Could Mousasi Have Won the UFC Title if He Had Stayed and Not Went to Bellator?

[Gabe]

This to me is one of the biggest what ifs in MMA. Mousasi was at his peak towards the end of his UFC run, had just finished Santos, Vitor, and Weidman all in succession. The world eagerly awaited a title fight between then champ Whittaker and the Moose. Instead, Mousasi said peace out and went to Bellator. How would a title fight have gone between Whittaker and Mousasi?

 

[Black Blood]

Maybe. There were nights were Gegard likely was the best MW in the world but dude didn't bring the heat consistently.

 

[Shoguns Prodigy**]

He was looking amazing at the end of his career, thought he peaked at machida fight. His only problem was he had no sense of urgency, he was too chill in there. He legit could have been champ, he was skilled and was at the right time and right place to win the title but ufc didn’t want him as champ.

 

[Gabe]

He was looking amazing at the end of his career, thought he peaked at machida fight. His only problem was he had no sense of urgency, he was too chill in there. He legit could have been champ, he was skilled and was at the right time and right place to win the title but ufc didn’t want him as champ.

Could he have beaten Rob though?

 

[Shoguns Prodigy**]

Could he have beaten Rob though?

Yes he could have. Not saying he would but had decent chance to beat him but as far as I remember wasn’t he supposed to fight bisping I know they had beef around that time too. My memory is lil hazy from back then.

 

[John12]

Yeah he would've beaten Bisping who ducked the entire top 10 to fight Hendo

 

[kingofthecans]

Yeah. How long he would of held it who knows, but I never doubted the guy. One of the few who always stayed a pretty solid fighter. His record literally speaks for itself.

 

[don't ask]

He definitely could have beaten anyone in the MW division (and some heavyweights, too).

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

The MW division was the most stacked it's ever been when he was there so it would be very hard. With that said he could have beaten anyone on any given night.

 

[Rainmaker]

Definitely, his fight IQ is off the charts and is extremely skilled

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

I think Whittaker would mix in some takedowns and outwork Mousasi who is easily one of the most overrated fighters of all time. Styles make fights and he matches up with Whittaker better than he does many of the other top MWs of all time but the guy is NOWHERE near as good as his gaudy record implies.

This is a certain collection of underground indie darling fighters like Denis Kang, Mousasi, Shlemenko, Hector Lombard, etc who all fell WAY short of expectations on the bigger stage yet their die hard fans will come up with a laundry list of excuses completely ignoring that 90% of those green boxes on wikipedia were padded wins over complete cans.

Mousasi in his prime couldn't KO UFC exile Keith Jardine who managed to take him down nearly at will. I swear any foreign striker with an "active guard" is the ultimate wet dream for most mma fans but in reality, Mousasi was a skilled but underachieving fighter who lacked killer instinct and had very notable flaws that he never improved upon. He is a lower tier top 10 all time MW at best and LOL @ the people who rank him in the top 5

 

[Mammothman]

Yes for sure, he would have killed that bitch Bisping for sure.

 

[laleggenda27]

Whittaker beats any version of Mousasi.

Mousasi was on a good run, but it's a bit misleading. Thiago wasn't a top 10 MW, Vitor was off the TRT and completely washed, and he didn't exact "beat" Weidman (who was also washed). Let's not forget that in Mousasi's first fight in Bellator, he got outstruck by Shlemenko and lost in many people's eyes.

 

[KO Shotz]

I was so excited for Moose vs Machida.

But yes, Moose would've picked Bisping apart.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

P4P nastiest fanbase ever. Taylor Swift's crew today doesn't spit venom like Mousasi's crew did. Crazy motherfuckers would meet you in the local cine parking lot and do the damn thing, not a single fuck, nor a second thought.

 

[Gabe]

P4P nastiest fanbase ever. Taylor Swift's crew today doesn't spit venom like Mousasi's crew did. Crazy motherfuckers would meet you in the local cine parking lot and do the damn thing, not a single fuck, nor a second thought.

Mousasi definitely has some loyal fanboys on here back in the day.

 

[Sakuraba'sEar]

He would have gotten close at least, but I think he would have won it. He had the skill set, even today in his prime he would have been a threat

 

[ultra321]

yes

 

[MEAN357]

Not with Yoel in the division

 

[don't ask]

I think Whittaker would mix in some takedowns and outwork Mousasi who is easily one of the most overrated fighters of all time. Styles make fights and he matches up with Whittaker better than he does many of the other top MWs of all time but the guy is NOWHERE near as good as his gaudy record implies.