Under the Microscope: Analyzing Middleweight Greats

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Gegard Mousasi

* Middleweight Record: 8-3
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .730
* Longest Winning Streak: 15
* Record in Major Middleweight Title Fights: 1-0
* Finish Percentage: 75
* Finished Percentage: 66
* Notable Victories: Dan Henderson, Mark Munoz, Ronaldo Souza, Melvin Manhoef, Denis Kang, Hector Lombard
* Career Accomplishments: Dream middleweight champion; three-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner

CASE FOR: A veteran of Pride, Dream, Strikeforce and the UFC, there are few stones left unturned for Holland’s Mousasi. With all due respect to Benson Henderson, there may not be a fighter who deserves the “smooth” moniker more than this guy. His striking looks effortless, and with a freakish arsenal of fight-ending techniques that belie his unassuming physique, it is apt to say “The Dreamcatcher” sleepwalks through his opponents. He ripped through an impressive field in the 2008 Dream middleweight grand prix to claim its first and only championship, and had he not gone on to pursue light heavyweight, heavyweight and open-weight bouts, he would have likely remained the fixture of that division for a long time. Having just blown through longtime great Dan Henderson, the 29-year-old looks like he has a legitimate run for the UFC belt in store.

CASE AGAINST: Mousasi has looked hypnotic and elegant to some, but to others, he simply comes off as plain. His recent losses to top-tier middleweights have effectively derailed his hype, as he was blown out by Lyoto Machida and submitted by Ronaldo Souza -- proof that whatever puzzle his style was for previous opponents has been solved. While his willingness to fight above his frame is laudable, it potholed his path to middleweight greatness and left his singular title win in want of some defenses. The real blow that knocks the wind out of his sails is that he is only 3-2 in the UFC, an unimpressive mark given the gaudy record he boasted before entering the most competitive MMA organization on the planet. Much is to be seen from the young buck, but unless he starts turning in some real eye-catching performances that land him in a title contender position, he simply has not done enough.

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