Netherlands-born MMA fighter Gegard Mousasi recently voiced grievances against the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in an interview with MMA Junkie. He criticized the organization for what he deemed unfair negotiation tactics, alleging that they were pressuring him for a pay cut instead of fulfilling their contractual obligation to provide him with fights.
Expressing frustration over the lack of communication and effort from PFL executives, Mousasi emphasized his desire for clarity regarding his fighting future. Despite his readiness to compete, he claimed that his manager’s attempts to reach out to the organization had been met with silence, leading to speculation about his retirement among fans and observers.
Mousasi accused the PFL of deviating from its proclaimed commitment to being fighter-centric by allegedly prioritizing financial considerations over the athletes’ careers. According to him, the organization suggested he was earning too much and proposed a reduction in pay, a move he perceived as undermining his control over his own career trajectory.
With no response from the PFL to his criticisms at the time of the interview and no fight announcements forthcoming, Mousasi resorted to addressing his concerns publicly through media outlets. He viewed this as his only means of communication with an organization that seemed unresponsive to his inquiries and requests.
Having competed at the highest levels of MMA, including notable victories over fighters like Chris Weidman, Thiago Santos, and Dan Henderson during his tenure with the UFC, Mousasi, now 38, finds himself in the twilight of his career. If his claims regarding the PFL’s treatment of him are accurate, it raises questions about the organization’s handling of a fighter of his stature during what could be his final fights in the cage.