Gegard Mousasi accepted bout with Vitor Belfort, but 'The Phenom' turned him down

After hearing Gegard Mousasi explaining a down 2014 campaign due to 'being burnt out,' it was interesting to hear he'd be willing to jump back into action so soon.

Mousasi credited his Jan. 24 victory over Dan Henderson at UFC on FOX 15 largely to his attitude, using his near five-month layoff to regain some hunger to compete.

With UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman being forced to withdraw from his title bout with Vitor Belfort on Feb. 28, Mousasi says he was willing to step in for the champ at UFC 184 in Los Angeles.

"I was planning on going on holiday, but the UFC called me and asked me 'would you like to fight Vitor Belfort?' and I said I had to talk to my coaches because I didn't want to have that burn out feeling again of fighting just because you have a fight," Mousasi told FOX Sports. "I really wanted to take my rest, but after talking with my coaches and it was such a big opportunity and I was in the mood to fight."

Saying he was the UFC's backup to Lyoto Machida's 'Plan A,' Mousasi accepted the bout before Belfort ultimately turned both options down.

Belfort was reportedly willing to accept bouts against Yoel Romero and Mark Munoz to remain on the UFC 184 card, but neither seem to have come together.

"He's going for the belt, that's his main focus, he wants to have that achievement," said Mousasi. "That's his goal I believe. I understand he doesn't want to risk it. He doesn't want to risk losing and losing his title shot. It's a risk and at this point in his career, he doesn't need to take the risk.

"I can't blame him. I met him, I even trained with him once. It's not personal. They offered me the fight and I said yes. I've got nothing against him."

http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/2/3/7967231/morning-report-ufc-gegard-mousasi-vitor-belfort-weidman-nick-diaz-anderson-silva-rousey-mma-news

i guess i understand why but i would love to see gegard vs vitor. fireworks for sure.

Well either agree to fight for an Interim title or don't! If you want to be awarded the Interim championship, sorry, but it's going to have to be against another fighter who is desrving of that title, too. What does he think? That he should just get to pick whoever he wants to fight and be awarded the Interim title for it? Yeah, that's not the way it works. This isn't a blank check situation where you get to do whatever you want.

If he wasn't willing to fight for an Interim title against another top contender, then he just should've kept his mouth shut and waited for Weidman.

im surprised vitor is being picky choosy. never seemed like that type