Gegard Mousasi is 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.
73 Facts About Gegard Mousasi
2.
Gegard Mousasi then transitioned into kickboxing and then eventually to mixed martial arts.
3.
In 2006 Gegard Mousasi signed with Pride FC to take part in Pride's Welterweight Grand Prix.
4.
Gegard 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.
5.
For unknown reasons, Gegard Mousasi never participated in the ADCC 2009 Championships.
6.
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.
7.
Gegard 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," Gegard Mousasi wrote in the e-mail.
8.
In interviews from early 2009, Gegard 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.
9.
Gegard Mousasi submitted Hunt in the first round of the Super Hulk Grand Prix at Dream 9.
10.
Gegard Mousasi was then expected to face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Dream 11, but he had to step down due to injury.
11.
Gegard 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.
12.
On Monday July 27,2009 it was announced that the cancelled bout between Sobral and Gegard 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.
13.
Gegard Mousasi defeated Sobral via KO in the first minute of the first round to become the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
14.
Gegard Mousasi would go on to win his second Strikeforce bout by TKO, three minutes and forty-three seconds into the 2nd round against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, who Gegard Mousasi was previously supposed to fight at Dream 11, on November 7,2009 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers.
15.
Gegard Mousasi was originally slated to defend his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, but eventually competed in a non-title bout.
16.
Lawal landed 11 of 14 takedowns, however Gegard Mousasi had outlanded Lawal in Total Punches 171 to 125.
17.
Gegard Mousasi was given a point deduction following an illegal up-kick.
18.
The 1st round took place at Dream 15, where Gegard Mousasi faced Jake O'Brien, who came in overweight to their bout.
19.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight early in the first round by submission via standing guillotine choke.
20.
Gegard Mousasi dominated the whole fight and finished the Japanese fighter in the first round via rear-naked choke.
21.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to face Mike Kyle on April 9,2011 at Strikeforce 33.
22.
Gegard Mousasi returned to Strikeforce to face Ovince Saint Preux on December 17,2011 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal.
23.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via unanimous decision, showing improved takedown defense and wrestling.
24.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to face Mike Kyle at Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey, but Kyle withdrew due to injury.
25.
Gegard Mousasi was later recovering from knee surgery following a torn ACL and was expected to fully recover by November, 2012.
26.
Gegard Mousasi signed a new contract for six more fights with the organization, making a total of seven.
27.
Gegard Mousasi faced Mike Kyle at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine on January 12,2013.
28.
On January 15,2013, the UFC announced Gegard Mousasi would be joining 19 other Strikeforce fighters in a move to the UFC after his win over Mike Kyle at the promotion's last event, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine.
29.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to make his promotional debut against Alexander Gustafsson on April 6,2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 9.
30.
Gegard Mousasi won by unanimous decision, avoiding his opponent's takedown attempts and dominating the fight on the feet.
31.
Gegard Mousasi fought with an injured knee and underwent surgery after the fight.
32.
UFC President Dana White praised Gegard Mousasi for going through with the fight injured and in his opponents home, as well as accepting a late change of opponents.
33.
Gegard Mousasi faced Mark Munoz on May 31,2014 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 41.
34.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via submission in the first round and became the first fighter to submit Munoz.
35.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to rematch Ronaldo Souza on August 2,2014 at UFC 176.
36.
Gegard Mousasi faced Dan Henderson on January 24,2015 in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 14.
37.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via TKO in the first round.
38.
Gegard Mousasi faced Costas Philippou on May 16,2015 at UFC Fight Night 66.
39.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to face Roan Carneiro on September 27,2015 at UFC Fight Night 75.
40.
Gegard Mousasi was briefly linked to a fight with Michael Bisping on February 27,2016 at UFC Fight Night 84.
41.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to face Derek Brunson on July 9,2016 at UFC 200.
42.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via TKO in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
43.
Gegard Mousasi next faced Uriah Hall in a rematch on November 19,2016 at UFC Fight Night 99.
44.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via TKO in the first round.
45.
Gegard Mousasi faced Chris Weidman at UFC 210 on April 8,2017.
46.
Gegard Mousasi accused Weidman of trying to win the fight by disqualification.
47.
Gegard Mousasi was only willing to continue when told the knee was legal after almost two minutes of the allotted five to recover by Miragliotta under the assumption the knee was illegal.
48.
On 10 July 2017, Gegard Mousasi announced that he had signed with Bellator MMA for a six-fights deal and should compete for the middleweight title later in 2017.
49.
Gegard Mousasi announced that his goal would be to obtain the light heavyweight belt as well, after becoming the Bellator middleweight champion first.
50.
The rest of the first round mainly consisted of Gegard Mousasi scoring multiple takedowns, landing many strikes, and attempting several neck cranks and rear naked chokes.
51.
Gegard Mousasi faced Rafael Carvalho on 25 May 2018 at Bellator 200 in London, England for the Bellator Middleweight World Championship.
52.
Gegard Mousasi became the first fighter to win a world title in both Strikeforce and Bellator MMA.
53.
Gegard Mousasi made his first title defense against current Bellator Welterweight Champion Rory MacDonald on 29 September 2018 at Bellator 206.
54.
Gegard Mousasi stuffed MacDonald's takedown attempt and delivered ground and pound, eventually winning the fight via technical knockout in round two.
55.
Gegard Mousasi was expected to make his second title defense against Rafael Lovato Jr.
56.
However, on 20 December 2018, it was reported that Gegard Mousasi pulled from the fight, citing a back injury.
57.
Gegard Mousasi lost the bout and his title by majority decision.
58.
At the time, Gegard Mousasi signed a new, eight-fight contract with Bellator.
59.
However, it was announced that Bellator 242 and Gegard Mousasi's fight against Lima would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
60.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via unanimous decision and claimed the title for a second time.
61.
Gegard Mousasi made the first title defense of his second reign against John Salter on August 13,2021 at Bellator 264.
62.
Gegard Mousasi won the bout via TKO in round three.
63.
Gegard Mousasi made his second middleweight title defence against Austin Vanderford at Bellator 275 on February 25,2022 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
64.
Gegard Mousasi won the fight via technical knockout in round one.
65.
Gegard Mousasi faced Fabian Edwards on May 12,2023, at Bellator 296.
66.
Gegard Mousasi stated after winning the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix he would no longer fight at middleweight due to the large weight cut.
67.
Gegard Mousasi was the rank outsider to win the match against the more experienced Musashi, but came out fast and scored a first-round KO.
68.
Gegard Mousasi brought the fight to Kyotaro and in the second round Mousasi knocked the Japanese fighter down, almost finishing him.
69.
Gegard Mousasi then won a unanimous decision victory from the judges.
70.
Gegard Mousasi's management said that it would make him a better fighter.
71.
Gegard Mousasi is already known in amateur boxing, being a former Netherlands amateur boxing champion.
72.
Gegard Mousasi's older brother Gewik was a mixed martial artist before him, and Gegard decided to follow in his footsteps.
73.
Gegard Mousasi is the godfather of Satoshi Ishii's son Gegard Mousasi Ishi, who is named after him.