UFC 214 needs Mousasi vs Rockhold

As Romero versus Whittaker is announced for the interim UFC middleweight title at UFC 213, the division’s other top contenders need to fight at UFC 214.

Gegard Mousasi and Luke Rockhold need to meet at UFC 214. With the champion on the shelf and a bout between the number one contender (Romero) and third placed contender (Whittaker) booked, a fight between the second ranked Rockhold and fourth place Mousasi re-establishes a meritocracy in the division.

UFC 214 in Annaheim is headlined by Cormier versus Jones II. This fight has been booked five times and happened once. Jones has already caused an event to be cancelled (UFC 151) when he refused to take a fight with Chael Sonnen at short notice. The UFC needs to hedge against the headline fight not occurring – the Mousasi/Rockhold option is the best fight from a stacked middleweight division.

Ironically it is prolific fighter and company man Mousasi that is currently out-of-contract. Negotiations for a new deal are on-going. Speaking about the UFC’s offer on Fox’s UFC Tonight show Mousasi said: “It’s not good.”

A former Dream, Cage Warriors and Strikeforce champion, Mousasi has questioned what it takes to be valued by the UFC, querying his value compared to that of heavyweight contender Mark Hunt – who Mousasi has faced and defeated.

Gegard has allowed only his fighting and professionalism to do the talking. When Jon Jones fell afoul of USADA at UFC 200, Mousasi was prepared to fight Daniel Cormier at short notice, as a former Light Heavyweight champion Mousasi could potentially have offered more competition than eventual replacement Anderson Silva.

Though out-of-contract Mousasi has continued to promote the UFC actively, making extended trips to the Philippines and Singapore to promote UFC Singapore in June. Whilst in Singapore in a rapid fire interview he was asked to talk about Luke Rockhold:

“Probably toughest fight – one of the best middleweights.”

The match-up is intriguing and will allow the winner to contest the middleweight or interim middleweight title in the future. The willingness to fight anyone and his dedication to the UFC is the opposite of his potential opponent Luke Rockhold.

Since losing the middleweight title to Michael Bisping at UFC 199, Rockhold has not had a single fight. During the same time period, Mousasi has fought four times and won four times, defeating two former UFC champions.

During Rockhold’s hiatus from any UFC action he has been very critical of the UFC. After losing the middleweight title he complained about his contract and the potential purse for his future bouts. When talking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour he questioned the credibility of the division and called for a strike by all middleweight contenders:

“I’m not fighting and so should the rest of the division.”

Rockhold was keen for Bisping to make a defense or for an interim title to be introduced. Now there will be an interim title but his lack of activity and vocal discontent has taken him out of contention.

Dana White and Rockhold have been having a war of words, Dana White publicly called out Rockhold and told him that opportunities have to be earned in the UFC. Rockhold responded on Twitter and told White: “Think before you run your mouth.”

We have two contenders: one a busy fighter on a roll but out-of-contract and the other a malcontent with management and matchmaker issues. These two former champions are the only fit top fighters not scheduled for a bout.

The only story of conflict or bad blood is with the UFC itself, both fighters feel underpaid and undervalued. Dana White has publicly declared himself a Mousasi fan and publicly criticized Rockhold, yet it is Mousasi that is approaching free agency.

The middleweight division has been stalled – give us this fight.

The UFC used to be a fighting meritocracy, fights happened in the octagon not on social media. Give Mousasi a contract and book this fight because Cormier/Jones II is not guaranteed, book this fight because they’ve both earned it, book this fight because one of these men may be our next champion.