Affliction Snatches Up Gegard Mousasi
(Can a WAMMA belt be far behind? Photo courtesy of Sherdog.)
Though most casual MMA fans had never heard his name until this year, Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) made his presence known in a big way during DREAM's recent middleweight grand prix, cutting through highly regarded fighters Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef, and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza to win the championship. Now he's widely acknowledged as one of the best middleweights in the world — which is why we were hoping he'd be signed by the UFC to add some extra heat to their 185-pound division, and maybe challenge Anderson Silva for the belt one day. All that shit will have to wait, unfortunately, because it looks like Affliction got to him first. As he told Fighters Only Magazine:
“I’m going to train with Fedor in preparation for Affliction in January. I think it is Fedor against Josh Barnett and they want me to fight Vitor Belfort.”
Mousasi is part of the Red Devil International team and he shares a manager with Fedor in the shape of Vadim Finkelstein...
Affliction has yet to reveal a line-up for its January event but Vitor Belfort has told Brazil’s Tatame magazine that he has been contacted and offered a fight.
If Mousasi continues to perform like he has over the last two years, he should have no trouble whipping Belfort, Matt Lindland, and whoever else Affliction has under contract at 185. And now he's training with Fedor too? Forget about it.
Mousasi's claim that Emelianenko will skip straight to a fight with Barnett in January — foregoing the Arlovski/Barnett eliminator match altogether — is also interesting, but as with all rumors related to Fedor and fight-booking, we'll believe it two weeks after it happens.
(Props: BloodyElbow)
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mma-pr0 Says:
damn, wanted to see him go to the ufc. either way he will own whereever he is at. vitor will be a good match for him, hopefully the exciting vitor of old will show up ready to bang.
Vay jaaj Says:
Great fighter looking forward to his fights especially after training with Fedor...
hedo Says:
Yeah a really nice guy and great fighter. Lets just hope he continues winning now in affliction
TeeReks Says:
This guy was outstanding in the Middle-weight Tournament, I'm looking forward to his future matches at Affliction.
kant topeyan Says:
Gegard asked where he could fight that would allow him to in Asia as well and it was easy choice.
As well, if the Alffiction/EliteXC relationship holds on maybe EliteXC could offer him Lawler and/or Villasenor and the possibility of a CBS show. It would add another hot fighter in EliteXC best division instead of Gegard just fighting the Lindland and others with no real rivalry buildup. and who know maybe even a combined Grand Prix for the middleweights of both organisations spread over a couple of cards a la DREAM.
Crazy Russian Says:
He rolls with Fedor's crazy management team? Fuck, means he'll never be in the UFC.
MidnightRider Says:
"All that shit will have to wait, unfortunately, because it looks like Affliction got to him first."
I came here because you had scoops and five oz's/bloody elbow/fightopinion linked you guys. Well respected sites, but come on, fightlinker has the gimmick of swearing and odd type of posts, don't be like them. Have some credibility within your posts as fightlinker is just some dude who makes posts and does crazy bets, but I'll never bookmark that site because I onlewwant news and thou rough opinions on the topic.
Skeet Says:
Oh heck yes. I see big things for this guy.
KIMBOSLICER Says:
FUCK THE UFC!
wordup Says:
"I came here because you had scoops and five oz’s/bloody elbow/fightopinion linked you guys. Well respected sites, but come on, fightlinker has the gimmick of swearing and odd type of posts, don’t be like them."
I mean i totally understand where this guy is coming from. In a sport about trying to submit or knock someone out and being a site that covers that sport how dare you guys use words like fuck or shit. That shit is fucking ridiculous!
Oprah's Va-jay-jay Says:
I hope Affliction will be around long enough to have Mousasi fight Belfort and Lindland. Both are solid fights.
It was disappointing to hear that he is managed by that POS Vadim Finklestein. Other than the Lindland and Belfort fights, there isn't much for Mousasi outside of the UFC. But with that "crazy Russian" managing him, we will never see him against the best of the best. I'm sure Finklestein is already offering to co-promote a fight with the UFC between Mousasi and Anderson Silva, but only if they agree to fully fund and co-promote his entire operation throughout Russia. Oh, and they only can sign Mousasi if they sign every other Red Devil fighter under Vadim's management, too. Very disappointing.
Emelianenko DVD Says:
Great move by Affliction! Hopefully now they'll get some events going to put all that talent to work.
Anonymous Says:
dude ufc has armenian now affliction has to have it dont you people see:)