Will Bellator 200 Middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi continue his upward stride without donning UFC’s title?
Friday night (May 25) saw Gegard Mousasi (44-6-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) trample his Brazilian rival Rafael Carvalho (15-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in SSE Arena in London with a TKO stoppage in the first round as middleweight title changed hands. With this victory Mousasi stands as the only fighter to have won accolades in Strikeforce and Bellator MMA.
Mousasi got his name written in Bellator 200’s history as he gave a TKO stoppage to “The Blessed” snatching away his long-held accolade. Friday night’s main card event closed just after three minutes when “The Dreamcatcher” got on top of Carvalho securing a total reign. The triumph makes the Dutch 5th title holder of Bellator Middleweight category.
To read about the fight details Gegard Mousasi vs. Rafael Carvalho, click here
32-year-old Mousasi had a clear strategy from the beginning of the game. Although the Dutch artist exchanged a few kicks with Carvalho initially, as soon as he saw an opportunity for a takedown, he gave in his best shot. Atop the Blessed, the end was definite with a new middleweight victor taking over.
Once Gegard pinned Carvalho on the canvas, he gave the Brazilian ground-and-pound shots shunning away his attempts for a comeback. Once Rafael had given up hopes for a mount, Mousasi unleashed fiery punches. Although the Brazilian was given a few chances by the referee to secure his position, he found it hard to gain back his momentum. With constant bombardment of agonizing jabs from Mousasi, the brawl closed during Round 1 at 3.35 mark.
The recent Bellator brawl has helped Gegard inch up further in his winning streak. Presently, Armenian artist boasts a 10-1 record of his 11 fights with straight-seven wins since 2009. Now he is all set to square off with welterweight champ Rory MacDonald (20-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).
Other notable fights for the night and their results are:
Michael Page vs. David Rickels – Page wins by TKO in Round 2
Aaron Chalmers vs. Ash Griffiths – Chalmers wins by submission in Round 1
Mike Shipman vs. Carl Noon – Shipman destroys Noon via KO in Round 1
Anastasia Yankova vs. Kate Jackson – Kate Jackson wins via UD
Phil Davis vs. Linton Vassell – Phil Davis wins by KO in Round 3
Analysis – Can Gegard Mousasi Make It To MMA’s Top League Without A UFC Title?
Gegard’s innate abilities are beyond any doubt. His 6’2” frame and a 76” reach becomes quite deadly when coupled with his fiery strikes. Though his versatile experience makes him a dreaded opponent to take on in the ring, the only feather missing in his crown is UFC’s title. With MMA’s most notable accolade missing from Dutch’s plate, it will become a tough battle for him to shine in sport’s league and keep his fanbase growing.
