PFL releases former Bellator champ Gegard Mousasi

The PFL released Gegard Mousasi on Thursday, a day after the former Bellator middleweight champion criticized the promotion.

"Bellator has released Gegard Mousasi from his agreement," PFL Head of Fighter Operations Mike Kogan said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. "We wish him all the best fighting in his next chapter."

Mousasis (49-9-2) called the PFL "the worst organization" in an interview with Ariel Helwani's "The MMA Hour" on Wednesday, adding that "the team around me" was considering legal action. Mousasi said he signed a new contract with Bellator before the merger that was worth "a couple million," but that PFL officials said they were not aware of the new deal.

"We will not comment on the merits of the alleged release at this time for obvious reasons," Mousasi's agent, Nima Safapour, said in a statement provided to news outlets. "However, we believe there is a greater lesson here that our community should pay close attention to. For an organization that repeatedly claims to be ‘fighter first,' we now truly see how PFL treats their fighters, especially their legends."

Mousasi, 38, most recently fought in May 2023, losing to Fabian Edwards. The PFL and Bellator merged late last year, and Mousasi said in April that the promotion was not offering him fights while requesting that he take a pay cut.

PFL president Ray Sefo told reporters last month that Mousasi was offered a fight up a weight class at 205 pounds but was turned down, according to MMA Junkie.

Mousasi also took to X in December to say that the PFL wanted him to fight Derek Brunson, but the latter had declined to accept.

"Derek refused to accept the fight again," Mousasi wrote Dec. 20. "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"

--Field Level Media