Mousasi just scored a quick and exciting victory over Mr Paige Van Zany – Austin Vanderford.
Vanderford shot for an early takedown, Mousasi sprawled. The shoulder pop could be heard on the recording played by showtime sports.
Vanderford was aware he was injured and basically covered his head and waited for the ref to call the fight. You can see his shoulder jiggling as he absorbes fight ending ground and pound.
WOW. @Mousasi_MMA gets to work fast and retains his middleweight strap ? #Bellator275 @bellatormma pic.twitter.com/LvPy30xce6
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) February 25, 2022
MMA media and fighters were quick to congratulate the champion including Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Think we can all agree that Mousasi is easily one of the best middleweight champions Bellator has ever had
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) February 26, 2022
Mousasi wins via first-round TKO. Vicious stuff. He continues to get better with age. Vanderford suffers his first pro loss.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 25, 2022
@mousasi_mma is the most underrated fighter in MMA today.
Congratulations Gegard #Bellator275— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 25, 2022
Perhaps Austin Vanderford should not have come looking to have a kickboxing match with Gerard Mousasi. Or alternatively, maybe he should’ve learned to kickbox beforehand. #Bellator275
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) February 25, 2022
Mousasi absolutely steamrolls Vanderford. Legend. #Bellator275
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) February 25, 2022
There are levels to this. Gegard Mousasi just smashed Austin Vanderford. A TKO just minutes into the fight. It appears Vanderford injured his shoulder, too. Damn. Domination, regardless. #Bellator275
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) February 25, 2022
Austin Vanderford is dedicating this fight to all the husbands whose wives have OnlyFans. #bellator
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) February 25, 2022
Conor was spotted in the crowd at #Bellator275 👀
(via @BellatorMMA)
pic.twitter.com/HeZb4ljwgZ— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 25, 2022