One of the biggest names in MMA Gegard Mousasi has criticized UFC for its low fighter pay. The UFC has been accused of low pay by numerous former fighters and Mousasi has joined the long list. The Dutch fighter left the promotion on a high but his reasons involved salary and title fights.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙? 🔥@Mousasi_MMA looks to further his epic legacy with a win over one of Bellator’s top prospects… pic.twitter.com/s05HKGxqjf
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 20, 2022
Mousasi appeared on the JAXXON podcast and opened up about his MMA career. Mousasi has an extraordinary resume. He is a Dutch amateur national boxing champion who made a move to MMA and earned championships in four promotions. He was a middleweight champion in Cage Warriors, DREAM, and Bellator. ‘The Dreamcatcher’ also earned the light heavyweight title in Strikeforce.
Gegard Mousasi had a decent run in the UFC as well but he left the promotion primarily because he felt he was undervalued.
Gegard Mousasi left the UFC because he felt undervalued at the promotion
After his title reigns in Cage Warriors, DREAM, and Strikeforce, Gegard Mousasi made his debut in the UFC in April 2013. He faced three defeats in his first seven fights including losses against Lyoto Machida and Uriah Hill. However, after that, he went on a five-match winning streak.
During the JAXXON podcast, he was asked to elaborate on why he left the Las Vegas-based promotion. Mousasi explained that Georges St-Pierre made a comeback at the time and he was given a title opportunity. He also mentioned that Dan Henderson, whom Mousasi had defeated, earned a title shot but the Dutchman seemingly had to wait for another fight.
(Watch from 12:00 minutes)
Moreover, Mousasi claimed that Bellator was willing to pay him twice the money that UFC was paying him. The former UFC fighter also said, “They don’t want to give you any money, if they can.”
Mousasi mentioned that a select few fighters earn a lot of money in the UFC including Conor McGregor. He even named Demetrious Johnson as one of the fighters who did not earn enough at the UFC.
Gegard Mousasi is facing troubles after PFL acquired Bellator
The Iran-born fighter joined Bellator in 2017 and earned the status of a two-time Bellator Middleweight Champion. As of now, Mousasi holds a record of 48-9-2 (NC). He is on a two-match loss streak. However, since PFL acquired Bellator, Mousasi has been facing trouble booking a fight. He is also allegedly being asked to take a pay cut.
In an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Mousasi said, “Eventually, now they [PFL] come and say, ‘Well, you make too much money’, so they’re trying the fighters’ payment…
Gegard Mousasi says PFL/Bellator are giving him “radio silence” on details around his next fight.
Full story: https://t.co/ZnXf4fRquR pic.twitter.com/cfoEoJpHvb
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 18, 2024
Every promotion has its own thing. UFC would give me every three-four months a fight, but they wouldn’t pay me enough. Bellator, they paid me more, but I would fight a lot less. Now with PFL, they don’t even give me a fight. This is the worst, I think. They don’t even talk to you. It’s like an ex-girlfriend or something.”
PFL president Ray Sefo claimed that the promotion offered Mousasi a fight but communications broke down. Mousasi’s manager Nima Safapour told MMA Junkie that they were offered a fight outside of Mousasi’s weight class. Safapour asked for a fight against Ray Cooper but he was informed that Cooper was not available. However, Cooper was booked for a fight later on the same card that Safapour wanted.
Several issues were sighted by Safapour who wants to get Gegard Mousasi back into the cage as he has a binding contract with the promotion.