Resurgent MMA standout Paulo Filho has made no bones about his feelings toward current Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi. Filho and Mousasi have gone back-and-forth at one another in an escalating war of words, which concluded a couple weeks ago with Mousasi calling the former WEC champion a "donkey" and accused him of taking steroids. 

Filho denies the charge and believes that Mousasi's days as the Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion are numbered. 

"Sokoudjou (Mousasi's rumoured upcoming opponent) is extremely dangerous," Filho told Tatame.com. "He has really heavy hands and he's proven that, but Mousasi is a great athlete. I think Sokoudjou is stronger. I think Babalu [Sobral] was out of sorts when they fought. He's a high level fighter, but he was a bit nervous, unfocused, and something happened and he didn't give his best. I think Babalu, well-prepared, would kick Mousasi's ass. Mousasi will be as good as people think he is, but it will take some time. He's young, immature and too arrogant. Sokoudjou can land one hit and he'll go down."

Filho has burst back onto the MMA scene after a brief hiatus where he took care of personal health issues. He appeared as healthy as ever in his first bout back - a big win over the highly-regarded Melvin Manhoef. He expects a similar outcome when he takes on Dong Sik Yoon next month at Dream 12.

"The guy is a judo champion and he has a dangerous ground game," Filho said. "In his fight with Mousasi, he didn't take an arm or go for a ground fight because he wanted to prove he was fit. He's a tough guy, but I think he'll play my game, and I think that because of my strength, I'll have an advantage. Jiu-Jitsu is more efficient than judo. I'll take advantage on that. He's a great guy, a good man, very competitive, works hard. It will be a nice fight."

Regardless of the outcome of the fight, Filho would love to compete again in the U.S. for Strikeforce, and is hoping for a fight with Mousasi in the near future. After his last performance in the States (a peculiar loss to Chael Sonnen in which Filho talked to himself during the fight and wandered around the cage aimlessly) fans were left wondering about his personal health. Filho says he has nothing to prove to anyone.

"I wasn't very focused or excited," Filho said. "It was a moment in my life when I wasn't applied to the training as I should be. I think I'm independent of their opinion, mine is more important. I know that when I'm prepared, I'm tough. My record is 18-1, I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I know that when I'm trained, I'm trouble for anyone. The thing is to have my head on straight and do my work."

In regards to coming back to America to fight for Zuffa again (the UFC and UFC parent company)  after being booted from the WEC, Filho is not exaclty endearing himself to UFC brass with his take on the organization's light-heavyweight division.

"Undoubtedly, it's really hard," Filho said. "This division is very tough. The UFC is a big organization, but Americans do what they can so that you can't apply your technique. They make incompatible match-ups, preferably with whoever they want to win, and do everything to take you down. American is American. They want Americans with the belt and to eliminate the Brazilians, but they'll have to work hard because we're the best."