Gegard Mousasi has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA according to a company press release issued on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed. The former UFC fighter was a top middleweight and now supplies the Viacom-owned company with another quality fighter.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Gegard to the growing Bellator family,” said Bellator President Scott Coker in a company press release. “ “He’s one of the most well-rounded fighters in all of MMA and can compete in multiple divisions, so that really opens up some exciting matchmaking opportunities for us and for the fans. We’re looking forward to having him compete on Spike very soon.”
Mousasi’s last UFC fight was a controversial victory over Chris Weidman at UFC 210. According to a Swedish website Kimura.se, a UFC attorney didn’t think Mousasi was a big enough name to justify his salary demands.
Mousasi’s last reported salary was at UFC 200 last July where he made $110,000 (which included a $35,000 win bonus plus a Performance of the Night Bonus of $50,000). Since then, he’s fought 3 other times with the last being Weidman this past April. He earned 3 Performances of the Night bonuses with the UFC.
A new era has arrived. Me signing my @BellatorMMA contract. Bellator MWs, there is a new sheriff in town. pic.twitter.com/eJ1yDmROcu
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) July 10, 2017
Payout Perspective:
Frankly, the report that a UFC attorney stymied negotiations seemed short sited and throwing the attorney under the bus. We do not know what were Mousasi’s demands. Mousasi has fought on UFC International cards and only 3 US cards while with the company. The UFC may have thought his value on the International market did not equate to his salary demands. For Bellator, this is a good pickup since he’s a known commodity that is still young (31) and can inject some appeal into the middleweight division.
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