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Gegard Mousasi Updates Fans On PFL Debut, Claims Derek Brunson Turned Down Fight

Originally posted on MMA News | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated 12/20/23

Former Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi is inching closer to a return, but it allegedly won't be against Derek Brunson.

Mousasi is expected to make his PFL debut next year, likely as a part of the International Champions Series that the league will launch in 2024. As of this writing, the PFL season doesn't have a middleweight division, although that could change as soon as 2025.

Mousasi, a former Bellator titleholder, is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid with his next showing. While the PFL doesn't have a middleweight division, there are a slew of potential suitors for his next fight, including one of the other Bellator fighters or with Brunson.

According to Mousasi, Brunson recently turned down an offer from the PFL to fight him.

Gegard Mousasi Accuses Former UFC Colleague Derek Brunson Of Ducking

In a recent tweet, Mousasi accused Brunson of turning down a fight for early 2024.

Update:PFL wants to fight me very soon against @DerekBrunson . Derek refused to accept the fight again. He said he wanted nothing to do with it. 3x he has refused to fight me over the years.The fans lose. Let’s hope PFL can find me a MW. I am ready @BretOkomotoESPN @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/LNM5jHjAsp
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) December 20, 2023

"Update: PFL wants to fight me very soon against [Derek Brunson]," Mousasi claimed. "He said he wanted nothing to do with it. 3x he has refused to fight me over the years. The fans lose. Let's hope PFL can find me a MW. I am ready."

Brunson made his successful PFL debut against former PFL titleholder Ray Cooper III last month. He signed with the PFL following a long tenure with the UFC, including wins over the likes of Darren Till and Kevin Holland.

Mousasi lost back-to-back fights against Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards in Bellator. Before his recent skid, he won four fights in a row, including finishes of John Salter and Austin Vanderford.

As of this writing, Brunson has yet to respond to Mousasi's claims, and a matchup between the two middleweights seems off the table.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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