Gegard Mousasi claims Derek Brunson has refused to fight him three times, including a recent offer by the PFL, which Brunson denies, attributing his refusal to wanting to spend time with his family and not being able to dedicate time to a training camp.
Gegard Mousasi and Derek Brunson aren’t seeing eye to eye online. Don’t hold your breath for a showdown, though.
The middleweight pros are clashing in the digital arena. Mousasi’s Wednesday tweet sparked the feud, claiming the PFL pitched a fight with Brunson, who apparently said no thanks.
Here’s the scoop from Mousasi himself. “Update: PFL’s got this idea I square off with Derek Brunson soon,” he tweeted. “Derek’s bailed on the fight. Again. Says he wants zero part of it. That’s three times he’s ducked me. Fans are missing out. Fingers crossed PFL lines up a middleweight. I’m game.”
Mousasi’s last gig? He threw down in Bellator’s cage. Fun fact: PFL snapped up Bellator last November. As for 2024 fights for the Bellator crew? Zilch announced yet.
Brunson’s PFL debut? Nailed it. He took down Ray Cooper III, a two-time welterweight champ, at 185 pounds. Brunson clapped back at Mousasi’s jab, insisting he’s not dodging anyone. Family time’s his current main event.
Brunson’s tweet? A direct hit. “Stop the cap, @mousasi_mma. Dodging you? Nope. Soaking up holiday vibes with the fam. Missed Thanksgiving already. No way I’m signing up for a fight without a proper camp. Goofy a*** boy, @PFLMMA.”
Rewind to UFC 200 in July 2016. Brunson vs. Mousasi was on the cards. Alas, Brunson’s vision issues benched him, and Thiago Santos stepped in. Mousasi? He KO’d Santos in round one.
History lesson: Both were UFC top 10 middleweights once. Mousasi bid adieu to UFC in 2017, snagging Bellator’s middleweight crown by 2020. Brunson? His UFC tally was 14-7 before he jumped ship to PFL this year.