Bellator Dublin 275: Mousasi stakes his claim as the world's best middleweight

The story below contains details of what happened at Bellator 271. You can watch the entire event again on BBC iPlayer (UK only) here.

Bellator Dublin lived up to expectation as Gegard Mousasi laid his claim to be regarded as the best middleweight in the world.

The Dutch MMA star produced an emphatic display in the main event to knock out American Austin Vanderford in the first round and retain his title.

In the co-main Sinead Kavanagh overcame a knee injury to outpoint Leah McCourt in a gripping all-Irish bout, there were wins for Brett Johns and Ciaran Clarke, plus an appearance from UFC star Conor McGregor.

Here's five things we learned from an electric night in Dublin.

It wasn't the fact Mousasi beat the previously unbeaten Vanderford, it was the manor in which he did it.

The 36-year-old demolished his American opponent inside one minute and 25 seconds as a strong right counter and subsequent hammer fists on the canvas quickly ended the fight.

With a career spanning 19 years, which includes 49 victories, seven losses and multiple title wins over numerous promotions, it was a performance which adds to Mousasi's legend.

«I'm the best — I never said that [before] because I didn't believe it, but I believe it,» Mousasi said.

Mousasi has proved himself as the best middleweight in Bellator, but many will argue the title of the world's best belongs to someone else — Israel Adesanya.

The 32-year-old UFC star has looked unbeatable since winning the title in 2019 and is fresh off an impressive win over Robert Whittaker earlier in February.

With five title defences to his name, the Nigerian-born New Zealander cuts an imposing figure at the top of the UFC's middleweight division.

Could Mousasi be the man to dethrone Adesanya?

Unfortunately