Video: UFC Fight Night 36’s Gegard Mousasi returned to middleweight for quicker path to UFC gold

Gegard Mousasi is on a quest to win a UFC championship, and he thinks the middleweight division presents the most realistic avenue to accomplishing that goal.

“When I came to the UFC, I thought of the best way to get to the title; I thought middleweight was the way to go,” Mousasi told MMAjunkie Radio. “I thought maybe one or two wins and I would get a title shot.”

Mouasi (34-3-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to the 185-pound weight class next month when he meets Lyoto Machida (20-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 36. The event airs on FOX Sports 1 with preliminary card action set to stream on UFC Fight Pass.

The headlining contest will mark the Dutchman’s first middleweight bout since 2008. Over the past few years he has primarily made the light heavyweight division his home and even competed in a few heavyweight affairs.

Having faced off against a plethora of fighting styles and body types over the course of 40 professional fights, Mousasi realized after defeating Ilir Latifi in his UFC debut that he is competing outside of his true weight class, giving him an unnecessary disadvantage.

“When I hear people are cutting from 220 pounds before the fight [at light heavyweight], I thought that I can easily make middleweight so I won’t give any advantages away,” Mousasi said. “Last fight I felt that the weight difference in the last round when he took me down, I felt the weight difference. I don’t want to give away any advantages.”

Despite the fact he’s back at middleweight, Mousasi is preparing for an opponent who was once the king of the light heavyweight division in Machida. “The Dragon” also recently made the switch in weight classes, as he knocked out Mark Munoz in his divisional debut last year.

Machida owns a UFC highlight reel few can match and will enter the fight, which is scheduled for five rounds, as the betting favorite.

Traveling to Machida’s home country of Brazil as the underdog would seemingly be enough to rattle Mousasi’s confidence, but “The Dreamcatcher” says otherwise and totally understands his position going in to the fight.

“I think it’s normal because he has fought a lot of times in the UFC, he’s fought big names, so obviously he’s going to be the favorite,” Mousasi said. “Matchup-wise he’s a good matchup for me. This is the fight that I wanted. A well-known name and fighter that can get me close to the title fight. For me, I’m ready to go. But I understand why fans think he’s the favorite.”

Anytime a Machida fight comes up on the schedule, fans and media rehash the typical topics about his elusive, and potentially frustrating, style of combat when the octagon door locks. A majority of fighters are unable to solve the puzzle that is the slick karate specialist, but Mousasi insists there’s nothing Machida can throw his way that he won’t be ready for.

“He’s totally different than anybody I’ve ever fought, but once you figure him out, it’s not very difficult,” Mousasi said. “I changed a little bit my style, the way I’m standing, so this also gives me a lot of confidence. I know standup won’t be an issue.”

Achieving a victory over Machida is something only four men have accomplished since he turned pro in 2003. Mousasi is hopeful he’ll become the fifth member of that exclusive group.

As someone who has kept a very close eye on the current landscape of the middleweight division, Mousasi knows how much defeating Machida would mean to his career and his aspirations of fighting for a world championship. With champion Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort set to square off for the belt later this year, the next contender in line has yet to be determined.

Mousasi knows he will be on the radar for that future No. 1 contender spot if he can get past Machida, it just comes down to taking advantage of the opportunities placed before him, and hopefully he’ll be rewarded for his efforts.

“I think ‘Jacare’ [Souza] is the guy who could get a title fight, but after Vitor Belfort I don’t see anyone who is the No. 1 guy,” Mousasi said. “I know [Anderson] Silva is injured, so if I beat Machida it’s me or ‘Jacare’ if he wins. I’m going to be right up there. It’s all about getting the opportunity.

“I can make a case why I should deserve a title shot, but it’s all about UFC.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 36, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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