Back at the UFC 204 open workouts in Manchester, England, this past month, Gegard Mousasi drew laughs from the English crowd when he frankly said a win over Vitor Belfort would put him no closer to a UFC middleweight title shot.

Fast forward one month and seemingly not much has changed. Mousasi will face Uriah Hall in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this Saturday, and the Dutchman has only one thing on his mind--revenge.

"It's just a detour to settle the score with him," Mousasi said. "It's not going to get me anywhere closer to a title shot. It's nothing personal against him. I just need it for myself you know. I know I'm the better fighter. I just need to go in there and prove it.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2GZtEhlGc/" hide_caption="0"]

"Anything can happen, because it's a fight and I could go there and get caught again. I don't think the chances of that are very high, but it's a fight and anything can happen. I'm taking a chance, and he's giving me the rematch and you got to respect that. It's a short camp for the fight for him and for me. I don't hate the guy. I've got nothing against him."

Not underestimating Hall this time

Mousasi admitted that Hall was a lot more competent that he expected in some areas of the game in their first fight. This weekend, Mousasi said he wouldn't be underestimating the American.

"He was going for submissions--leglocks, kimuras--and I wasn't expecting that," Mousasi said. "The guys is not that bad on the ground, and I have to be careful. I will have the wrestling and the better standup, but it's all about mixing that all together, so wherever the fight goes I need to be sharp, precise, and not overly aggressive."

Thoughts on Michael Bisping

While this weekend is purely about settling and old score, Mousasi hopes to compete for the middleweight title in the near future.

The Dutchman said he had a lot of respect for the champion Michael Bisping, but Mousasi ultimately thought he would match up well against him.

"I think I can take him down, and I have a bigger arsenal with kicks and knees, so style-wise I think he's very good for me," Mousasi said. "I do very well against stand up guys, so he'd be a god fight for me.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZ9ickBYFE/" hide_caption="0"]

"I was just watching his interview. He said that he'd continue to defend his title until he loses, and then he will retire so I don't know if he wants to continue to fighting so maybe I will never get to fight him. For me it's all about the person who has the belt. I don't know if I will fight him, but I like Michael Bisping and he deserves to be champion. I hope I will fight him."

Knowing Yoel Romero's game

Yoel Romero currently resides in the UFC middleweight title No. 1 contender spot after his win over Chris Weidman at UFC 205 this past weekend.

Mousasi was impressed by Romero's performance, but believe he's worked out the Cuban's game plan.

"Yoel Romero is a guy who is aware of his conditioning," Mousasi said. "First round he doesn't start, and he is more defending. First round I think Weidman, second round I think Romero won because of his wrestling, and in the third round, well, he's explosive, Yoel Romero. I saw him losing against Derek Brunson, and he came back in the third. He was losing against Tim Kennedy, and he came back in the third.

"The guy is very dangerous even in the later rounds, but he's a slow starter. He knows what he is doing. He's fighting for the belt now, and he could be the next champion. I think if Chris Weidman wasn't trying to grind it out that knee may not have landed, and he may have won by points. It was unfortunate he lost, because he's a real champion and he will come back."