” says Mousasi. “My name and accomplishments are starting to get out. I’m starting to prove myself, but I still have a long way to go. I hope I can stay hungry and down-to-Earth, even when I get to the top.”
What keeps Mousasi hungry? For one, titles. Though he is currently the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Mousasi hopes to one day hold one (or more) UFC belts. It is this dream that ultimately keeps him motivated.
“My goal is to be the first to have three titles at three different weight classes,” says Mousasi. “In boxing and MMA, people only remember the legends. I don’t think I’m going to become a legend,
but if I have three different titles, I think people, in the future, will remember me.”
Money also plays a part. Only in the last year has the Red Devil fighter begun to see the financial fruits of his labor. This is largely due to his lack of exposure in the American market, something that his management hopes will change with time as Mousasi continues to climb up the MMA rankings. “Money is very important for me,” says Mousasi. “I want to be able to take care of my family, even after I’m finished with fighting.”
Family is a subject that seems to be dear to Mousasi. Born in Iran to Armenian parents, Mousasi came into the world just as the brutal Iran-Iraq war was hitting its climax. Luckily, the Mousasi family decided to leave for the Netherlands, in search of a better life. Mousasi’s father soon noticed his son’s talent for athletics and he encouraged him to pursue his interests.
Like so many Dutch fighters Mousasi came from a stand-up background. After taking up boxing at the age of 15, he competed on the amateur circuit and became Dutch champion before becoming fascinated with K-1 kickboxing. It wasn’t long before Mousasi made the transition and found himself competing in Holland’s popular Muay Thai galas.
Today Mousasi is first and foremost an MMA competitor, but he also welcomes the occasional kickboxing bout. His last venture came in 2008, when he took on Japanese superstar Musashi. Although he was a heavy underdog, Mousasi destroyed his opponent by first-round TKO, wining the respect and admiration of K1 fans worldwide.
“Now my focus is MMA,” says Mousasi. “But I still want to win some belts in boxing and kickboxing. When I started, years ago, I was good but I wasn’t great. Today my training and mentality is very different. I think if I went back to boxing or kickboxing I would do very well.”
So what transformed Mousasi from a talented prospect to the well-rounded title-holder (and future star) that he is today? The 24-year-old credits one of his former opponents, namely ex-UFC competitor Akihiro Gono, for giving him the epiphany that changed his career forever.
Mousasi and Gono collided in 2006, at Pride Bushido 12. The bout resulted in a first round loss for the 21-year-old Mousasi, who took the defeat to heart. “After that fight I started to take MMA very seriously,” says Mousasi. “Most people don’t know, but I was training with friends at the time, I didn’t really have a team. After that loss I got trainers, I started fighting more with skill and technique, and less with emotion. I really became a new fighter.”
Since his meeting with Gono, Mousasi has not lost a single bout. Even more impressive is the fact that since that fight, 11 of his 13 tilts didn’t make it past the first-round. While his success has been impressive, some skeptics are calling for Mousasi to put his record on the line and test himself in the UFC. The Strikeforce light heavyweight champion assures us that he will, in due time.
“For now I’m fighting for Strikeforce,” says Mousasi. “I like what they’re doing and I’m happy. Yes I want to fight for the UFC, but I always think one fight at a time. I like to concentrate on what is in front of me and to not even look at the rest. I don’t think about where I’ll be later; I don’t think about the politics: I just like to fight.”
Though Strikeforce has a somewhat thin light heavyweight division, Mousasi isn’t one to wait around for challengers. The Dutchman likes to take the initiative and create the challenges himself. Although he has competed at middleweight throughout the majority of his career Mousasi now finds himself at 205lb, but a stint at heavyweight isn’t far away. The Red Devil fighter has expressed an interest in moving up a weight class and fighting with the big boys. He has even begun the long process of bulking up. “I’ve been putting on muscle,” says Mousasi. “But without giving up cardio. I already walk around at heavyweight, so I want to compete in that weight class. It has always been my dream to have a heavyweight belt.”
Before he fulfils his heavyweight dreams, Mousasi has a title to defend. Strikeforce recently announced that the Dutchman will defend his belt in November against an as yet unannounced opponent. Names such as Kevin Randleman, Paulo Filho and Mike Whitehead have begun circulating. “I think Strikeforce will do a good job in finding opponents,” says Mousasi. “I know they’re looking for some new light heavyweights to sign. I heard Arona is back, it would be great if they could sign him.”
Mousasi is always up for a challenge, regardless of how dangerous a particular opponent’s skills set could be. Few fighters are as fearless and resourceful as Mousasi. The 24-year-old truly believes that his opponents can’t hurt him, and for good reason. He trains with the absolute best: Fedor Emelianenko.
Since signing with Red Devil, Mousasi has regularly trained with the pound-for-pound king. Earlier this year the two even competed in a short exhibition match where Mousasi’s skills were put to the toughest test a fighter could ask for. Not only did Mousasi manage to hang with the Russian, but he also gave him a run for his money, executing several nice takedowns before being submitted via armbar. “When you train with Fedor it makes you want to be a better fighter,” says Mousasi. “You watch him and it makes you want to train harder. He really is the best. I’ve learnt so much from him.” Fedor Emelianenko may be the greatest fighter of our time, but future fans will want to keep an eye on Mousasi. The Strikeforce title-holder has an incredibly bright future in the sport, and the lack of hype may just work in his favor.
Always the dark horse, Mousasi will continue to shock those unfamiliar with him. As for those who are already Mousasi fans? They’ll have the pleasure of being able to tell the uninitiated “I told you so” when we finally see him in the upper echelons of the UFC.
But that’s not to say that Mousasi doesn’t need to sort a couple of things out. For one, there’s been a reoccurring issue with Mousasi’s lack of a decent nickname. Though he has tried on many in the past, including ‘Dreamcatcher’, ‘Soldier of Fortune’ and ‘Young Vagabond’, the 24-year old will be the first to admit that the majority of them sound like titles of Steven Seagal films. The issue has caused Mousasi to take a firm stance on all future nicknames. “I’d rather not have a nickname,” says Mousasi. “None of them really work. I told Strikeforce I didn’t want one but they went with Dreamcatcher anyways. I don’t like it, but a friend said it was original. So, I blame him.”
Forget Dreamcatcher! What about Dark Horse? “That’s a good one!” says Mousasi. “I’m always an underdog. I think I’ve gotten used to it. Dark Horse… I’ll have to think about it.”
Mousasi’s Rise to the Top
For many fans Mousasi’s explosion onto the scene seems to have come from nowhere, but the Dutch-Armenian’s rise to the top has been the result of a lot of hard work and some very notable victories.
Vs Denis Kang, April 2008
The upswing in Mousasi’s fortunes began with this fight in the opening round of the Dream middleweight Grand Prix. Mousasi shocked the world with his first-round submission win over the tough Canadian.
Vs Melvin Manhoef, September 2008
The semi-finals of the Grand Prix saw him face the ferocious kickboxer Melvin Manhoef, who had recently destroyed the aging legend Sakuraba. Mousasi finished him in under 90 seconds.
Vs Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, September 2008
Mousasi claimed the Dream middleweight and Grand Prix belts by knocking out esteemed grappler Jacare in the finals of the GP.
Vs Mark Hunt, May 2009
Mousasi gave up over 50lb in weight against the ‘super-Samoan’, but handled and submitted the former K-1 champion in the first round.
Vs Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral, August 2009
The fight that put him on many an American fan’s radar. Mousasi scored a flawless TKO victory over the veteran light heavyweight for the Strikeforce 205lb strap.
...
