Gegard Mousasi wasted little time settling the score with Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night 99 on Saturday at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Hall held an upset win over Mousasi from their meeting at UFC Fight Night 75 in September of 2015, but was on a two-fight skid entering the rematch. Mousasi, meanwhile, rebounded from their last meeting by reeling off three consecutive victories, including a recent win over Vitor Belfort.
Neither fighter was quick to engage. Hall spent much of the opening minutes of the fight faking and feinting, trying to lure Mousasi into overcommitting. With nearly 50 bouts to his credit, Mousasi didn’t take the bait.
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He was content to work his jab, which snapped Hall’s head back on a couple of occasions, biding his time.
As the round wore down, Mousasi shot for a takedown. Hall defended well for a time, but Mousasi stayed in a clinch with him, eventually stripping Hall’s leg out and taking him to the canvas.
Mousasi took full advantage on the ground, working from side control, continuously dropping right hands to Hall’s head. As Hall covered up, Mousasi increased his intensity and didn’t slow until the referee called a halt to the fight.
Revenge exacted, Mousasi scored the TKO stoppage at 4:37 of the first round.
Having won four consecutive fights and avenging the loss to Hall, Mousasi again took aim at the top of the division.
“Whoever has the belt, I’m coming,” Mousasi told interviewer Dan Hardy in the Octagon.
“Yoel Romero is a style that is more suitable for me, but I need an elimination fight now or a title shot, whatever the UFC says.”
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