Mousasi Calls Weidman 'Cocky,' Says Bisping Weakest Of Top Middleweights
Mousasi Calls Weidman 'Cocky,' Says Bisping Weakest Of Top Middleweights
UFC middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi sounds off on Chris Weidman and champion Michael Bisping.
Popular contender Gegard Mousasi is more confident than ever heading into his UFC 210 scrap with former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, believing that a win could put him in line for a world title fight and, subsequently, better paydays.
Mousasi spoke with Karyn Bryant on her online MMA show, MMA Heat, discussing his fight against Weidman, champion Michael Bisping's standing among the top middleweights, and Mousasi's desire to hold the world title.
"[Weidman is] a solid fighter; he's good everywhere but not great," Mousasi said. "He's not that explosive; he's not that fast. I'm gonna light him up, I promise. I know he's a confident guy. He's cocky sometimes. I think he underestimates me."
Mousasi added that he is in great shape for the co-headlining bout of UFC 210, which takes place April 8 in Buffalo, New York.
"I need to win this fight desperately," Mousasi said. "For Weidman, he also needs this fight desperately. It's a little bit mental, me going for the belt and him coming off of two losses."
Mousasi sounded off on the UFC's booking of Georges St-Pierre versus Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight championship, saying it was dangerous to the legitimacy of the sport. The bout will mark St. Pierre's first fight at middleweight, jumping the line of top contenders who are deserving of a world title shot that includes Yoel Romero, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and Mousasi himself.
"At the end of the day, if you continue to make fights like this... it's not very credible to make fights like this," Mousasi said, adding that title fights were about "popularity contests" and that the "belt means nothing to me nowadays."
He said the belt was a means of making more money to support his family and that he didn't blame Bisping for taking the fight with St. Pierre, as it is sure to be financially beneficial for him.
That said, Mousasi sees Bisping as one of the weaker top fighters in the UFC's middleweight division.
"Who gives a f*ck about the belt?" Mousasi said. "I can fight the best guys that don't have the belt. And then I could fight Michael Bisping, who I feel is the weakest guy, for the belt. Of the top four guys, he's the weakest."
Mousasi spoke with Karyn Bryant on her online MMA show, MMA Heat, discussing his fight against Weidman, champion Michael Bisping's standing among the top middleweights, and Mousasi's desire to hold the world title.
"[Weidman is] a solid fighter; he's good everywhere but not great," Mousasi said. "He's not that explosive; he's not that fast. I'm gonna light him up, I promise. I know he's a confident guy. He's cocky sometimes. I think he underestimates me."
Mousasi added that he is in great shape for the co-headlining bout of UFC 210, which takes place April 8 in Buffalo, New York.
"I need to win this fight desperately," Mousasi said. "For Weidman, he also needs this fight desperately. It's a little bit mental, me going for the belt and him coming off of two losses."
Mousasi sounded off on the UFC's booking of Georges St-Pierre versus Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight championship, saying it was dangerous to the legitimacy of the sport. The bout will mark St. Pierre's first fight at middleweight, jumping the line of top contenders who are deserving of a world title shot that includes Yoel Romero, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and Mousasi himself.
"At the end of the day, if you continue to make fights like this... it's not very credible to make fights like this," Mousasi said, adding that title fights were about "popularity contests" and that the "belt means nothing to me nowadays."
He said the belt was a means of making more money to support his family and that he didn't blame Bisping for taking the fight with St. Pierre, as it is sure to be financially beneficial for him.
That said, Mousasi sees Bisping as one of the weaker top fighters in the UFC's middleweight division.
"Who gives a f*ck about the belt?" Mousasi said. "I can fight the best guys that don't have the belt. And then I could fight Michael Bisping, who I feel is the weakest guy, for the belt. Of the top four guys, he's the weakest."