In the co-main event of UFC 204, former UFC LHW champion and two-time middleweight title challenger, Vitor Belfort (25-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC), will take on Gegard Mousasi (39-6-2 MMA, 6-3 UFC), the former Strikeforce and DREAM LHW champ. Belfort comes into this one ranked #5, while Mousasi is #9. UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2 airs live from Manchester, England on Saturday, October 8. The main card airs on PPV with a fight time of 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT, with the prelims starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Fox Sports, 1 and 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Fight Pass.
Belfort is coming off a woefully one-sided loss back in May, and as he nears 40 years of age, having lost three UFC title fights since 2012, he needs to keep beating contenders to stay relevant at the top of his division. Meanwhile, Mousasi is trying to make it three straight victories, following a stunning upset vs. Uriah Hall in Japan. Mousasi says that beating Belfort does nothing for him in terms of the title picture, and maybe he’s right, but it’s still a big matchup that he’s personally sought.
How do these two stack up?
Belfort: 39 years old | 6'0" | 74" reach
Mousasi: 31 years old | 6'2" | 76" reach
What have these two done recently?
Belfort: L - Ronaldo Souza (TKO) | W - Dan Henderson (TKO) | L - Chris Weidman (TKO)
Mousasi: W - Thiago Santos (TKO) | W - Thales Leites (UD) | L - Uriah Hall (TKO)
Betting Odds (via bookmaker.eu)
Gegard Mousasi: -328
Vitor Belfort: +267
How did these two get here?
“The Phenom” has been around MMA for literally 20 years. Belfort challenged then-champion Chris Weidman for the UFC middleweight title in May 2015, but after a good start, Weidman pounded him out for the 1st round TKO. Belfort then fought Dan Henderson in a rubber match, and once again quickly knocked him out to take the series 2-1. It was a typical Vitor Belfort blitz, and Hendo was swiftly dealt with. Against Jacare Souza at UFC 198, it was a slightly different story. Vitor pulled guard against Jacare, and Jacare mounted him, bloodied him up, and scored the 1st round TKO. Belfort’s last 5 fights have all ended in the opening round.
Mousasi’s UFC career has been somewhat defined by his inconsistency. He’s yet to string together 3 straight victories inside the Octagon, despite Following dominant wins over Dan Henderson and Costas Philippou, he was a considerable favorite to defeat Uriah Hall, but after dominating round 1, Hall struck him with a spinning back kick and then slammed home a vicious knee. To this day, the loss to Hall is Gegard’s only stoppage loss by strikes. Mousasi has rebounded nicely, methodically picking apart Thales Leites in February, then knocking out Thiago Santos in July. Beating Vitor would make it a hat trick of vanquished Brazilian foes.
Why should you care?
This is probably Belfort’s last stand a middleweight contender, and Mousasi is in need of a winning streak to stake his claim for a title shot. Also, this doesn’t figure to last the distance.