By Ben Fowlkes
- Senior Writer
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SAN DIEGO – As the
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley post-fight press conference ended,
Gegard Mousasi stayed in his seat at the far end of the table, staring blankly at his hands as his coaches stood on either side of him speaking softly.
If you had just happened on the scene, you'd think his fight with
Keith Jardine had ended in defeat rather than a majority draw. And, at least in Mousasi's mind, you'd be partially right.
"I'm disappointed because a lot of people were expecting me to win," Mousasi said. "I let them down."
Mousasi came into the bout as a heavy favorite against the journeyman Jardine, who took the fight on just nine days' notice after Mousasi's original opponent – Mike Kyle – withdrew with a hand injury. It was widely thought to be almost a gimme for the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, though Mousasi knew better.
"This kind of fight is tough because everybody says, 'Oh, you're going to win; you're going to win easy,'" Mousasi said. "Those are the fights that are the most dangerous. He has a lot of experience against top competition. People say I will just walk over him, but I know those are the fights [where] you have the most to lose."
Mousasi agreed that the point deduction for an illegal upkick during the first round likely cost him, but he didn't disagree with the judges' decision in the end, despite the fact that he had clearly done more damage to Jardine, landing 124 strikes compared to just 45 for Jardine, according to CompuStrike stats.
"You can always argue about decisions, but I think the decision was good. He took it on short notice, not to take away from him. I have friends that know him. Everybody says he's a great guy. He put on a great performance."
Originally, the bout between Mousasi and Kyle was supposed to decide the number one contender in Strikeforce's light heavyweight division. But with this draw, Mousasi said he isn't sure where he fits in the title picture, but he certainly doesn't believe he's earned a title shot with the performance.
"I'm not in the title [contention]. Maybe I'm not the best fighter, but I'm always going to fight, no matter who it is. I'm not going to get hurt; I'm coming to hurt them. Maybe I lose my fights because I don't fight smart."
Read More: strikeforcediazvsdaley, news, Gegard Mousasi (MMA), Keith Jardine (MMA)
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