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Chris Gonzalez has been a fighter to keep an eye on in Bellator’s lightweight division. He recently picked up an impressive win over veteran Saad Awad at Bellator 273 and did so quickly and decisively. It only took him 36-seconds to finish Awad. He caught him with a head kick and finished him with punches to earn the first-round TKO.
‘CG’ has made significant improvements with each fight. He came into MMA with a strong wrestling-based style and has since showcased his improved striking in his recent bouts. The Chicago, Illinois native honed his wrestling skills throughout his years as a junior collegiate wrestler and in tournaments such as the U.S. Open.
The 30-year-old trains at Team Alpha Male, which was founded by UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. He has done well with his training at Team Alpha Male and has become a well-rounded mixed martial artist. This list will look at five possible opponents for Chris Gonzalez after his latest Bellator win.
#5. Gonzalez vs. Alexandr Shabliy
Alexandr Shabliy is on the rise in Bellator and would be a great opponent for Gonzalez. The 28-year-old made a name for himself while competing in the Russian-based promotion ProFC. He made his Bellator debut last year at Bellator 259, where he defeated Alfie Davis by unanimous decision.
‘Peresvet’ followed up his promotional debut with another unanimous decision win over Bobby King at Bellator 272. The decision extended his winning streak to six straight wins. With his impressive performances as of late, Shabliy has proved to be a legit threat in the division.
‘CG’ would likely try utilizing his wrestling against ‘Peresvet’, who has the superior striking. Despite winning his last four fights by unanimous decision, Shabliy is known for his striking. The No.10-ranked Bellator lightweight has a record of 21-3, with 17 of those wins being finishes. His counter striking makes him a more tactical fighter and has led to him earning 10 wins via KO/TKO.
#4. Gonzalez vs. Aviv Gozali
Based on Chris Gonzalez’s record, Aviv Gozali would be a logical choice of opponent. He’s an exciting prospect who made his professional debut at Bellator 209. Even during his first professional loss against Bobby King, he was dangerous throughout. Whenever Gozali was dropped, he constantly stayed active and attempted submissions. This resulted in King being more cautious when committing to offense on the ground.
‘The King’ has an MMA record of 6-1, with all his wins coming via submission. His submission skills make him a threat in the lightweight division and could see him ascend the rankings quicker than others. He hasn’t been one to waste any time either. Gozali is yet to fight past the first round. His longest bout was his most recent loss, which ended following the conclusion of the first round.
‘CG’ would have a striking advantage. However, his wrestling and 'The King's' grappling ability could lead to the fight being contested on the ground. Since Gozali is the No.10-ranked lightweight, a win would help Gonzalez get into the top-10.
#3. Gonzalez vs. Islam Mamedov
After his recent loss to former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, a bout between Islam Mamedov and Gonzalez could be realistic.
The loss was significant as it was the 33-year-old Russian’s first since 2009. Before the loss, he was viewed as a rising contender and could’ve earned a title shot had he won. A bout between the two would be very intriguing as they share similarities in their training camps. Both have UFC Hall of Famers playing a pivotal role in their development as fighters.
Mamedov has evolved under the tutelage of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has imposed his will on his opponents and is part of a camp that includes Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhatchev. A win would allow Mamedov to maintain his ranking or possibly move up depending on how impressive his performance is.
#2. Gonzalez vs. Goiti Yamauchi II
Based on how great he looked against Awad, a future rematch with Goiti Yamauchi seems logical for Chris Gonzalez. Like some of ‘CG’s' recent opponents, Yamauchi is a very experienced fighter. Since joining the promotion in 2013, he has gone 12-4.
Yamauchi has excellent grappling ability and has 20 wins via submission during his career. Despite being a submission specialist, his first encounter with ‘CG’ was the complete opposite of what fans expected. Yamauchi dropped him with a right-hook and finished him with strikes at 3:53 of the first round.
Bellator’s lightweight title picture is currently booked as champion Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire is scheduled to defend against Sidney Outlaw next month. Depending on what transpires, it may be a while before the No.4-ranked Yamauchi receives a title shot. With that in mind, he could be open to a rematch with ‘CG’.
#1. Gonzalez vs. Peter Queally
Former Bellator title challenger Peter Queally would be an excellent opponent for Gonzalez. He is coming off a loss to current Freire, which was contested for the vacant Bellator lightweight champion. It was a rematch from their previous bout at Bellator 258, which saw him defeat ‘Pitbull’ via doctor’s stoppage.
‘The Showstopper’ was scheduled to compete against Kane Mousah in the co-main event of Bellator 275. He was forced to withdraw from the event due to an injury. This was unfortunate for him because the event was in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland.
During his post-fight interview at Bellator 273, ‘CG’ didn’t shy away from sharing his opinion of Queally. Gonzalez mentioned that he wanted to fight him next. 'CG' added that he didn’t feel Quelly deserved a title shot.
“I want to fight the best. I’m right there with the top guys. I don’t think Peter Queally deserved that title fight. So Peter, come and see me, what’s up,” Chris Gonzalez post-fight interview at Bellator 273
Perhaps the promotion will book a bout between the two rather than attempting to reschedule Queally vs. Mousah.
