UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Myles Jury sees big implications in his upcoming fight.
Jury (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) faces Georgi Karakhanyan on the main card of Bellator 243 on Friday, where he hopes to emerge as a lightweight title contender.
Jury has fought top-level competition throughout his career, having gone up against the likes of Donald Cerrone, Diego Sanchez, Chad Mendes, and Benson Henderson.
That level of competition has meant that Jury has been installed as the betting favorite ahead of Friday’s bout with Karakhanyan (29-10-1 MMA, 7-8 BMMA). Jury said he shares the oddsmakers’ confidence, despite his opponent’s vast experience.
“Georgi is a veteran,” Jury told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s Bellator 243 media day. “He’s got power in his hands. I think he’s primarily a grappler, I think that’s where he’s most comfortable. But at this time in my career, you look who I fight, I fight good guys all the time. I’m up to the challenge.
“So I’m coming in, I’m well prepared, and I feel like I’m in my zone right now. I feel like I’m sharp standing up striking (or) on the ground. Great people around me, great team. I’m looking forward to having my reward because I’ve trained a lot for this fight and my fight is my reward.”
Jury will look to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2017 and already has his sights set on the top of the lightweight division. It means he has a strong interest in Friday night’s main event clash between former foe Henderson and Michael Chandler.
“I feel like this win – a great performance Friday – puts me right up in the top mix,” Jury said. “This division is wide open, ’55 is wide open. I feel like they need guys like me, and I’m right here. I’m fighting, I’m putting myself in a position to get towards that belt. That’s the ultimate goal, that’s what we’re all here for, and I got my eyes on baby ‘Pitbull,’ the guys that are fighting tonight and man, I can beat anybody in the world on any given night and that’s what I’m looking to do.”
Bellator 243 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasts on DAZN and Paramount Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Bellator 243's Myles Jury says win over Georgi Karakhanyan will propel him into title mix at 155