Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi retired Mike Kyle in just under 1 round at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine. After the fight he spoke with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani about his impending arrival in the UFC, transcribed by MMA Mania:
"...I think timing's right (to go to the UFC). I've done everything outside of UFC - Strikeforce, Japan, kickboxing, mauy-thai, I think the time is now to go, to fight those well known names.
"I'm not challenging (Alexander Gustafsson), but I think that's a good fight. I want to fight him because he's a good fighter; people think he's a good fighter. Shogun (Rua), (Lyoto) Machida - all of these guys people consider really good fighters, so I want to fight someone that people think is good and I think these match ups are more exciting than against some other opponents and they're top contenders so, I think fighting them would make sense for me the most so I can go earlier to the title shot."
Along with Strikeforce champs Gilbert Melendez and Daniel Cormier, Mousasi is probably the most exciting new talent coming into the UFC from Scott Coker's late promotion. I wouldn't want Mousasi to get between Gustafsson and a title shot, but I would love to see Mousasi tested quickly against a high profile contender in the UFC's 205lb class.
Ironically one LHW I'd love to see Mousasi face is his fellow former SF champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, the two both put on fun fights with Muhammed "King Mo' Lawal but never got to face off in SF. Feijao is suspended following a drug test failure until May of this coming year, there is not word on whether or not Feijao will be invited to fight in the UFC. King Mo was exiled to Bellator and TNA pro wrestling following a drug test failure followed by tweeting obscene epithets at a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
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