Despite turning down spot in grand prix, Gegard Mousasi still eyes light heavyweight move

Gegard Mousasi was offered a spot in Bellator’s star-studded light heavyweight grand prix, but he opted to decline.

The Bellator middleweight champion has had aspirations of becoming a dual champ, and while the grand prix would have afforded him that opportunity, Mousasi explains that the timing just wasn’t right.

“They asked me to fight in the light heavyweight tournament, but there were too many advantages for my opponents,” Mousasi told MMA Junkie Radio. “I would have to fight every guy who’s 20 pounds heavier than me ,and even if I wanted, I had an injury and some personal issues. I wouldn’t have even made the fight.”

Instead, Mousasi (47-7-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) will make his first middleweight title defense since reclaiming his throne in October 2020, when he takes on John Salter (18-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) in the main event of Bellator 264 on Friday.

Salter may not hold the same name value as the likes of Rory MacDonald, Douglas Lima or Lyoto Machida, but Mousasi’s motivation remains the same.

“John Salter hasn’t fought big names, but if he’s fighting for the belt, he’ll step up maybe 20 percent better,” Mousasi said. “I think he’s confident in his style to think he can beat me because he’s a grappler, a wrestler, so a guy like that you always have to take seriously. He’s beaten everybody in front of him. He’s finished everybody, so I don’t need to have a big name to be motivated.”

While Mousasi’s current goal may be to retain his middleweight title for now, the former DREAM and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion still plots a move up a weight class at some point.

“Middleweight is where I like to stay, but light heavyweight is in the future,” Mousasi said. “But I have to beat John Salter, maybe another middleweight, and then we go up to light heavyweight.”

To see the full interview with Mousasi, check out the video below.