Gegard Mousasi hasn’t retired but, people.
It’ll have been one full 12 months because the former Bellator and Strikeforce champion stepped into the cage come Might 2024. Regardless of Mousasi long-teasing his retirement after a fruitful 60-fight (49-9-2) 21-year-long combined martial arts (MMA) profession, he’s nonetheless an lively competitor in search of a return to motion.
Sadly for the 38-year-old legend, Mousasi isn’t getting any gives from his new employer, Skilled Fighters League (PFL), after the Bellator merger in late 2023.
“I’ve been coaching out and in a bit of bit as a result of I don’t get any information from the PFL or Bellator — individuals assume I’m retired, truly,” Mousasi instructed MMA Junkie. “I’m ready for a combat. I’ve a contract with them however it seems like they don’t really feel obligated to the contract.
“I knew there could be the sale,” he continued. “After that, there was no communication. We tried to contact PFL to get extra details about what’s occurring, what they need to do subsequent. Nevertheless it seems like they’re ignoring us. I talked to Mike [Kogan]. He went from Bellator to PFL. I instructed him, ‘Give me data what you need to do with me.’ They preserve me on ice, let’s say. They really feel like I’m getting paid an excessive amount of. They don’t need to give me the fights. They owe me. However I do know from different fighters that made the identical, they fought already. There’s no effort from them.”
Mousasi is in a uncommon spot in his profession, using his first shedding streak after back-to-back choice losses to Fabian Edwards and Bellator Middleweight champion, Johnny Eblen. The Dutchman isn’t the primary fighter to have issues along with his new firm, as Bellator Featherweight champion, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, has additionally had complaints about PFL communication.
“The issue is my supervisor tried to contact them and so they don’t even reply,” Mousasi stated. “There’s no effort to advertise or get me a combat. It’s radio silence with them. Folks assume I’m retired. They’re making an attempt to be No. 2 group on the planet, however I believe at the very least what they’ll do is inform me what their plans are with me.
“I do know they owe me a combat,” he continued. “They’ve a contract with me. They need to perhaps put stress on me to take a pay lower. However why would I try this? I do know they owe me fights. I do know higher, let’s say that.”
Equally to Cyborg, there isn’t a serious promotion Mousasi hasn’t fought for throughout his prolonged run by way of the Middleweight and Mild Heavyweight divisions. To succeed in Bellator in 2017, Mousasi was in Final Combating Championship (UFC), the place he left on a five-fight successful streak (9-3 in UFC).
Historical past is repeating itself for Mousasi now as this isn’t his first time altering promotions with out having a say within the matter. “The Dreamcatcher’s” UFC tenure started after the promotion bought Strikeforce. Whereas he’s had his qualms with organizations prior to now, Mousasi is already feeling like this may be the worst therapy he’s obtained.
“I do know my rights with what’s within the contract,” Mousasi stated. “I’m ready for them to reply and provides me a combat. That is my option to ship a message to them at the very least, as a result of it’s troublesome to get them on the cellphone. I’ve to go media. It’s like UFC reducing fighters and so they discover out on-line. I’ve to speak by way of media with them. It’s loopy.
“Each promotion has its personal factor,” he continued. “UFC would give me each three, 4 months a combat, however they wouldn’t pay me sufficient. Bellator, they paid me extra, however I’d combat rather a lot much less. Now with PFL, they don’t even give me a combat. That is the worst, I believe. They don’t even discuss to you. It’s like an ex-girlfriend or one thing.”
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