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Gegard Mousasi is a true legend of MMA. The Bellator middleweight champion has an incredible resume in the sport and has fought many former champions in multiple weight classes. Mousasi's longevity is impressive, and age hasn't slowed him down as he still performs at a very high level.
Usually, the reason given for fighters departing the UFC and signing with a promotion like Bellator is that their skills declined. However, that was not the case for Mousasi; he was on a five-fight win streak when he left the UFC, defeating the likes of Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Hall and Chris Weidman.
Mousasi's Bellator run has been equally impressive. 'The Dreamcatcher' is currently 7-1 and has wins over Lyoto Machida and former Bellator welterweight champions Douglas Lima and Rory MacDonald.
Mousasi is currently expected to defend his middleweight championship against undefeated contender Austin Vanderford.
Since Gegard Mousasi joined Bellator, there's been talk of him competing at light heavyweight and perhaps even attempting to become a two-division champion.
This list will look at five possible opponents for Gegard Mousasi in Bellator MMA.
#5. Gegard Mousasi vs. Anatoly Tokov
Kicking off this list of possible opponents is middleweight contender Anatoly Tokov. Since joining Bellator in 2017, Tokov has proved that he's more than deserving of a middleweight title shot.
Tokov is another top fighter from FEDORTEAM, which includes Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavski.
The pandemic hasn't been too kind to him; travel restrictions have made it difficult for Tokov to remain active.
After two years on the sidelines, Tokov returned at Bellator 269 in Moscow, Russia, where he defeated Sharaf Davlatmurodov by split decision. The result improved Tokov's overall Bellator record to 6-0 (30-3 MMA).
Tokov's win also saw him return the Bellator middleweight rankings. Tokov now occupies the sixth spot in the division and is in the title picture.
If Mousasi retains his title against Vanderford, it'd be hard to deny Tokov a title shot against 'The Dreamcatcher'.
It will be interesting to see whether his ranking changes, but his record and performances make him a clear contender.
#4. Gegard Mousasi vs. Costello van Steenis
Another possible opponent for Gegard Mousasi is No.3-ranked Bellator middleweight Costello van Steenis.
'The Spaniard' has been impressive in Bellator thus far, with a 5-1 record inside the cage. Van Steenis' only loss in Bellator came against former title challenger John Salter, who defeated him via unanimous decision.
Van Steenis has earned his top-three ranking in the division. Before his loss to Salter, van Steenis had won four straight fights in Bellator, with three of them coming via TKO.
'The Spaniard' regrouped after his loss to Salter and defeated Fabian Edwards by split decision. It was a back-and-forth fight where van Steenis got the better of the then-undefeated Edwards, showing that he learned from his loss to Salter.
Van Steenis is an exciting fighter to watch, and he's shown that he isn't afraid to mix it up. It would be interesting to see whether he'd be able to get the better of Mousasi in a striking battle.
#3. Gegard Mousasi vs. Yoel 'Soldier of God' Romero
It would be a shame if Bellator didn't book a fight between Gegard Mousasi and Yoel Romero. It's surprising that Mousasi and Romero have never fought in all the years they competed in the same promotion. When 'The Soldier of God' signed with Bellator, many fans believed he would eventually share the cage with Mousasi.
Romero's Bellator debut was at light heavyweight, where he lost to former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis by split decision. Romero performed well and proved that at 44, he can still compete with a top light heavyweight in Bellator.
Considering Romero was most successful at middleweight, it may only be a matter of time before he moves back down. Even though Romero is currently on a four-fight losing streak, a bout with Mousasi is still a possibility. Bellator President Scott Coker has said he wouldn't be opposed to booking Mousasi vs. Romero at middleweight.
It wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary if Romero were to receive a title shot on a losing streak; he fought Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship while on a two-fight losing streak.
Romero is still an exciting fighter to watch, and Bellator could generate tremendous interest with a potential Mousasi-Romero bout.
#2. Gegard Mousasi vs. Phil 'Mr. Wonderful' Davis
If Gegard Mousasi moves to light heavyweight while waiting for another contender at middleweight, a bout with Phil Davis makes sense.
The former Bellator light heavyweight champion is coming off a split-decision win over Yoel Romero. Davis is ranked second in the division after defeating Romero, but it might be a while before he gets a title shot.
'Mr. Wonderful' will need to wait for the light heavyweight Grand Prix final between Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson. Depending on what transpires, the Grand Prix winner could be out of action until spring or early summer.
A Mousasi-Davis bout could be a win-win. Mousasi could test himself against a top light heavyweight and Davis could remain active.
It would also, undoubtedly, be an intriguing matchup.
Davis, a former NCAA Div I National Champion, has excellent wrestling. Mousasi, on the other hand, has great striking. He's also no stranger to fighting against larger opponents. Some of his past opponents include former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt, Gary Goodridge and Keith Jardine.
#1). Gegard Mousasi vs. Vadim Nemkov
Topping this list of possible opponents for Gegard Mousasi is current Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov. Nemkov is currently tied up with the Grand Prix finals coming up in early 2022. He will be defending his championship against Corey Anderson, and the winner will earn a $1 million prize.
Nemkov has been impressive since making his Bellator debut in 2017. Currently riding a nine-fight winning streak, Nemkov will look to add another former UFC light heavyweight contender to his list of wins. What makes Nemkov's Bellator run so impressive is that he hasn't had an easy fight. Nemkov has defeated four former champions, including Liam McGeary, Phil Davis, Rafael Carvalho and Ryan Bader.
Bellator President Scott Coker has stated in the past that he wouldn't be opposed to Mousasi moving up to 205 lbs. Mousasi has certainly earned an opportunity should he choose to attempt winning a second championship. Mousasi-Nemkov would be a lot more realistic if Nemokov wins the Grand Prix.
Mousasi-Nemkov would be a great fight as the two have shown minimal weakness in their recent outings. Defeating Mousasi would definitely add to Nemkov's legacy, so it might be appealing to him to push for that bout.
On the other hand, defeating Nemkov would be significant for Mousasi. The win would make Mousasi a two-division champion by beating one of the top light heavyweights in the world.
Looking at the Bellator light heavyweight rankings, Mousasi-Nemkov would make a lot of sense after the Grand Prix.
Nemkov has already beaten No.2-ranked Phil Davis twice, while No.3-ranked Ryan Bader is returning to heavyweight. That leaves No.4-ranked Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, who's currently inactive, and 5th-placed Julius Anglickas, who Nemkov recently defeated.
