UFC Quick Quote: Gegard Mousasi would be ‘much stronger' fighting at middleweight

"I believe if I go to 185 I'll be much stronger... At the highest level, you don't want to give any advantage. If you look at Jon Jones you don't want to fight a guy that's very talented, has the skills, and also has the strength. Then you give too much advantage away ... I think that there's a big chance I will go ... If the UFC says, come fight at 205, and if you win two or three times, we'll give you a title shot. If they say 185, because I was also middleweight champ, maybe win one fight and maybe I can be a contender. Whatever is the fastest way to the belt."

-- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight contender Gegard Mousasi tells MMA Junkie that he continues to toy with the idea of a return to the middleweight division. Since his victory over Ilir Latifi in his Octagon debut at UFC on FUEL TV 9 last April, Mousasi has floated around the idea of a drop in weight but hasn't committed to anything. The 27-year-old, who is currently rehabbing a knee injury, feels he would be stronger competing at 185-pounds as they aren't many fighters who would dwarf him in that weight class and multiple ones who would at 205-pounds, such as champion Jon Jones. Mousasi has had success fighting in both divisions throughout his career -- he was the middleweight champion of Dream and the light heavyweight champion of Strikeforce -- but he hasn't fought at middleweight since a knockout of Ronaldo Souza in Sept. 2008. Ultimately, "The Dreamcatcher" wants to compete in whatever division he has the best chance of earning a title shot. First, though, he must heal up his injuries and once he does the Dutchman hopes to get back in the cage by November or December and take on a top contender regardless of the weight class.