DUTCH middleweight star Gegard Mousasi is on a revenge mission at UFC Belfast.
The longtime UFC middleweight contender is justifiably considered one of the most accomplished 185lb fighters on the planet.
But the Dutchman is one step behind the pack of contenders vying for a shot at Michael Bisping‘s UFC middleweight title.
That’s down in large part to his shock TKO loss to Uriah Hall in September last year.
That defeat, caused by Hall’s spinning back kick and finished with a flurry of punches, derailed ‘The Dreamcatcher’s run towards a title shot.
But he gets the opportunity to avenge that defeat and reposition himself as a serious threat to the middleweight title this weekend in the main event at UFC Belfast.
Speaking to SunSport in London before the fight was announced, Mousasi explained why he was interested in a rematch with Hall.
“I was on a six (fight) winning streak if that fight didn’t happen,” he began.
“I talk bad about Uriah Hall all the time but I don’t dislike the guy.
“He won the fight, fair and square.
“But do I feel like I was the better fighter and that set me back? Yeah.
“I’m upset at myself. That has nothing to do with Uriah Hall.
“But is that a fight I want to prove that I am the better fighter, then go from there? Yeah, definitely.”
And the former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion said he deserves a shot at the title, but it’s just a matter of timing.
“Do I deserve to fight for the belt? I 100% believe that.
“It just not the recent win. I’ve got a whole career behind me. I’ve fought for different organisations, different titles, from all around the world.
“So do I deserve to fight for the belt? Yeah.
“But sometimes it’s just circumstances and timing. Let’s say Anderson Silva when he was champion, he was going through all the contenders, all the different opponents.
“Now, it’s mixed. You don’t have a steady champion that holds the belt for 10 consecutive defences. You have new matches and new contenders, so it’s a little bit all over the place. It’s just timing.
“Even Luke Rockhold. When he fought for the belt he beat Michael Bisping, he beat Tim Boetsch and he beat (Costa) Phillippou, and he fought for the belt.
“Is that a big resume to fight for the belt? Not really.
“When Chris Weidman fought Anderson Silva (for the belt) he beat Mark Munoz. That was the biggest win of his career. So it’s just timing.”
And while Mousasi’s path to the title looked blocked when we last spoke, things have changed somewhat.
Yoel Romero looks set to face Bisping next, thanks to his spectacular flying-knee KO of Chris Weidman at UFC 205.
And with Luke Rockhold pulling out of his contender clash with Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, there would seem to be an opportunity for Mousasi to propel himself into contention with a decisive victory against Hall this weekend.
Watch the full interview with Mousasi here
And after spending the bulk of his career toeing the party line, staying buttoned up and steering clear of controversial statements, Mousasi has decided to abandon his forced-PC approach and instead just be himself.
It’s already had an effect, with fans and media taking to the Dutchman’s straight talking and dry sense of humour in interviews and press conferences.
After not getting a shot at UFC gold so far in his career, he explained he might just as well be himself now.
“When people ask me questions, I’m like ‘Yeah, he’s a great fighter, I respect him a lot’. Nobody wants to hear that,” he admitted.
“They want to hear ‘I want to punch him in the face!’
“They ask me, and I give my real, honest opinion. Before that I just tried to give an answer that was ‘correct’, making everybody happy or something.
“Obviously you can’t make everybody happy, so I’m just saying what I’m thinking.
“People love it or they hate it. But I’m just being more myself.”
And Mousasi said he’s happy to loosen the shackles a little and just speak his mind.
“I was politically correct and it got me nowhere!”
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