Mousasi puts 185-pound division on notice at UFC 204 presser

Now that Gegard Mousasi has notched his 40th career win, he's ditching his shell to ask for his due and proper.

Mousasi rained fists upon a helpless Vitor Belfort's head for a second-round TKO and his third straight victory at Saturday's UFC 204. As one of the world's most prolific, well-rounded middleweights, the Dutchman believes he's destined to sit atop the UFC food chain. So when he waltzed into the post-fight presser without a scratch on him, he wasted no time telling the media he was fed up with flying under the radar.

"I think I'm underrated throughout my whole career," Mousasi said. "Maybe (because) I'm from Holland, people don't care, but maybe if I throw some bottles at someone's head, then people are going to notice me."

"The Dreamcatcher" has yet to fight for a UFC title, but after watching division champ Michael Bisping's headlining victory over Dan Henderson firsthand, he has no reservations about his odds at usurping the throne.

"I like Michael Bisping, but you guys know I can beat him. I would beat Michael Bisping. I would jab his face the whole night. Easy."

Aside from staking his claim, Mousasi shunned his usually mild-mannered demeanor to regale those on hand at the presser with a steady stream of boasts and quips. And before he makes a run at Bisping and reshuffles the middleweight rankings, the 31-year-old has designs on revenge against the last man to have bested him.

"Uriah Hall was a fluke. Anyone who knows anything about this sport knows it was a fluke. So I hope to get that rematch one day."

Hall treated Mousasi to a second-round TKO back in September 2015, but the Dutchman's gripes go far beyond his last loss, as he deems his ranking as a slight to a man of his abilities.

"I don't know who makes the rankings," he said. "Sherdog put me on No. 10. Someone is sleeping there. I'm No. 9 at UFC. If I fight Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, even Vitor Belfort, I'm the favorite, so you tell me, is it a popularity contest? We can do a catwalk."

Mousasi is ranked below Brunson and Whittaker, while Belfort held the fifth spot going into Saturday's fight. "The Dreamcatcher" also mentioned Anderson Silva as his preferred next opponent, largely because the divisional elite have already committed to future bouts.

"Nos. 1 through 4 are booked. If they give me a fight very soon, those are the guys I want to fight. They're not booked," Mousasi said. "If not, and they keep me waiting, Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold are great matchups for me."