The champion is starting the training camp for the fight and Mousasi has a sparring partner than is similar to the challenger in many ways.
?I have actually a really good training partner, Reinier de Ridder, he has the same record, 9-0,? Mousasi said at the Bellator London press conference (via Fernanda Prates of MMA Junkie). ?Same jiu-jitsu, stand-up. Same height, same weight. And I was getting submitted last Saturday. But I?ve trained with him before. Once I?m in shape, there?s not going to be any submissions.?
De Ridder is 10-0-0 as a professional MMA fighter and has eight of those ten victories by submission.
Mousasi admits that Lovato Jr. may have the stand up advantage, but the champion is preparing for everything that can happen on fight night.
?So I have a good sparring partner to prepare for him and, obviously, he?s undefeated, hungry, he?s taller than me,? Mousasi said. ?So he?ll have this advantage (on the) stand-up, but you know, I?ve got to be ready. I don?t know. I?ll be ready. Don?t worry.?
Bellator London takes place on Saturday, June 22 from the SSE Arena in London, England with Gegard Mousasi and Rafael Lovato Jr. headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.