Gegard Mousasi credits 'masterful' Machida after UFC Fight Night 36 setback

JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – It had been a long time since Gegard Mousasi had disappointment in a fight.

Sure, his draw with Keith Jardine nearly three years ago might count, after he lost a point for an illegal kick in a fight he would have won otherwise.

But on Saturday in Brazil, Mousasi saw an opponent’s hand raised for the first time since he lost his Strikeforce light heavyweight title to Muhammad Lawal in April 2010. Mousasi (34-4-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) dropped a unanimous decision to Lyoto Machida (21-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 36.

UFC Fight Night 36 took place at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Machida’s home country. The main card aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

After the loss, just the fourth of Mousasi’s nearly 11-year-old MMA career, the Dutchman said Machida was simply a little bit ahead of him all night.

Machida picked up a pair of 50-45 scores and a 49-46. (See the video highlights here.) But Mousasi didn’t take much issue with the scores.

“I don’t know. I think he was just better,” Mousasi said at the post-event news conference after suffering his first loss in the UFC. “I couldn’t get into my game. He was just a step before me always. I don’t know about the scoring – maybe I had one round. Maybe two.”

As many others have experienced against Machida in the past, Mousasi said finding a way to score points against the karate expert became an issue.

Machida, a former light heavyweight champion, won for the second straight time after dropping down to middleweight and may have put himself in line for a title shot – though he’ll have to wait to see what happens between champion Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort in May.

“It was difficult to get the rhythm,” Mousasi said. “I didn’t feel like I had the range. He was masterful in his defense. I just couldn’t get started.”

Mousasi also shrugged off the thought that his 10-month layoff since his UFC debut win over Ilir Latifi this past April, and his subsequent knee surgery, had him experiencing any of the dreaded cage rust.

“It could be, but I don’t think so,” he said. “I think rhythm helps always. But I felt good going into the fight and I had no injuries.”

Now that means Mousasi heads back to the drawing board in a bloated-with-contenders middleweight division, while Machida elevates himself to the top of the pecking order.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 36, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report.