Gegard Mousasi is quite possibly the biggest signing in Bellator MMA history.
Sure, the promotion has added former UFC fighters in the past, but only a few came over in their prime, off a major win streak and on the verge of competing for a title.
Yet just a few days away from his debut -- a middleweight clash with Alexander Shlemenko on Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut for Bellator 185 -- the Dutch kickboxer spoke about the fight with his typical calm demeanor and believes that there's no pressure at all.
"I was brought here to perform," he says. "They expect me to win, but I'm well prepared. I don't mind training. I don't mind hard work. It's cutting weight and getting the job done.
"He doesn't stand a chance. In two rounds he should be done."
Mousasi is coming off a TKO win against former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman last April at UFC 210. Four of his last five victories have been early stoppages. A former world champion in both Dream (Japan) and Strikeforce, Mousasi was potentially a fight or two away from competing for a UFC championship.
When he became a free agent this summer, many thought he would remain with UFC, but the combination of a better financial agreement and the opportunity to work again with Bellator president Scott Coker -- who previously headed Strikeforce -- was too much to pass up.
"The best deal, for me, was Bellator," Mousasi says. "Working with Scott made a huge difference. The way the fighters get treated -- those things matter. Once you have a lot of fights, you want to get treated well.
"Now I have a voice," he continued. "You can't speak out when you're trying to make a living. Once you're secure, you can have your opinion and not care about what the organization is going to tell you. I'm at that stage. I'm trying to do what's best for me."
His first test won't be easy. Alexander Shlemenko has 65 professional fights on his resume, 56 of which saw his hand raised. The Russian has won five consecutive as well and is a former Bellator middleweight champion. He prefers to stand and trade rather than take the fight to the ground, though he does have submission skills.
Mousasi describes Shlemenko as "a slugger and not the most technical fighter."
"He's a powerful guy. He goes for the kill and doesn't give up," Mousasi said. "He has those crazy spinning back kicks and elbows, so I have to be aware of that and be sharp. I have the range advantage. I have the speed. ... I have the physical advantage, technical advantage. Something horrible has to go on if I lose."
If all goes according to plan, Mousasi has a wide range of potential suitors for his next bout. Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho takes on Alessio Sakara on Dec. 9 at Bellator 190, and Mousasi wants the winner.
He's also open to moving up to light heavyweight or a "superfight" against welterweight and fellow former top UFC contender Rory MacDonald.
"I want to end my career on a high note," Mousasi says. "The middleweight belt is first, and then light heavyweight [belt], maybe. I'll end when I'm at my best."