Gegard Mousasi, a Dutch mixed martial artist, is a four-time World Champion in the sport. He has won titles such as the DREAM Middleweight Championship, DREAM Light Heavyweight Championship, Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, and Cage Warriors World Middleweight Championship. Starting with judo and earning a Black belt, Mousasi later transitioned into boxing, kickboxing, and finally Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). His early accomplishments include winning the Netherlands Amateur Boxing National Championship in 2001 and achieving an impressive record in kickboxing. Currently competing in Bellator MMA, Mousasi was previously ranked #4 in the UFC middleweight rankings and is recognized as the world’s #3 middleweight by Sherdog.
Quick Facts
- Age: 38 Years
- Born Country: Iran (Islamic Republic Of)
- Mixed Martial Artists
- Dutch Men
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm)
- Ancestry: Armenian Dutch
- City: Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic Of)
Childhood & Early Life
Gegard Mousasi was born on August 1, 1985, in Tehran, Iran, during the Iran–Iraq War, to a Christian Armenian family. His family name originally was Mofsesian which was changed to Mousasi long before he was born. He moved to Leiden, Netherlands with his family at the age of four and completed his grade school studies there. Mousasi developed an interest in martial arts at a young age and began training in judo when he was just eight years old. At the age of 15, he started training in boxing and went on to win the Netherlands Amateur Boxing National Championship at the age of 16. He had a remarkable amateur boxing record with 12 wins out of 13, 9 of which were won via knockout. Following his boxing career, he transitioned into kickboxing and eventually into MMA, following in the footsteps of his elder brother Gewik, who is now a successful MMA trainer in Holland.
Career
Gegard Mousasi’s early MMA career as a professional began in 2003, where he competed in various events around the world. He had notable wins against fighters like Daniel Spek, Niko Puhakka, and Tsuyoshi Kurihara. In 2006, he signed with Pride Fighting Championships to participate in the PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix. He won his opening round fight against Makoto Takimoto but lost in the quarterfinals to Akihiro Gono. Mousasi continued to compete in different events and won the Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship title in 2006. He also had a successful run in the DREAM 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix, winning the tournament and becoming the inaugural DREAM Middleweight Champion. He later won the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship title in 2009 but lost it the following year. Mousasi also had successful fights in the UFC, winning several bouts and earning bonus awards for his performances. In 2017, he signed a six-fight deal with Bellator MMA and made his promotional debut in October of that year.
Conclusion
Gegard Mousasi’s journey in martial arts began at a young age and has led him to become a successful MMA fighter. From his early training in judo and boxing to his accomplishments in various organizations like Pride, Strikeforce, and the UFC, Mousasi has proven himself to be a formidable competitor. With his move to Bellator MMA, he continues to pursue his goals and aims to become a champion in multiple weight classes.