UFC star Israel Adesanya has been told he isn't the best middleweight champion in MMA.
Adesanya, who recently defended his belt at UFC 271, is one of the promotion's biggest stars and sits at No.2 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander's only UFC loss came last year when he challenged Jan Blachowicz to try and become a two-weight world champion.
Adesanya has looked unbeatable in his recent fights, but veteran MMA referee John McCarthy thinks Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi matches up better.
"[Mousasi] is still the best guy there is out there in the middleweight division, there's him and there is Izzy [Adesanya]. Those are the two guys and I do believe that Gegard's style and Izzy's style match up," he said on the ' Weighing In ' podcast.
"I'm not saying Izzy can't beat Gegard, he could, and I'm telling that Gegard could beat Izzy. All depends on the fight, who does what right but Gegard does match up well in the stand up well with Izzy.
"On the ground, defensively as far as getting it to the ground Izzy's got great hips and he does a good job.
"I don't think it would be an easy takedown for Gegard but on the ground, there is no comparison. None, he's not ready for Gegard's level on the ground."
MMA veteran Mousasi has competed in promotions such as Pride, Strikeforce and the UFC throughout his 58 professional fights.
He left the UFC in 2017 over pay issues despite being a top-ranked middleweight at the time and holding wins over former champions Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort.
The 36-year-old has won seven fights since signing with Bellator, only losing a close split decision to Rafael Lovato Jr in 2019.
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Mousasi breezed past undefeated contender Austin Vanderford last weekend at Bellator Dublin and later claimed that he is the best active middleweight in MMA.
“I feel like I’m the best middleweight in the world now,” he said. “I’ve never said that because I never thought I was the best, but on this day, I’m the best. Don’t know about tomorrow, but today I was the best.
Mousasi has moved around weight classes during his lengthy career and even submitted UFC heavyweight legend Mark Hunt despite giving up 30kg in the fight.
And Mousasi thinks even if he moved up to light heavyweight he would still be successful.
“If I go up, I’ll still be successful, I don’t doubt it. But every fight, I’d have to give up weight, strength, and that’s not my strength. If the guy’s [not] on the juice, physically they’re not equal with me [at 185]."
