Gegard Mousasi
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Name | Gegard Mousasi |
| Nickname | The Dreamcatcher | |
| Association | Red Devil International | |
| Weight Class | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 1" (186 cm) | |
| Style | Kickboxing, Judo, Muay Thai | |
| Birth Date | August 1, 1985 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Leiden, Netherlands | |
| Country | Iran | |
| Gegard Mousasi Pictures | Mousasi's Official Site |
Gegard Mousasi is an Armenian mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is fighting out of Team Jurojin in Leiden, Netherlands and is a member of Red Devil Sport Club. He is the former DREAM Middleweight Champion and former Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion, as well as the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. During 2009 he decided to move up to Light Heavyweight and possibly Heavyweight, relinquishing his DREAM title.
He is the current DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion, winning their Light Heavyweight Tournament in 2010.
Contents |
[edit] Professional Record
| Record | 33 - 3 - 2 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 18 (T)KOs 11 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Losses | 0 (T)KOs 2 Submissions 1 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Mike Kyle | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine | 1/12/2013 | 1 | 4:09 | |
| Win | Ovince St. Preux | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal | 12/17/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Hiroshi Izumi | TKO (Punches) | DREAM: Fight for Japan 2 | 7/16/2011 | 1 | 3:29 | Defended DREAM Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Draw | Keith Jardine | Draw (Majority) | Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley | 4/09/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Mousasi deducted one point in first round for illegal upkick |
| Win | Tatsuya Mizuno | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | DREAM.16 | 9/24/2010 | 1 | 6:10 | Won DREAM Four-man Light Heavyweight Tournament; Won DREAM Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Jake O'Brien | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | DREAM 15 | 7/15/2010 | 1 | 0:31 | DREAM Four-man Light Heavyweight Tournament Opening Round; O'Brien came in well overweight |
| Loss | Muhammed Lawal | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Nashville | 4/17/2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Lost Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Gary Goodridge | TKO (Punches) | FieLDS Dynamite!! 2009 | 12/31/2009 | 1 | 1:34 | Heavyweight bout |
| Win | Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou | TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers | 11/07/2009 | 2 | 3:43 | Non-title bout |
| Win | Renato Sobral | KO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg | 8/15/2009 | 1 | 1:00 | Light Heavyweight debut; Won Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Mark Hunt | Submission (Straight Armbar) | DREAM 9: Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 Second Round | 5/26/2009 | 1 | 1:19 | First Round of DREAM Super Hulk Grand Prix; Open-weight bout |
| Win | Ronaldo Souza | KO (Upkick) | DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final | 9/23/2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Won DREAM Middleweight Grand-Prix; Won DREAM Middleweight Championship, vacated title soon after to compete at heavier weight classes |
| Win | Melvin Manhoef | Submission (Triangle Choke) | DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final | 9/23/2008 | 1 | 1:28 | DREAM 2008 Middleweight Grand-Prix Semi-Final |
| Win | Dong Sik Yoon | Decision (Unanimous) | DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Quarterfinals | 6/15/2008 | 2 | 5:00 | DREAM 2008 Middleweight Grand-Prix Quarter-Final |
| Win | Denis Kang | Submission (Triangle Choke) | DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Opening Round | 4/29/2008 | 1 | 3:10 | DREAM 2008 Middleweight Grand-Prix Opening Round |
| Win | Steve Mensing | TKO (Punches) | M-1: Slamm | 3/02/2008 | 1 | 2:44 | |
| Win | Evangelista Santos | TKO (Punches) | HCF: Destiny | 2/01/2008 | 1 | 3:42 | |
| Win | Damir Mirenic | TKO (Punches) | HCF: Title Wave | 10/19/2007 | 1 | 4:46 | |
| Win | Kyacey Uscola | TKO | Bodog Fight: Vancouver | 8/25/2007 | 1 | 4:56 | |
| Win | Alexander Kokoev | Submission (Choke) | M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva | 7/21/2007 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Gregory Bouchelaghem | Submission (Strikes) | CWFC: Enter the Rough House | 12/09/2006 | 1 | 2:20 | Won Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Hector Lombard | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE Bushido 13 | 11/05/2006 | 2 | 5:00 | PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Alternate bout |
| Loss | Akihiro Gono | Submission (Armbar) | PRIDE Bushido 12 | 8/26/2006 | 2 | 4:24 | PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals |
| Win | Makoto Takimoto | TKO (Broken Eye Socket) | PRIDE Bushido 11 | 6/04/2006 | 1 | 5:34 | PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
| Win | Hidetada Irie | TKO (Towel, Punches) | DEEP: 24 Impact | 4/11/2006 | 2 | 1:29 | |
| Win | Sanjin Kadunc | TKO | FB: Future Battle | 3/05/2006 | 1 | 0:35 | |
| Win | Andre Fyeet | TKO | 2H2H: Mixed Fight | 12/17/2005 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Tsuyoshi Kurihara | KO (Knee) | DEEP: 22 Impact | 12/02/2005 | 1 | 0:10 | |
| Win | Stefan Klever | TKO (Punches) | Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble | 10/09/2005 | 1 | 3:39 | |
| Win | Chico Martinez | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | JE: Holland vs. Russia | 4/24/2005 | 1 | 4:39 | |
| Win | John Donnelly | Submission (Armbar) | Rings: Bushido Ireland | 3/12/2005 | 1 | N/A | |
| Loss | Petras Markevicius | Submission (Armbar) | FF 13: Fight Festival 13 | 2/28/2005 | 2 | 1:49 | |
| Win | Erik Oganov | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | M-1 MFC: International Fight Night | 2/05/2005 | 1 | 2:16 | |
| Win | Rody Trost | TKO | IMA: Mix Fight | 12/19/2004 | 1 | 3:18 | |
| Win | Niko Puhakka | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | FF 11: Fight Festival 11 | 9/11/2004 | 2 | 2:17 | |
| Draw | Gilson Ferreira | Draw | Together Productions: Fight Gala | 11/15/2003 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Xander Nel | TKO (Strikes) | IMA: Mixfight Gala | 10/12/2003 | 1 | 1:05 | |
| Win | Daniel Spek | TKO | 2H2H: 1st Open Team Mixfight Championships | 4/27/2003 | 1 | 3:40 | |
[edit] Biography
Gegard Mousasi was born to Armenian parents in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. After the war, the family relocated to Leiden, Netherlands, where he finished grade school before even developing an interest in martial arts.
[edit] Mixed Martial Arts Career
[edit] Early Career
He started practicing Judo and later Boxing at age 15, twelve months later he became the amateur boxing champion of the Netherlands. When he figured out that he wouldn't make it to the top in a country as small as Holland, he switched to Kickboxing, and then eventually to mixed martial arts.
[edit] DREAM
In the first round of the Dream's 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix at Dream 2, he defeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Denis Kang by Triangle Choke. In the second round of the tournament, at Dream 4, he won a decision victory over Dong Sik Yoon and advanced to the final round which took place at Dream 6. There he fought and submitted K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef in the semi-finals before meeting up with submission specialist Ronaldo Souza in the final. Mousasi defeated Souza with an upkick after being taken down by the Brazilian, thus becoming the first Dream Middleweight Champion and 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament winner.
[edit] K-1 Dynamite!! 2008
In a somewhat surprise to the MMA world, Gegard agreed to take on Japanese K-1 fighter Musashi in a K-1 rules fight at Dynamite!! 2008. Being an open weight fight Gegard weighed in at 97.8 kg/ 216 lbs., all but confirming his desire to move up in weight classes. Gegard stated after winning the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix he would no longer fight at Middleweight due to the large weight cut. Gegard was not favored to win the match against the more experienced Musashi, but came out fast and scored a first round KO. Gegard went undefeated in 2008 going 6-0 in MMA, and 1-0 in K-1.
[edit] Move to Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight
In interviews from early 2009, 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. On April 30, 2009, it was announced he would fight Heavyweight Mark Hunt at DREAM 9 in the first round of their open weight tournament, a.k.a the Super Hulk Tournament. Gegard defeated Hunt in the first round with a Straight Armbar, moving him on to the second round.
It was then confirmed that Mousasi would next face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the second round of the Super Hulk Tournament.
Mousasi then was expected to fight Renato Sobral at Affliction: Trilogy on August 1, 2009, but the event was cancelled when Josh Barnett, who was expected to fight WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, tested positive for anabolic steroids, and according to Tom Atencio, they just "didn't have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards.” Mousasi was originally supposed to face Vitor Belfort, but a disagreement between both fighters over which weight class the fight would be fought at put the bout at an end.
The fight with Sobral would still go on, but not under the Affliction banner, but it would take place at the August 15, 2009 Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg fight card. The fight would be for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. Mousasi would prove once again why he may be considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters, by dismantling Sobral in the first round via TKO (Punches), winning the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.
Gegard Mousasi next made an appearance at M-1 Global's Breakthrough event at August 28, 2009, where he sparred former PRIDE Heavyweight and current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko in an exhibition match, where Mousasi was defeated with a straight Armbar.
Mousasi was then forced to withdraw from the next round of DREAM's Super Hulk Tournament due to a shoulder injury that he received during his exhibition grappling match with Fedor Emelianenko. It was then learned that Mousasi would fight on the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers main card that will be shown on CBS. It was a non-title fight, and he faced Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, whom he was first expected to fight during the Super Hulk Tournament in Japan. Mousasi and his opponent went through an in depth feeling out process for the first three minutes of the opening round, but then lit up the closing 120 seconds with a flurry. They closed the round with several reverses and numerous submission attempts by each, but neither could find the finish. Round two was a completely different story. Mousasi clinched and then proceeded to take apart Sokoudjou’s legs with a barrage of knees to the thighs. Sokoudjou managed to wrest Mousasi to the ground, but that would just be the beginning of the end. Mousasi quickly reversed position and mounted a ground and pound assault from Sokoudjou’s guard. The Armenian never relented, pouring on the punches until the referee stepped in to stop the fight at 3:43 of the round.
Japan has always been known for finishing fight cards at the last minute, so days before the December 31, 2009 scheduled FieLDS Dynamite!! 2009 card, it was announced that Mousasi would be a participant. His opponent would be MMA legend Gary Goodridge, who last competed in mixed martial arts in 2008, where he was defeated by Alistair Overeem. The card had both K-1 and mixed martial arts bouts, and though earlier rumors stated the fight would be a kickboxing contest, it turns out that it would be MMA instead. The bout will be at heavyweight.
Around the same time as the announcement of Mousasi's participation at FieLDS Dynamite!! 2009 it was also learned that Mousasi planned on defending his Strikeforce title as often as possible in the next upcoming year, but at the same time he would be participating in DREAM's 2010 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, and could possibly take part in professional boxing matches.
The day of the bout, "The Dreamcatcher" wasted little time in pulling "Big Daddy" out of his element. A swift takedown put Gary Goodridge on his back, and a barrage of punches followed from Mousasi. Goodridge fought out of the position, only to wind up in a similar variation. Mousasi continued to unload punches from the top, and though many didn't seem to be offering direct contact, the bout was called to a halt. Goodridge expressed his dismay at what he felt was a premature stoppage, but there was nothing to be done at that point.
It was learned late-January 2010 that Mousasi would be helping Georges St. Pierre train for his title defense against Dan Hardy.
Mousasi’s list of tentative bouts include two to three appearances in Dream’s light heavyweight tournament beginning in May, a bout for K-1 when it hosts an event in Amsterdam this year, another New Year’s Eve appearance for K-1 “Dynamite,” as well as two Strikeforce fights.
While on Inside MMA, Mousasi told the hosts that he will most likely face off against Muhammed Lawal in his next fight, though he was unsure if the fight was to be for his title.
In February of 2010, Mousasi announced that he had split ways with his management team M-1 Global. According to both sides, the decision was a business one, not a personal one. (see section below for details)
On April 17, 2010, Mousasi ended up facing Muhammed Lawal for his Lightweight title at Strikeforce: Nashville. Over and over again, Lawal brought Mousasi to his back. Powerful double-leg takedown scored points in the eyes of the judges, even as Mousasi stayed active from his back. Mousasi threatened with a powerful upkick in the fourth frame, but even after stalling led to a stand-up, Lawal still worked the fight back to the frame. After five rounds of fighting, Lawal was awarded the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title by Decision (Unanimous), going 49-45 on all three judges scorecards, handing Mousasi his first loss since 2006, and ending his 15-fight win streak.
[edit] DREAM Light Heavyweight Tournament
Mousasi was announced as a participant in DREAM's Four-man Light Heavyweight Tournament, which began at DREAM 15 on July 10, 2010, and his opening round fight was scheduled against former UFC fighter Jake O'Brien. O'Brien came in well overweight, and at the beginning of the bout was issued a yellow card for coming in so over weight. Even though the fight was technically a catchweight bout, DREAM still allowed the fight to be fought as part of the Light Heavyweight tournament.
The overweight O'Brien shot in sloppily in the opening seconds of the fight, and Mousasi secured the gift Guillotine Choke after falling down briefly. Mousasi regained his balance, cranked the hold, and O'Brien tapped out after just 31 seconds. The win placed Mousasi in the Tournament Finals, where he will face Japan's Tatsuya Mizuno.
The DREAM Four-man Light Heavyweight Tournament Finals took place at DREAM 16, where Mousasi squared off against Tatsuya Mizuno. For his part, Mizuno refused to simply hand over the title and did offer Mousasi a few brief moments of concern. An Armbar and Kimura attempt each showed promise, but Mousasi was able to slip free from both attempts. Mizuno also landed a few solid leg kicks when striking on the feet, but it paled in comparison to the shots landed by Mousasi. Mizuno briefly gained top position in the fight's final sequence, but Mousasi deftly took the back and locked in a deep Rear Naked Choke that forced the tap. The win earned him the DREAM Light Heavyweight title.
[edit] Split with M-1 Global
In February of 2010, Mousasi announced that he had split ways with his long-time management team M-1 Global.
M-1 Global currently manage Fedor Emelianenko and have watched over the career of Mousasui as the fast rising twenty-four year old captured titles under both the DREAM and Strikeforce banners.
- “After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest to part ways with M-1 Global,” stated Mousasi in a recent email to Sherdog.com. “During the time I spent under their wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done for me.”
Mousasi did not reveal who he will represented by from here forth, but only stated, “My management is being taken care of by someone close to me.”
According to Apy Echteld, a represenative of M-1 Global, the move was strictly business.
- “The business relationship with M-1 Global is over,” said Echteld. “It was a business decision, but not a personal one and there are no hard feelings.”
[edit] Titles
- Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship (2009)
- DREAM Middleweight Champion (2008)
- 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion (2008)
- Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion (2006)
