Gegard Mousasi’s impressive – if controversial – UFC 210 TKO defeat of former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman marked the final obligation on his UFC contract. With his contract completed, Mousasi then entered a renegotiation period with the UFC.
Despite the fact that Mousasi holds the number-four spot in the UFC middleweight rankings, the promotion was apparently unprepared to pay him what he felt he was worth. According to reports from Chamatkar Sandhu and Kimura Crew, Mousasi and the UFC have failed to agree on the terms of a new contract, and the Iranian-Dutchman will now be migrating to Bellator MMA.
Our sources confirms @SandhuMMA info on @mousasi_mma signing with @BellatorMMA. App. UFC didn´t see value in Gegard https://t.co/WZdvJrB26z pic.twitter.com/XlTS0MpovE
— Kimura Crew (@kimurasweden) July 10, 2017
Mousasi becomes the latest in a long procession of high profile fighters to move from the UFC to Bellator. Other notable recent additions to the Bellator roster include UFC veterans Ryan Bader, Lorenz Larkin, Rory MacDonald, Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva, Matt Mitrione, Phil Davis and Benson Henderson.
Having fought and won gold under the new defunct Strikeforce banner, Mousasi is very familiar with Bellator President Scott Coker, who also served as the top dog in Strikeforce.
No details surrounding Mousasi’s Bellator debut have been released at this point.
Who do you want to see Gegard Mousasi fight in his Bellator debut?
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 7/10/2017.