Gegard Mousasi is riding a three-year, 12-fight win streak. “Yeah, I feel more pressure because a lot of people expect a lot, you know?,” said Mousasi. “They expect me to win. Its a little pressure but its not gonna effect my fighting.”
Mousasi will face Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral August 15 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Mousasi claims none of the recent upheaval in MMA will effect the fight: not the cancellation of Affliction: Trilogy; not the move of the fight to the Strikeforce card two weeks later; not addition of the championship rounds.
“I should be able to do what I need to do to win,” said Mousasi. The victory would be phase two in his three-part plan. The Dream middleweight grand prix winner plans to capture titles at 205 pounds and heavyweight, becoming the sport’s first three-division champion.
“Some fighters are known because they’re the best pound-for-pound fighter. I want to be known as the guy who accomplished a lot in three different weight classes,” he said.
Still scheduled to compete in Dream’s Super-Hulk tournament on October 6 against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in Japan, Mousasi’s desire to be the best has even crossed over into boxing. He wants to participate in the “Sweet Science,” offering an analogy to explain his motivation to capture three titles in mixed martial arts.
“If you’re heavyweight champion, you’re the best of the best,” Mousasi said. That may be true, but if all goes according to plan on Aug. 15, Mousasi will settle for the light-heavyweight strap – for now.
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