At just 24 years of age, reigning Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi has already had an extraordinarily busy and successful MMA career. But if his recent comments on his future plans are any indication, this may just be the beginning.

Mousasi is looking forward to a busy schedule over the next few years, with plans to move up to the heavyweight division in 18 months. Mousasi has spoken before of eventual plans to compete as a heavyweight, but this may be the first time he's laid out his goals for the new weight class so clearly, and he plans to prepare methodically.

"It's going to take a lot of time," Mousasi told MMAJunkie.com. "I have to take it step by step. I cannot put so many pounds on in a short time. First, I will be a small heavyweight, and slowly I want to put more pounds on. It will take two, three years before I'm a solid heavyweight."

Mousasi will begin his Strikeforce title defense with an April fight against Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, but he plans to fight a total of six to eight times this year - an almost unheard-of pace for most fighters.

In addition to his Strikeforce commitments, Mousasi also fights in Japan's DREAM promotion, and is looking to participate in a rumored DREAM light-heavyweight tournament planned for this summer.

"I'm going to try to stay very busy," Mousasi stated. "It's better to stay in shape the whole year, fight a lot, than fight and be fat again and train hard again. I don't like it. I like to be in shape the whole year, be in top shape, and then I'm going to take a break for one or two months (at the end of the year). It would be awesome if I could win the (DREAM) light-heavyweight title."

Mousasi, who is currently in the US training with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, also revealed that he plans to move to the US from the Netherlands to train full-time starting next year. Beyond that, his goals are simple: financial security, and retirement from the sport at the age of 30.

"I don't want to fight for too long," said Mousasi. "(At) 30, I'm finished. In my mind, (I just want) the amount of money that (would give me) a good life. Anymore than that, I don't need. Until I don't have the money that I want to have, I'm basically fighting to get there. Once I'm there and I'm one of the best, maybe I will fight for a place in the sport, remembered as one of the best. Until then, I'm basically fighting for money."