By the Numbers: Gegard Mousasi

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Gegard Mousasi needed only one round to defeat Rafael Carvalho to claim the Bellator MMA middleweight title. Currently on a seven-fight winning streak, “The Dream Catcher” will look to defend his belt against arguably his biggest task since joining the promotion more than a year ago. That person is Rory MacDonald, who is also 2-0 in Bellator. They will clash at Bellator 206 at SAP Center in San Jose, California.

Let these numbers tell the story of why Mousasi is one of the most underappreciated fighters to ever grace the cage:

4: Years old when his family moved to the Netherlands from Iran. It was here where he discovered martial arts, with judo coming first on his radar. Perhaps unknown to some, Mousasi is a judo black belt.

8: Years old when he started training in judo. Then at 15, he developed an interest in boxing and later became a national amateur champion with an impressive 12-1 slate, highlighted by nine knockouts. He eventually transitioned into kickboxing and MMA.

8: Fights as a kickboxer, winning all and scoring three knockouts. Kickboxing was to be one of his strongest weapons in MMA.

3: Fights in Pride Fighting Championships. Mousasi signed with the Japanese-based promotion in 2002 to take part in the Pride welterweight grand prix where he defeated Makoto Takimoto and Hector Lombard before losing to Akihiro Gono.

2: Championships in as many weight classes in Dream. He captured the promotion’s inaugural middleweight title by winning the 2008 middleweight grand prix. In the finals, he knocked out Ronaldo Souza with an upkick. Mousasi seized the light heavyweight strap by submitting Tatsuya Mizuno at the 2010 light heavyweight grand prix finals.

60: Seconds to stop Renato “Babalu” Sobral in what still stands as the fastest finish in a Strikeforce title bout. With the triumph, he snatched the promotion’s light heavyweight strap.

6: Fights in Strikeforce, going 4-1-1. Apart from Sobral, he also defeated Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Ovince Saint Preux and Mike Kyle. He lost to Muhammed Lawal and fought to a draw against Keith Jardine.

12: Fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, going 9-3, losing only to Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Uriah Hall. Despite his success, Mousasi decided not to renew his contract with the UFC and moved to Bellator.

2: Fights with “Jacare.” He defeated Souza in 2008, but the Brazilian made it 1-1 when they met at the main event of UFC Fight Night 50 in 2014.

2: Fights with Hall. Mousasi first lost to the late replacement via knockout in the second round after dominating the first frame. Their rematch came a year later and Mousasi made sure to avenge his loss.

4: Rounds needed to become a Bellator champion. Mousasi spent three full rounds with Alexander Shlemenko before finishing Rafael Carvalho in the opening period to claim Bellator gold.