Gegard Mousasi (©Bellator MMA)

Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi, 35, of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands is the middleweight champion of Bellator MMA for the second time. The Armenian-Dutch mixed martial arts earned the title again at “Bellator 250.”

Featuring eight MMA matches, Bellator MMA held “Bellator 250” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, United States. In the main event of the evening, Mousasi and Douglas “The Phenom” Lima, 32, of Goiania, Goias, Brazil battled it out for the then vacant Bellator Middlweight World Championship title.

Dan Miragliotta served as the referee. After five five-minute rounds, the title bout was left in the hands of the judges.

In the end, Miragliotta raised the hand of Mousasi. The Armenian-Dutch MMA fighter was declared the winner via unanimous decision.

Winning at “Bellator 250” improved Mousasi’s professional MMA record to 47 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws. On the other hand, Lima now has 32 wins and 8 losses.

Born in Tehran, Iran to Armenian parents on August 1, 1985, Mousasi was 4 years old when he and his family moved from Iran to Leiden. He started his training in judo when he was 8 and in boxing when he was 15.

As an amateur boxer, Mousasi had 12 wins and 1 loss. He was also an undefeated professional kickboxer with 8 wins and 0 loss.

In 2003, Mousasi made his professional MMA debut. From 2013 to 2017, he competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, winning nine out of his 12 bouts in the promotion.

When Mousasi made his Bellator MMA debut at “Bellator 185” at the Mohegan Sun Arena on October 20, 2017, he defeated Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko, 36, of Omsk, Russia. On May 25, 2018, the Leiden resident dethroned then Bellator Middleweight World Champion Rafael Carvalho, 34, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at “Bellator 200” at the SSE Arena in London, England, United Kingdom.

On September 29, 2018, Mousasi successfully defended the title from Rory “Red King” MacDonald, 31, of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada at “Bellator 206” at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA. On June 22, 2019, the Armenian-Dutch champion was dethroned in his rematch with Lovato at “Bellator 223” at the SSE Arena.

Lovato was not able to defend the belt. On February 10, 2020, he vacated the title because of his cerebral cavernoma diagnosis.