Throughout his entire career, Gegard Mousasi followed a philosophy that was best described by a famous quote from former president Teddy Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
Mousasi has never been known for his trash talk or for stirring up trouble on the microphone before or after any of his fights.
That all seemed to change on Saturday night after Mousasi demolished Vitor Belfort at UFC 204 and then went on an epic rant during the post-fight press conference.
During the 10-minute question-and-answer session with reporters, Mousasi touched on everything from bogus rankings, drug testing, middleweight champion Michael Bisping and he even managed to have a few words for Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather as well.
Mousasi may have been the co-main event on Saturday night, but he was the headliner when it came to his responses after the event was over.
Here are the highlights:
Mousasi on his loss to Uriah Hall and the UFC rankings:
“I feel have the best stand up in the middleweight division. I’ve been dominating since USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) came. Uriah Hall was a fluke. Anyone that knows anything about this sport knows it was a fluke. I hope to get that rematch one day. I’m top five. I don’t know who makes the rankings.
“I’m No. 9 at UFC. If I fight Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, even with Vitor Belfort, I’m favored. You tell me. Is it a popularity contest?”
Mousasi on a potential matchup with Michael Bisping:
“I think I’m underrated throughout my whole career. I don’t know, maybe (because) I’m from Holland and people don’t care. I don’t know. Maybe throw some bottles on someone’s head and people going to notice me.
“I fight Michael Bisping with his performance tonight, I like Michael Bisping, but you guys know I can beat him. I would beat Michael Bisping. I would jab his face the whole night. Easy.”
Mousasi on the chances Anderson Silva or Georges St-Pierre would fight him:
“They’re not going to give me that fight (with Georges St-Pierre). Nothing to gain to fight me. Even Anderson’s not going to take the fight because whey would he risk against me while he can fight maybe GSP or some other guy. They’re not going to take the fight with me because nothing to gain.”
Mousasi on fighting smart while also tossing Lyoto Machida under the bus:
“In my last six performances, I’ve been dominating everybody. It was a little bit rough in the beginning, coming off injury and being an idiot taking a fight against (Alexander) Gustafsson in Sweden. I tore my ACL, my knee was popping out, I took that fight and then I had surgery. I come back and fight Machida, who cheated, who was greased up and good for him he’s suspended. Stupidity. Fighting coming off injuries. Now I’m a little bit smarter. I’m not going to take a fight that’s not going to make sense for me but I can fight anybody.”
Mousasi on Conor McGregor and stupid people:
“McGregor’s good for the sport but what is it. You had Muhammad Ali, he was a hero, he was besides a great boxer, he did a lot, he did big things. Now you have (Floyd) Mayweather and Conor McGregor — ‘I have money, I have money’ — and everybody loves it. That sells.
“People are stupid. What can I say? They don’t know who’s a real fighter or not. They just like to see expensive stuff on Instagram probably.”
Mousasi on the effects of drug testing in the sport:
“USADA is good for me. I will be champion with USADA. Thank you.”
If Mousasi can keep up the verbal assault to go along with his recent performances, there’s no doubt the UFC potentially has a new star on their hands. He’s knocked out his last two opponents in impressive fashion and Mousasi did the same with his post fight press conference performance on Saturday night.
