A war of words (and weight) jeopardizes Belfort vs Mousasi at Affliction 3
by Jesse Holland on May 27, 2009 11:59 AM EDT
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Following his first round submission win over Mark Hunt at Dream 9 yesterday, former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi confirmed that he was in talks to make his mixed martial arts debut in the United States against Vitor Belfort on August 1, 2009 at Affliction 3.
While fans were salivating at the thought of this fantasy match-up being realized by "The T-shirt Guys," Belfort cautioned that he isn't ready to abandon the 185-pound weight class he recently joined -- while Mousasi has already made the decision to leave it entirely.
From Mousasi, courtesy of M-1 Global:
"I cannot make the weight, otherwise I would have continued to fight at 185 and not given up my DREAM middleweight title. I cannot make 185 anymore and that is final."
Belfort has been non-committal about his participation in the rumored bout, and doesn't see the value in moving back up to his original fighting weight of 205-pounds or even a catchweight for that matter.
It's not the weight fluctuation that gives him pause as he explains to Tatame.com, it's the fact that he doesn't consider Mousasi to be a big enough name.
From "The Phenom:"
"I fight at 185lbs. If they want to do this fight at 185lbs, it’s done, otherwise I see no option to go up, because he isn’t a challenge, a man without much name. To go up, I don’t see him as a challenge. I want to fight with him in the weight he was champion (at DREAM), then I think it's worth it."
Mousasi was quick to shoot back at the Brazilian, who is coming off two back-to-back knockout wins under the Affliction banner, hinting that it might be sour grapes for the Brazilian because he trails Mousasi in many of the middleweight rankings.
More from "The Young Vagabond:"
"I am very surprised that Belfort was willing to challenge Fedor at heavyweight yet it unwilling to fight me at a catchweight. If (Belfort) does not want to fight at middleweight, why not fight me at a catchweight? To be honest, I don’t really care (about Belfort's claims that Mousasi was a no-name). But for me, his comments are strange because his paycheck will be unchanged whether he fights a bigger name than me or not. It is also strange that he does not see me as a challenge when many rankings have me ranked higher than him at middleweight.
As of now, the bout may fail to materialize based on the weight preferences of each competitor. Then again, it could just be posturing by both men to make the other look like they are the one who's backing down.
Stay tuned.
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It does suck that its not going to happen. But why should Vitor have to leave his weight class to get a fight? If Gegard wants to fight him so bad make the 185 weight limit. If not find both guys seperate opponents in their own weight classes.
by NorthStar on May 27, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree Northstar, Vitor’s trying to be taken seriously as a MW now so it makes no sense moving up again especially at this stage of his career. Thought the whole idea of gegard moving up from MW was to find some competition? Well guess what Vitor’ll be competition for you so stay where you are!
by attakdog on May 27, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I am a HUGE Mousasi supporter, and I definitely think he will beat Vitor. But this fight will probably not happen. He’s weighed in at 218 the last two fights, and is currently participating in an open weight tournament, where he needs to keep his weight as high as possible. It wouldn’t even make sense, or be healthy I imagine, for him to try to make 185 again.
Instead of dwelling on matches that will not happen (like this) how about Vitor vs Melvin Manhoeff! Their striking power is relatively equal, and while Vitor is faster, Melvin is more diverse (i.e. kicks). Tell me that fight wouldn’t be SICKKKKKK. As long as Vitor stands up with him, of course.
by Synyster on May 27, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
your right Syn…he could make 185 again but not safely or efficiently by Aug 1st
by McArthur on May 27, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
syn:Vitor vs. Manhoeff is an amazing idea, and probably a more exciting match up then mOusasi vs. Vitor!
GIt-R-Done!
MOusasi does have a point though. Last week Vitor was calling out Fedor, but all of the sudden he NOW only wants to fight at 185 lbs?
by john on May 28, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
catchweight? forget the belt give the fans what they want.
i just want to see some f%^kin’ fights!
by mikeybear on May 27, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
It would be a sweet fight though. But your prolly right it wont happen.
by belfort_fan on May 27, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
mousasi talks about wanting to move up and compete at LHW and possibly HW. put him against some top notch LHW’s and i guarantee he will sing a different tune. he’ll say the same type of things that Wandy has said, about how the LHW’s are so big and strong. it’s easy to believe u can move up weight classes and succeed when the guys you’ve been fighting are cans and run of the mill fighters, it gives u a false since of security that all guys are like that. that’s not the case in the U.S. Here, if ur undersized for ur weight class, u will pay the price one way or the other, be it cutting the extra weight or getting beat down by a bigger stronger man
by deuce 4 on May 27, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Mousasi talks about wanting to move up to LHW and possibly HW. give him a good LHW and he’ll be singing a different tune. this guy hasn’t fought hardly and decent competition at MW to think that he’s too good for that division. He’s never fought anyone the caliber of belfort. All these cans and run of the mill MW’s he’s beaten has given him a false since of security about the rest of the fighting world. Fedor is the only person in the world capable of excelling as an udersized fighter. Mousasi is no Fedor. if he had to bulk up to reach 218, then he is a bonafide MW. here in the states, if you’re an undersized fighter for ur division u pay the price, be it cutting the extra weight to drop down a division, or u get beat down by a bigger stronger man and wonder to urself how in the heck does that guy fight in the same division as me
by deuce 4 on May 27, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
sorry for the double post saying the same thing. my first post wasn’t showing up, i thought mania was sensoring me or something so i worded the 2nd a little different. by bad guys,should’ve given the 1st one a little more time to appear i guess.
by deuce 4 on May 27, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea I hate to say it but that sounds like Belfort is ducking him to me; Although maybe I can’t blame him, his success rate at 205 wasn’t the greatest; I guess if he’s comfortable fighting at MW then he should stay. But to say Mousasi isn’t a name? Come on Belfort, no ones buying that..
by O damn he got caught on May 27, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions
i agree o dam, i think belfort is ducking him a bit although i don’t blame him for not wanting to fight at any other weight class than mw, gegard shopuld drop back to mw(i know he says he can’t) so there can be no excuse for vitor.
by roy on May 27, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
ya really…which “name” does he want to fight then??? IMO, outside of the UFC, the Mousassi is one of the biggest.
by McArthur on May 27, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah at middleweight he is the biddest name outside of the UFC. Is Vitor ducking him? Yes(i hate to say it!), but is he ducking him because he is scared? No. Vitor didnt move to middleweight and make top 10 to just move back up!!!!
by belfort_fan on May 27, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
He moved into Mousasi’s weight class and does not want to move out, how is that ducking? Plus find me a loss of Belforts at 205 that was not to a legend of the sport?
Couture, Hendo, Ortiz, Liddell, Sakuraba and Overreem. Those are some DAM good people to lose to.
I don’t think either guy is ducking the other, they just want it done their own way for their own reasons. Maybe Vitor is saying he is not a big name to goat him into moving down.
by IrishMike on May 27, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Gegard, EVERY ranking has you higher than Vitor Belfort.
Vitor, it aint the 90’s no more!!!!! And Terry Martin and 45 year old Matt Lindland are both worhty oppponents bu Gegard is not. Interesting.
I also love how Gegard calls him out for calling out Fedor. Vitor would not take that fight.
by ViolentMike on May 27, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions
Lets all bash Vitor for not wanting to leave the weightclass that he made top 10 at to fight a person that has not proven himself at 205. Lindland was Number 10 when Vitor nearly killed him. Get over yourselves.
by belfort_fan on May 27, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
don’t let these guys get to u Vitor has this one in the bag.
by Wanderlei Fan on May 27, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont know about that i think this is his toughest challenge posible. So nate u need to come to taft n july and watch my pro debut at eagle mountain casino.
by belfort_fan on May 27, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn i really wanted to see this fight, seems like Vitor is ducking him, i can agree and understand being comfortable fighting at your weight class, but if they fight at like 195, its not that much of a difference, 10 pounds does make u feel a little heavier, but their are different drills u can do to feel light still on ur feet.
by ricky on May 27, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions
They will fight Vitor is just trying to get in Mousasi head and piss him off
by Shadow side on May 27, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions
Vitor may call Mousasi a ‘No Name’, but the undeniable truth is Belfort has no chance in hell of beating Mousasi.
Hey Vitor, can I get a biscuit with that Chicken?
TFK
by TFK on May 27, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions
Is that a kfc joke? I don’t understand please explain.
by Dragon on May 27, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
O wait I just got it vitor is the chicken! Nice. I had a blond moment there.
by Dragon on May 27, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, this fight would be epic! I hope one or both stop complaining and make this happen.
by vrflanks on May 27, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm…id consider Mousasi a big name in MMA thesedays. Maybe Belfort is afraid of these young up and comers. With good reason too to be honest.
by UK_Chris on May 27, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions
This isn’t good news, I’m a fan of both guys and a match between them would be awesome but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to happen. I don’t blame either guy for not wanting to move to another weight class for the sake of this fight but I don’t see the harm in a one-off catchweight match. Wandy and Rich never refused to fight each other because it’s a dream match-up, despite it not making perfect sense ranking wise, so it would be nice if both guys accepted this fight for the fans.
I don’t know why Vitor is bashing Gegard’s name value either as he’s a top fighter and one of the top fighters outside of the UFC. Mousasi deserves to be ranked higher as he has done more at MW and the winner of this fight would be the top MW outside of the UFC, so there is a lot to gain prestige wise from accepting and winning this fight.
I hope it takes place and I’ll be gutted if it’s scrapped. Hopefully both guys will be on the next Affliction card regardless of this fight happening or not.
by David W-S on May 27, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think you can blame either fighter if this fight doesn’t happen. Vitor looks incredible at 185, and Gerard can’t get down to 185 anymore. No fault of either of these guys if they don’t want to risk losing because they made a stupid decision about fighting in a weight-class that they aren’t comfortable at.
by introvert on May 27, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions
It would be a dream match. I dont think Vitor is ducking him at all, if Mousasi want to fight Vitor, then Mousasi should cut the weight, Mousasi could make 185 easy. Do it Mousasi cut the the weight.
Vitor by KO 2nd round
by Jo on May 27, 2009 6:13 PM EDT reply actions
Vitor would get submitted in the first.
Whens the last time he fought anyone with a submission game?
Oh yeah. Never.
by DirtyML on May 27, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions
Why on earth would Vitor be ducking Mousasi? This is a guy that has fought Randy Couture (three times), Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Henderson and Tito Ortiz. And he’s meant to be afraid of Gegard Mousasi? Come on now.
by MK on May 27, 2009 9:47 PM EDT reply actions
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