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Gegard Mousasi vs. Vitor Belfort at Affliction 3

Moved to front page by Brent Brookhouse.  Big news here.

Fresh off a successful submission victory over Mark Hunt last night in the opening round of Dream's "Super Hulk" tournament, the ultra-talented Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) spoke to M1-Global, and confirmed that he would next compete for Affliction at their August 1st show against Vitor Belfort:

While Mousasi awaits word on his next opponent in the "Super Hulk" tournament, he will remain active this summer as he prepares for his first-ever bout in the United States. When asked to address rumors that he will be fighting former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort for Affliction on Aug. 1, a candid Mousasi confirmed the rumors as being true.

"Yes, those (rumors) are true and I will be fighting Vitor Belfort," exclaimed an excited Mousasi.

The report goes on to mention that it is not yet clear whether the bout will be contested at middleweight or light heavyweight, since Belfort has fought in both weight classes, and Mousasi, despite having competed nearly exclusively at middleweight so far, has made it clear that he wants to move up in weight, even to heavyweight if possible. 

Vitor_medium Belfort (18-8) is well known for his outstanding hands, and seems to have re-found his knockout power recently, after a few years of uninspired performances.  Competing on Affliction's first two cards, the Brazilian scored brutal knockouts of Terry Martin and Matt Lindland in succession.  Belfort does have a black-belt in BJJ, but he has rarely opted to use his ground skills.

Gegard-mousasi_medium Mousasi brings to the table an extremely well-rounded palette of skills, and it will be interesting to see how Belfort plans to deal with the "Young Vagabond".  Mousasi has come face-to-face with even heavier-handed sluggers than Belfort (Melvin Manhoef, Mark Hunt) and taken them down for submission victories, while also showing excellent striking to deal with grappling specialists.

 

UPDATE:  In a follow-up interview with M-1 Global, Mousasi responds to Belfort's comments about his star-power, and says that he refuses to fight at 185:

"I cannot make the weight, otherwise I would have continued to fight at 185 and not given up my DREAM middleweight title," Mousasi responded. "I cannot make 185 anymore and that is final."

"If (Belfort) does not want to fight at middleweight, why not fight me at a catchweight?"

Mousasi was also asked if he felt offended by Belfort's statement in which he is quoted as saying "I see no option to go up, even because he isn’t a challenge, a man with much name. To go up, I don’t see him as a challenge."

"To be honest, I don’t really care," answered Mousasi, before adding, "But for me, his comments are strange because his paycheck will be unchanged whether he fights a bigger name than me or not. It is also strange that he does not see me as a challenge when many rankings have me ranked higher than him at middleweight."

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

3 recs  |  Comment 29 comments |

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I'm willing to bet...

that it takes place at MW and is for the WAMMA MW title

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 26, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I hope you’re right and wrong at the same time. It’s weird.

by subo on May 26, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, it wont...

Mousasi is done with MW.
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 26, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Although, I just read that Vitor wants to stay at 185…interesting.
I know Mousasi doesn’t for sure.

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 26, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah...

but what I’m hearing is that it’s going to be at 185

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 26, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think that’s kinda hard to do when hes been bulking up for LHW for months now.
It will be interesting if the does fight at 185 because he told DREAM he wouldn’t anymore, and that is the reason Jacare and Mayhem just fought for the belt.

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 27, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Winner will receive a huge paycheck in the form of a massive signing bonus via next contract.

by bignerd on May 26, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well done Mr. Atencio

If you’re gonna go, go out with a bang.

Kuwabara Kuwabara

by J. B. Maddox on May 26, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That’ll be an enjoyable bout.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 26, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

as much as i dont wanna route for affliction's demise

i’d love to see the winner of this fight end up in the ufc. hell, i’d like to see both of them in there. great matchup regardless.

by woooburn on May 26, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

yep, both in the UFC would be awesome. I’d prefer both to stay at MW too.

by pr0cs on May 26, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, even though his best days are behind him, i’d love to see wanderlei attempt to avenge his loss to vitor.

by woooburn on May 26, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mousasi is not going to the UFC anytime soon and he is done with MW.
Belfort is leaning more towards LHW too, although he is open to fighting at MW as well.

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 26, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is looking s@"t hot from top to bottom so far.Hope affliction stay open for business,and just keep doing a show 3 times a year with match ups like this they cant really go wrong

by RealIrish on May 26, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Another reason for me to buy the affliction card. Honestly, these guys set up some great shows. Good for them.

by Dooda on May 26, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

http://www.tatame.com/2009/05/26/Belfort-doesnt-confirm-fight-against-Mousasi

“I don’t know anything, they are saying that, but there’s nothing right yet. I’m waiting the confirmation to see who we will fight”, said Belfort.

“I fight at 185lbs. If they want to do this fight at 185lbs, it’s done, otherwise I see no option to go up, even because he isn’t a challenge, a man with much name. To go up, I don’t see him as a challenge. I want to fight with him in the weight he was champion (at Dream), then I think its worth”, decreed Vitor.

by Nick Thomas on May 26, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow

Interesting…

by MMASuPreMaCy on May 26, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like how he decreed it.

by subo on May 26, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shit, I wish I could decree things.

"I only work in the morning. If they want to work with me in the morning, it’s done, otherwise I see no option to work afternoons, even because the work isn’t a challenge, a job with much prestige. To stay late, I don’t see it as a challenge. I want to work during the time of day when everyone is more productive (with coffee), then I think its worth", decreed AJB.

Half days, here I come!

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on May 26, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

This kicks ass.

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 26, 2009 8:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Good thing he came out without any injuries on the super hulk fight.. Wouldn’t want to see this cancelled cause of that.

by Anton Tabuena on May 26, 2009 10:01 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The hell is a ‘successfuly submission victory’? Was it successful or successfully?

by subo on May 26, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Aww

did that one-letter typo ruin the whole post for you? ;)

by Scott Haber on May 26, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, I just haven’t been able to be a dick in a few days. I feel like I have some catching up to do.

by subo on May 26, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, Tom Atencio ...

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on May 26, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

The typo almost makes it better

by subo on May 27, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Id rather they stay in Dream or Affliction than ufc anyways… if they come in at middleweight theyll just be added to the pit of fighters in the league behind Anderson.
This way they can be top guys in their org regardless of what Belfort said about Gegard. I mean, the kid is amazing and is only starting to grow in the sport. Excited for this one for sureeee

by beersnbroads on May 27, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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