Gegard Mousasi’s supervisor says PFL ‘not making a significant effort’

Gegard Mousasi and his crew really feel they aren’t a precedence for the PFL.

For the reason that promotion acquired Bellator, the previous champ Mousasi has not been booked for a battle. His final look was 11 months in the past, which has prompted frustration to construct.

In line with PFL president Ray Sefo, Mousasi has been provided at the very least one battle, and is not sure when communication broke down between each side. Nonetheless, Mousasi turned down the battle, as a result of the fighter and his crew didn’t think about it a “actual provide” as a result of it was at the next weight class on six week’s discover.

Mousasi’s supervisor, Nima Safapour, informed MMA Junkie they’ve been prepared to work out phrases for a return to motion, however imagine the promotion has put Mousasi on the backburner.

“Let me begin off by saying I like Ray Sefo, and have all the time thought-about him a superb good friend. Sincerely,” Safapour informed MMA Junkie. “With that being stated, since when is providing fights outdoors a fighter’s weight class an actual provide? Jon Jones spent one 12 months bulking as much as battle at HW. Nonetheless, Gegard ought to assume that the one method he can get a battle is by going up a weight class on 6 weeks discover? An actual provide is providing a battle to somebody of their precise weight division.

“We requested for Ray Cooper they usually informed us he was not out there. After which just a few weeks later they booked Ray on the identical occasion we requested to battle him on. So in actuality, it feels that it’s not a precedence they usually’re not making a significant effort. And when fighters fall off of a card, the blokes that we requested to battle (and have been informed have been unavailable) get the decision, however we don’t . And it’s not cheap to marinate any fighter on the sidelines for a 12 months and a half as a result of they might not conform to an unfair weight handicap on quick discover.”

Safapour continued:

“Paradoxically, Gegard is such a gangster that he informed them that he would battle at 205 for the PFL season event if that will give us extra choices. At the least that will give Gegard just a few months to bulk up. Not ultimate, however we’re prepared to do it to compromise and create alternatives for everybody . However we obtained no response from them.

“It’s quite simple: At first of the 12 months, we requested to sit down down and to map out how they’re going to use Gegard in 2024. If it was a precedence for them, they might have executed it. Once they wished to schedule a brief discover battle for Patricio ‘Pitbull,’ they did so. So it actually comes right down to in the event that they need to do it or not. So, from an outsider trying in, it absolutely doesn’t really feel like a precedence for them at Gegard’s detriment.”

Whereas the 2 sides have been going back-and-forth within the media, Safapour says it will make no distinction if every thing was saved behind closed doorways, as a result of the conversations about Mousasi, 38, have been the identical.

“In the event that they intend on utilizing Gegard, then why don’t they ever say his identify publicly particularly after they’re selling their upcoming occasions in Riyadh for his or her pay-per-view?” Safapour stated. “I can solely base my assumptions off of their actions. And at this level, sadly, their actions sound very totally different than what they’re saying to us behind closed doorways and publicly.

“Nobody who understands the game can deny that Gegard is without doubt one of the finest middleweights of all time. He has earned his proper to battle, and he has a binding contract with Bellator. I hope they’ll flip it round and behave fairly and ethically as a result of Gegard could make a incredible contribution to the platform, which is all he’s ever wished to do.”