Middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi killed two birds with one stone Saturday night, avenging a 2015 loss to Uriah Hall at The SSE Arena in Belfast while using the first round TKO victory to throw his name in the hat for a future shot at the 185-pound title.
“Whoever has the belt, I’m coming,” Mousasi said. “I need an elimination fight or a title shot.”
Whatever happens next for the 31-year-old from the Netherlands, who won his fourth straight in the UFC Fight Night Belfast main event, the middleweight division will be watching.
Mousasi was patient in the early going, not wanting to give Hall any openings to counter. A stiff jab also did a good job of deterring “Prime Time,” but as the round progressed, Hall began throwing his kicks more aggressively. Mousasi was unbothered by the kicks whizzing over his head, and in the final minute he decided to take the fight to the mat. There, Mousasi started unleashing right hands, and suddenly, what looked like some point scoring ground-and-pound turned into a stoppage, as a series of unanswered blows prompted referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight at the 4:37 mark.
With the win, the No. 5-ranked Mousasi moves to 41-6-2; Hall falls to 13-8.
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