Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to see Gegard Mousasi get his proper due after a dominant display in the Bellator 275 main event.
Mousasi (49-7-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) made quick work of Austin Vanderford (11-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) in Friday’s middleweight title headliner at 3Arena in Dublin, dispatching of his challenger with strikes just 85 seconds into the opening round.
It was the 33rd first-round stoppage of Mousasi’s career, and his 39th finish overall. “The Dreamcatcher” has held titles in Bellator, Strikeforce, DREAM and Cage Warriors, but Nurmagomedov doesn’t think he’s properly appreciated for his accomplishments and current performances.
The former UFC lightweight titleholder made that known in the aftermath of Mousasi’s win, touting him as the “most underrated fighter in MMA today” (via Twitter):
@mousasi_mma is the most underrated fighter in MMA today.
Congratulations Gegard #Bellator275— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 25, 2022
@mousasi_mma is the most underrated fighter in MMA today.
Congratulations Gegard #Bellator275
Mousasi, 36, has won 12 of his past 13 fights dating back to September 2015. He put together a five-fight winning streak during a UFC run, but he parted ways with the promotion after his final appearance in April 2017 when Bellator signed him away as a free agent.
Since then, he’s thrived, with the win over Vanderford being the quickest of his Bellator tenure thus far.
