‘They Feel Like I’m Getting Paid Too Much!’ Mous Ghosted By ‘Ex-Girlfriend’ PFL

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Gegard Mousasi hasn’t retired yet, folks.

It will have been one full year since the former Bellator and Strikeforce champion stepped into the cage come May 2024. Despite Mousasi long-teasing his retirement after a fruitful 60-fight (49-9-2) 21-year-long mixed martial arts (MMA) career, he is still an active competitor seeking a return to action.

Unfortunately for the 38-year-old legend, Mousasi isn’t getting any offers from his new employer, Professional Fighters League (PFL), after the Bellator merger in late 2023.

“I’ve been training in and out a little bit because I don’t get any news from the PFL or Bellator — people think I’m retired, actually,” Mousasi told MMA Junkie. “I’m waiting for a fight. I have a contract with them but it feels like they don’t feel obligated to the contract.

“I knew there would be the sale,” he continued. “After that, there was no communication. We tried to contact PFL to get more information about what’s going on, what they want to do next. But it feels like they’re ignoring us. I talked to Mike [Kogan]. He went from Bellator to PFL. I told him, ‘Give me information what you want to do with me.’ They keep me on ice, let’s say. They feel like I’m getting paid too much. They don’t want to give me the fights. They owe me. But I know from other fighters that made the same, they fought already. There’s no effort from them.”

Mousasi is in a rare spot in his career, riding his first losing streak after back-to-back decision losses to Fabian Edwards and Bellator Middleweight champion, Johnny Eblen. The Dutchman isn’t the first fighter to have problems with his new company, as Bellator Featherweight champion, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, has also had complaints about PFL communication.

“The problem is my manager tried to contact them and they don’t even respond,” Mousasi said. “There’s no effort to promote or get me a fight. It’s radio silence with them. People think I’m retired. They’re trying to be No. 2 organization in the world, but I think at least what they can do is tell me what their plans are with me.

“I know they owe me a fight,” he continued. “They have a contract with me. They want to maybe put pressure on me to take a pay cut. But why would I do that? I know they owe me fights. I know better, let’s say that.”

Similarly to Cyborg, there isn’t a major promotion Mousasi hasn’t fought for during his lengthy run through the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. To reach Bellator in 2017, Mousasi was in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he left on a five-fight winning streak (9-3 in UFC).

History is repeating itself for Mousasi now as this isn’t his first time changing promotions without having a say in the matter. “The Dreamcatcher’s” UFC tenure began after the promotion purchased Strikeforce. While he’s had his qualms with organizations in the past, Mousasi is already feeling like this might be the worst treatment he’s received.

“I know my rights with what’s in the contract,” Mousasi said. “I’m waiting for them to respond and give me a fight. This is my way to send a message to them at least, because it’s difficult to get them on the phone. I have to go media. It’s like UFC cutting fighters and they find out online. I have to communicate through media with them. It’s crazy.

“Every promotion has its own thing,” he continued. “UFC would give me every three, four months a fight, but they wouldn’t pay me enough. Bellator, they paid me more, but I would fight a lot less. Now with PFL, they don’t even give me a fight. This is the worst, I think. They don’t even talk to you. It’s like an ex-girlfriend or something.”

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