Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is about to televise another major mixed martial arts (MMA) fight card on FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., Sept. 22, 2018) inside Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Unfortunately for the promotion, the fan base is more interested in talking about the return of Conor McGregor, who fights Khabib Nurmagomedov next month in Las Vegas, as well as the reduced drug test suspension of former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Probably because nobody cares about Thiago Santos vs. Eryk Anders, according to former middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi.
“I feel the UFC is declining because they’re putting on bad cards, the main events are not that intriguing,” Mousasi said. “We have a lot of big names fighting now in Bellator. You have Quinton (Jackson) vs. Wanderlei (Silva), that’s a superfight on its own, obviously (Lyoto) Machida is now here. Ryan Bader. You have Matt Mitrione, you have so many big names.”
Let’s not forget about the “Gangster” vs. the “Emperor.”
Mousasi (44-6-2) parted ways with UFC in the prime of his career, despite a five-fight winning streak with four finishes, because he was disgruntled with the promotion’s salary distribution. In fact, even promotion president Dana White agrees that fighters can earn more in Bellator.
Where “The Dreamcatcher” signed on back in summer 2017.
Already 2-0 for Scott Coker and Co., Mousasi will put his 185-pound title on the line against Rory MacDonald at Bellator 206, going down inside SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2018, live on DAZN.
For much more on that upcoming super show click here.