Gegard Mousasi eyes fight with Robert Whittaker or Luke Rockhold as he targets Fight Night London

Dutchman tells The Independent why a place on the London card in March would be good for him and why it makes sense for the UFC

Gegard Mousasi

We’re just two weeks on from UFC Fight Night Belfast, but already UK UFC fans are talking about 2017’s UFC Fight Night London card on March 18.

Michael Bisping’s incredible win over Anderson Silva in London last February set the bar high this year and his back-and-forth war with Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in Manchester in October didn’t see the quality slip.

The UFC Fight Night Belfast wasn’t quite the spectacle of the previous two, but it still gave a platform for a wealth of new British talents to make their mark in the big leagues with some big breakthrough wins.

With 2017 fast approaching, for many of the British and European fighters it’s all about the road to London in March. One man who has half an eye on a slot on the card is Gegard Mousasi, the man who just a few weeks ago had the crowd on its feet in Belfast after he demolished Uriah Hall in the main event.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Mousasi explained why a place on the London card in March would be good for him and why it makes sense for the UFC.

“The UFC is coming back to the UK and I’ve already fought there a few times so it makes sense I fight there again,” Mousasi said. “If Michael Bisping fights Yoel Romero in the main event then I should fight in the co-main event - that would be nice.

“I like fighting in the UK and I prefer fighting in Europe so to me that all makes sense. I know that’s when Michael Bisping wants to defend his belt because that’s his home turf.”

He then revealed that he had his eyes set on two potential opponents. The Dutchman wasn’t exactly shy about saying who they were, either.

“I think a fight with Robert Whittaker or Luke Rockhold would be good,” Mousasi said. “If I fight one of those guys in the co-main event I think that’s what makes most sense for me and what makes most sense for the UFC.

“A win over either of those guys should put me in line for the title shot, but I know it has to be impressive. I want that co-main event and I want it in March,” Mousasi said.

Asked whether he preferred either Whittaker or Rockhold, Mousasi had no preference. He was confident he would be able to handle what either guy had to bring to the table and wasn’t afraid of saying it.

“I’m not sure what the UFC are going to do, but I’m guessing they will do Jacare [Souza] versus Luke Rockhold to decide the next guy,” Mousasi said. “They are ahead of me right now I know that and I think the winner of that will be the next guy to fight for the title. Whatever though, I’m confident I would be Rockhold, I’ve seen things in his game that I can take advantage of.

“Now Robert Whittaker is coming through. I saw him beat Derek Brunson last weekend. He looked good and he’s powerful, but that was a crazy fight. He was wild and that wouldn’t work against me.

“I don’t care what the UFC are going to do. They could put me with anyone and I’m confident I would beat them.”

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