Gegard Mousasi Severs Ties With M-1 Global
By Bryan Levick on Feb 12, 2010
In what has to be considered great news, especially in light of yesterday’s revelation that Vitor Belfort was out of UFC 112, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi has left M-1 Global.
Mousasi released the news in an email to Sherdog and the news was confirmed by M-1 Global.
In his statement Mousasi did not disclose who was now representing him, but he did express appreciation for his former management team.
“After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest to part ways with M-1 Global,” Mousasi wrote in the e-mail. “During the time I spent under their wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done for me.”
M-1 Global is the representative for Strikeforce heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, and has been a source of contention for the Dana White, and the UFC.
Any time White has tried to sign Emelianenko to compete in the UFC, M-1 Global has insisted on co-promoting any fights their heavyweight is in.
M-1 was accused of holding back an offer from the UFC to Mousasi back in August. UFC matchmaker Joe Silva disputed those claims, but either way it was another black eye for M-1.
Mousasi recently spent two weeks training alongside UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, and the two seemed to hit it off pretty well.
With Mousasi free from the reigns of M-1, it is pretty safe to assume that he will at some point negotiate with the UFC, whenever his contract with Strikeforce runs out.
Mousasi defeated former UFC light heavyweight contender Renato “Babula” Sobral for the Strikeforce crown in August. It took him exactly sixty seconds to dispose of Sobral.
Rumors have been circulating that Mousasi will make his first title defense against Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, although no contracts have been signed, and a specific date has been talked about.
Mousasi has relayed his desire to one day fight inside the octagon, now that he is away from the Russian tyrants, that may happen sooner rather than later.
Comments (6)
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Gegard could still easily cut to 185 based on what he looks like. This is great news.
He’s one of the very few that could legitimately challenge Anderson.
Does everyone in the media think this is a precursor to Gegard coming to the UFC Bryan?
‘the Russian tyrants’
Nice to see such a balanced article devoid of any racism.
I actually agree with Bryan…and it’s not racist to call M-1 Global, or anyone, a tyrant. They believe that other larger promotions should give them rights and co-promote just so Fedor can fight. That’s never going to happen because the UFC doesn’t need it to happen to stay successful, only M-1 does. Simple business concepts, nothing more. Mousasi will do better in Strikeforce, Dream, and potentially the UFC without M-1 on his back. He made a good move.
I hope he doesn’t end up going to the UFC anytime soon. I only say this because he is establishing his name here in the U.S. and Strikeforce’s deal with CBS and Showtime could do a lot to further that. If he leaves Strikeforce he can forget fighting in Japan and also it weakens the Strikeforce roster. While I do not think his leaving would necessarily destroy Strikeforce it can’t help. And the UFC does not need him to pose a threat in any division right now, although there are interesting match ups there.
Bill
I hope he goes to the ufc. I want to see him fight the best at either mw or lhw.