There was a point during Saturday’s Bellator 287 lightweight fight between Alfie Davis and UFC vet Thibault Gouti where Davis believed he’d broken his opponent’s arm.
“I was kicking his arm a lot, and he went ‘ahh’ as soon as I kicked it. So I assumed it was broken,” Davis (15-4-1) told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout. “I did try and target it a little bit again, but then he started to pick up his checks, then my shin was hurting. So I thought, ‘let me just piece him up.'”
Davis wound up picking Gouti apart over the course of three rounds, winning a unanimous decision when all was said and done. Now, he’s looking to return in early 2023. A spot on the rumored London card would be ideal.
“That’d be great, if it’s in London in March. I was actually targeting the Dublin card as well in February,” noted Davis. “There’s one in January in the States. I know that there’s a lightweight tournament next year, so all I want is a fight to prove that I can be in that tournament. I just beat an ex-UFC vet, so give me the next step up.”
As Davis points out, he’s only had one loss in the promotion, to Alexander Shabliy. Davis would like a rematch with Shabliy, or the aforementioned step up, to prove he belongs in the grand prix. “I went into that fight, had a bad weight cut, travel was bad. I don’t want to make too many excuses, because [Shabliy]’s a class act, but it wasn’t me on the night, and I think that’s the only loss that I’ve got. So if I can please get put back in with one of those guys and prove that I deserve to be in that tournament, that’s what I want next.”
Watch the full Bellator 287 post-fight media appearance by Alfie Davis above.
