Aviv Gozali isn’t satisfied with simply having the quickest submission in Bellator history under his belt.
Gozali (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) predicts his opponent, Zaka Fatullazade (14-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), will fall victim to the quickest knockout in Bellator history at Bellator 234 on Thursday.
“I’m going to do like (Jorge) Masvidal did,” Gozali told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I’m going to run with a flying knee. I want to take all the records in the book.”
Aviv isn’t the only Gozali slated to compete at Bellator 234. In the fight immediately prior to his own, his father, Haim Gozali (11-6 MMA, 2-3 BMMA), will fight in what is expected to be the final bout of his professional MMA career.
“He’s fighting one fight before me, so I won’t be able to watch him fight,” Gozali said. “I will be nervous for this fight, but I’m excited because now the Gozali legacy is going to my end. I’m going to continue the legacy and give us the belt soon.”
In preparation for this fight, Gozali spent time training under Antonio McKee at Team Bodyshop Fitness & MMA in Lakewood, Calif. After one month of working alongside fellow Bellator fighters A.J. McKee and Joey Davis, Gozali returned home to finish out his camp with his father.
“It was a lot of experience,” Gozali said of training at Team Bodyshop. “They are beasts, all of them. They gave me a lot of tools and made them sharper. Now I’m a better fighter.”
With a win at Bellator 234, Gozali hopes to get revenge against fellow welterweight Ryan Couture. The son of MMA legend Randy Couture defeated Gozali’s father twice in 2017 and 2018, respectively – both coming by way of unanimous decision.
“Ryan Couture beat my father twice,” Gozali said. “I want to take revenge. I want to fight against Ryan Couture after.”
Bellator 234 takes place Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN on Friday via tape delay.
Aviv Gozali says he'll land Jorge Masvidal flying knee to pick up quickest KO ever at Bellator 234
