While some fighters have suggested that middleweight champion Michael Bisping is holding up the middleweight division while he takes on fights with the likes of Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, one potential title contender, Gegard Mousasi believes the blame lies firmly with the UFC brass.
““[Bisping]’s got to do what’s good for him and his family,” Mousasi told the Fight Society podcast. “He’s going to try to make some money and retire. You cannot blame the guy who wants to make money and take care of the future of his family. You can’t blame the guy.
“If I was to blame, I would blame the UFC for making those fights. They shouldn’t make those fights. Like I said, they should have made Anderson vs. GSP because GSP hasn’t fought in three years and he’s never fought at middleweight. How can he get a title shot? It doesn’t make any sense. Make up different fights.”
Mousasi is currently on a four-fight winning streak that’s included victories over the likes of Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort and Uriah Hall, leaving him placed at No.5 in the rankings.
Next up he’ll fight former middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 210 this coming weekend, but he’s already bracing himself for the fact that a victory there still won’t put him any closer to getting the title shot he craves.
“If the number one contenders would have fought in those two fights, I would have been next by now, but because the UFC is making these silly fights, [I] get pushed around. So now if I win, I’m going to have to put everything on the line again and get another win and then maybe I’m next. And still maybe, because who knows what fight they’re going to make after this.”
Title contention issues aren’t Mousasi’s only bone to pick with the UFC at the moment, however, as he’s also vented his frustration that he’s underpaid compared to some of his peers, despite having an impressive 41-6-2 career record that’s included wins over a number of big name stars.
“I just see that Vitor Belfort is making tons more money than me. I defeated Dan Henderson, he’s making tons more money than me. I defeated Mark Hunt. He’s making $800,000 a fight. I can beat Michael Bisping and even before he was champion he was making a lot more than me. Why don’t I deserve to make some money? . . . How is it possible Mark Hunt is making $800,000 with a record of 10-10? He has a record of 10 wins, 10 losses. Look at my record. How the f**k is that possible?”
At 31-years of age, there’s still time left for Mousasi, and he’s begun to attract more attention recently after finally deciding to speak his mind, but while it might not grant him a title shot, the best thing he can do for his career right now is emerge with a headline-grabbing victory over Weidman on Saturday night.
