Gegard Mousasi chokes out Mark Munoz to cap off UFC Fight Night in Germany

By Damon Martin
Published

Gegard Mousasi walked into the O2 arena in Berlin, Germany ranked outside the top 10 and wondering what he had to do to get the respect  he so richly deserved as a contender in the middleweight division.

It took him less than five minutes to prove the point as he decimated No. 7 ranked Mark Munoz on the way to a first round submission victory to cap off the UFC Fight Night card.

Munoz -- a former NCAA wrestling champion -- made his intention to drag this fight to the ground known as soon as the action started, but even after landing a big slam to put Mousasi down, he simply could not keep him there.  Mousasi countered Munoz's one real offensive move and then proceeded to counter every strike and takedown attempt from the American.

In his own attacks, Mousasi was unrelenting with punches and elbows constantly battering Munoz and never giving him any space to breathe.  Following a reversal from the mount, Mousasi finally sunk his arm under Munoz's chin and with his body flat against the canvas, he had no choice but to tap out.

The win moves Mousasi to 2-1 in the UFC and certainly up a few spots into the top 10 as he starts to eye some former Strikeforce stable mates as potential opponents for what's next.

"I think I'm going to get a winner -- Luke Rockhold or (Tim) Kennedy and getting a little bit closer to a title shot," Mousasi said. "I'm not challenging anyone, but of course I'm going to get a winner so whoever is closer to a title shot, I'm ready."

The loss drops Munoz to 1-3 over his last four fights and puts him in a difficult position going forward in an ever-growing UFC middleweight division.

Full Results from UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi def. Mark Munoz by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:57, R1

CB Dollaway def. Francis Carmont by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Sean Strickland def. Luke Barnatt by split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

Niklas Backstrom def. Tom Niinimaki by submission (rear naked choke/bulldog choke) at 4:15, R2

Nick Hein def. Drew Dober by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Magnus Cedenblad def. Krzysztof Jotko by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:59, R2

Iuri Alcantara def. Vaughan Lee by TKO at 0:25, R1

Peter Sobotta def. Pawel Pawlak by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Maximo Blanco def. Andy Ogle by unanimous decision  (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Ruslan Magomedov def. Viktor Pesta by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)