The J-Train rolls into Milan, Italy this Saturday as Bellator MMA featherweight Justin Gonzales looks to make it two in a row at Bellator 287.
Gonzales (13-1) got back in the win column last time out, after suffering the first loss of his career against fellow top flight prospect Aaron Pico. This time around, Gonzales gets Andrew Fisher, a British veteran who hasn’t lost a fight since 2016.
“Andrew’s tough, man. He’s gonna push forward, I’m gonna push forward. He’s gonna come and bang, I’m gonna come and bang. So, should be looking forward to a good fight, but I think I’m too much for him,” Gonzales told Cageside Press during Wednesday’s Bellator 287 media day. “I think I’m too fast for him. I’m gonna piece him up a little bit, take him down a little bit, and at the end of the fight, J-Train’s getting his hand raised.”
The admittedly tough test against Fisher marks the third fight inside of 12 months for Gonzales. That’s exactly the sort of pace he’s looking for, with the featherweight believing that activity is key for his success in the sport.
“It’s really important. Some people don’t believe in ring rust, but I feel if you step away from anything for too long, you’re gonna come back a little different,” Gonzales stated. “My goal, three times in a year, every year, keep the ball rolling, put some money in my pocket, work up these rankings, stay relevant. That’s the name of the game.”
The featherweight landscape has changed drastically in recent months. Patricio Pitbull is once again champion. A.J. McKee has exited the division, finally making the move to featherweight. It’s an opportune time, really, for any featherweight to make a statement.
“There’s no better time than now,” agreed Gonzales, ranked #8 in the weight class. “Every time I step in that cage it’s an opportunity for me to make a statement. Like I said before everyone in the ranking system’s on my hit list. So whenever I do get that belt I want there to be no excuses, no doubt that I’m the undisputed champion of the world.”
Watch the full Bellator 287 media day appearance by Justin Gonzales above. The event takes place this Saturday, October 29, 2022 at the Allianz Cloud Arena in Milan, Italy.
