Former UFC contender Gegard Mousasi was one of the recent big names that made the jump to Bellator MMA. Like many others that did before him, it was mainly about dissatisfaction with his UFC contract.
Mousasi also explained that it was not mainly about the money, but also how Scott Coker “delivered his promises.” During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he did confirm just how much better he feels he is being treated under Bellator.
“Life is easier. I was able to bring my friends also into Bellator. The treatment that I’m getting is great. I feel Bellator has space to grow, not only with me, but also as a company,” Mousasi said.
“I was a small fish in the UFC. I’m a big fish in Bellator. That’s why I want to do my part to grow with Bellator. There’s a connection that I don’t have with UFC. It’s a company, like a factory. With Bellator, it’s more that I’m part of the family, and I’m doing the best I can to grow with the family.”
While Mousasi also says it wasn’t all bad in the UFC, what got to him was the seemingly recurring trend where fighters who are more deserving of bigger breaks do not get what is due them.
“If I was to criticize them, I think the fairness of payment or the fairness of getting a title shot, it’s too much about the name of the fighter and who they feel they can build as a star as opposed to who is the best fighter. There are issues,” Mousasi said. “Before the belt I’d have to fight probably Luke Rockhold, I would have fought Yoel Romero because (Robert) Whittaker is next. It would have made my road so difficult to get to the top. Some get an easy road.”
“They give the fighters they like matchups suited for them so they can keep winning,” he continued. “They’ll probably do Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3. Why? Because McGregor has a good shot of winning. They’re not going to make a fight with Khabib (Nurmagomedov) or Tony (Ferguson) because it’s bad for the promotion. Those things, you feel as a fighter. I’m not making things up. It’s frustrating. I had to take the hard road. That’s what I feel.”
Mousasi will be making his promotional debut against Alexander Shlemenko as the headliner for Bellator 185 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.