Bellator middleweight champion has virtually seen it all through his extensive mixed martial arts career, and on Friday night at Bellator 282, he’s all set to face another wrestler as he puts his 185-pound title on the line once again.
Mousasi will look to register his 50th career victory in his 59th professional bout when he takes on undefeated contender Johnny Eblen in the main event in Uncasville, Connecticut.
For Mousasi, it’s a familiar feeling as he prepares to face yet another grappling specialist after prior title defences against Austin Vanderford and John Salter.
“The last two opponents were similar style wrestlers – take you down hold you, ground and pound,” he told reporters during a media call ahead of fight night.
“So basically I’ve been training for a guy like him for a year almost now, so nothing new.”
Mousasi scored finishes of both Vanderford and Salter, stopping both men via TKO after stuffing both men’s takedown attempts early in their respective contests.
Those finishes righted the ship somewhat for the Dutchman, who had been told by the Bellator brass that his previous victories over Lyoto Machida and Douglas Lima weren’t the most thrilling.
But with two TKO stoppages in his last two outings, Mousasi is back on top form and chasing a hat-trick of finishes when he faces “The Human Cheat Code” on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
“A fight is a fight. Sometimes you go in there (and) you have the hardest fight, sometimes you go and you finish in one round, you know?” he explained.
“I could hit him with a clean shot, just with better timing, and I finish it in one minute – doesn’t mean I’m the better fighter. So I don’t know. We’ll see.
“But I’m coming to finish. I talked to Scott (Coker, Bellator president) and you know, my performances against Douglas Lima and Machida were not appreciated.
“So we have to put on a show, and if Eblen comes to fight, that’s gonna be even better, you know? It’s gonna be a good and exciting fight.”
