Gegard Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi (born 1 August 1985) is a Dutch mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, currently competing in Bellator MMA, where he is the former two-time Bellator Middleweight Champion.

As of May 16, 2023, he is #2 in the Bellator Middleweight Rankings.

He is also the former DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion, former DREAM Middleweight Champion, former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Champion, and the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, thus making Mousasi an overall six-time MMA world champion.

In 2006 Mousasi signed with Pride FC to take part in Pride's Welterweight Grand Prix.

In the opening round Mousasi faced Makoto Takimoto, at Pride Bushido 11, beating the Japanese fighter by TKO as the result of a broken eye socket in the first round.

In the quarterfinals Mousasi went on to face Akihiro Gono, but was submitted in the second round by an armbar.

After losing to Gono, Mousasi fought Héctor Lombard in the Grand Prix Alternate bout and took a unanimous decision victory over the Cuban-born fighter.

In the first round of the Dream's 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix at Dream 2, Gegard defeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Denis Kang by triangle choke.

Kang had defeated Gono in the semifinals of the Pride Welterweight Grand Prix.

In the second round of the tournament, at Dream 4, Mousasi won a decision victory over Yoon Dong-sik 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.

Mousasi defeated Souza by an upkick after being taken down by the Brazilian, thus becoming the first Dream Middleweight Champion and 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament winner.

Souza went on to win the Dream Middleweight Championship and later the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.

On November 21, 2008, ADCC Europe president Marko Leistén confirmed the signing of Mousasi as one of ADCC's 2009 competitors.

It was rumored he would fight in the -88 kg category.

For unknown reasons, Mousasi never participated in the ADCC 2009 Championships.

Gegard Mousasi next made an appearance at M-1 Global's Breakthrough event at August 28, 2009, where he sparred with former Pride Heavyweight and current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion 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 Emelianenko and Mousasi.

Mousasi was defeated with a straight armbar.

In interviews from early 2009, Mousasi stated the weight he put on after winning Dream's middleweight tournament was too much for him to cut back down to middleweight and that his next fights would be at light heavyweight and eventually heavyweight instead.

Then he signed for a place at Dream's openweight Grand Prix, the Super Hulk Grand Prix, being scheduled to face Mark Hunt in the opening round.

Mousasi submitted Hunt in the first round of the Super Hulk Grand Prix at Dream 9.

Mousasi was then expected to face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Dream 11, but he had to step down due to injury.

Mousasi was set to fight Renato Sobral at Affliction: Trilogy on August 1, 2009, but the event was canceled after losing its main event 10 days prior to the event.

It was originally planned for him to face Vitor Belfort at that event, but there was a disagreement between both fighters over which weight class the fight would be fought at.

On Monday July 27, 2009 it was announced that the cancelled bout between Sobral and Mousasi would take place on the August 15 Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg card and the fight became a contest for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

Mousasi defeated Sobral via KO in the first minute of the first round to become the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.

Mousasi would go on to win his second Strikeforce bout by TKO (punches), three minutes and forty-three seconds into the 2nd round against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, who Mousasi was previously supposed to fight at Dream 11, on November 7, 2009 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.

Mousasi was originally slated to defend his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, but eventually competed in a non-title bout.

Mousasi quickly defeated journeyman Gary Goodridge under MMA rules at Dynamite!! 2009.

In February 2010, Mousasi left M-1 Global Management.

Mousasi was quoted as saying "After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest to part ways with M-1 Global," Mousasi wrote in the e-mail.

"During the time I spent under their wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done for me. My management is being taken care of by someone close to me."

On April 17, 2010, Mousasi lost the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship belt in his first defense to Muhammed Lawal by way of unanimous decision.

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 #12 middleweight MMA 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.

After spending a year in refugee camps, at the age of four, Mousasi and his family relocated to Leiden, Netherlands where he finished grade school before developing an interest in martial arts.

Mousasi began training in judo at the age of eight and later boxing at age 15; a year later he became the amateur boxing champion of the Netherlands with a 12–1 record, earning nine knockouts.

Mousasi then transitioned into kickboxing and then eventually to mixed martial arts.