Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He is the two-time and current Bellator Middleweight World Champion. He previously competed in the UFC, Pride FC, and Strikeforce. Mousasi was born in Tehran, Iran to ethnic-Armenian parents during the Iran–Iraq War.
About Gegard Mousasi in brief
Gegard Mousasi is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He is the two-time and current Bellator Middleweight World Champion. At the moment of his departure from the UFC in July 2017, he was #4 in the official UFC middleweight rankings, and he is currently ranked the #3 Middleweight MMA fighter and the #9 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Fight Matrix. Mousasi was born in Tehran, Iran to ethnic-Armenian parents during the Iran–Iraq War. His family name was changed in Iran long before his birth from Mofsesian to Mousasi. He began training in judo at the age of eight and later boxing at age 15. In 2006 Mousasi signed with Pride FC to take part in Pride’s Welterweight Grand Prix. In February 2010, Mousasi left M-1 Global Management. He was rumored to fight in the -88 kg category, but for unknown reasons he never took part in the ADCC 2009 Championships. In August 2009, he signed for a Super Hulk Grand Prix, being set to face Mark Hunt in the opening round. The event was cancelled after losing its main event due to injury. It was originally planned to take place on August 1, 2009, but the main event was originally cancelled due to Renato Sobral losing his fight against Rameau Sokoudjou. He then went on to fight Fedor Emelianenko, a friend and teammate, in an exhibition match. The two friends fought a competitive and friendly spirited exhibition with several Judo throws from both Emalianenko and Mousasi, with Mousasi winning.
In the second round of the tournament, at Dream 4, Mousasia won a decision victory over Dong Sik Yoon and advanced to the final round, which took place at Dream 6. There he fought and submitted K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef in the semifinals before meeting up with submission specialist Ronaldo Souza in the final. He defeated Souza by an upkick after being taken down by the Brazilian, thus becoming the first Dream Middleweight Champion and 2008 Middle Weight Grand Prix tournament winner. In early 2009, it was rumored Mousasi would fight at light heavyweight heavyweight instead. He would then step down due to an injury. In late 2009, Mousasi announced he would be back down to middleweight and that his next fights would be at the light heavyweight weight class. He has since gone on to win the DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion, former DREAM Middleweight Championship, former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Championships, and the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweights Champion. He also won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship in 2011. He currently competes in Bellator MMA. He previously competed in the UFC, Pride FC, and Strikeforce, and is a member of the UFC Hall of Famer and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC Hall of Fame. In 2012, he became the first Dutchman to win a major mixed martial arts title.
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