Gegard Mousasi is set to make his Bellator MMA debut in the main event of Bellator 185, where he faces former middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko.
The fighter comes to Bellator MMA after a long stint in the UFC, but he also claims his life is easier in his new fighting home.
“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 to MMA Junkie. “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.”
Mousasi earned a record of 9-3-0 in the UFC and ended his run with the promotion on a five fight winning streak.
If Mousasi has one thing to be critical about during his time with the UFC, it would be the favorable match ups some of the fighters got.
“They give the fighters they like matchups suited for them so they can keep winning,” he said. “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.”
Bellator 185 takes place on Friday, October 20 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut with Gegard Mousasi and Alexander Shlemenko headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Spike TV.
