Leg locker Aviv Gozali seeks to become youngest Bellator champ
“The youngest champion right now was like 22-years old, Joe WarrenI’m going to do as many fights as I can to get there as fast as possible.”
Aviv Gozali took the Bellator world by surprise when he busted out of his corner to land an Imanari Roll to a heel hook in record time. It took 11 seconds for the 18-year old Israeli to slap on the submission and get the tap, and seemingly just as much time for the video to go viral exciting grappling fans and MMA fans alike.
While it all happened so fast on the screen, it took a lot longer for Gozali to plan and practice the move.
I planned it one year ago – I started to plan how I was going to do it, Gozali told The Top Turtle MMA Podcast. I wanted to do it in my first fight, but I didn’t have the confidence to do it. I wanted, also, to do it in the second fight.
Although Gozali was originally lacking confidence in the move, he gained the needed gusto by getting an insane amount of repetitions. Then he showed it to his coach that day for the final approval.
I planned it with my father all week. I trained it at least 50 times a day, maybe 100 times a day, Gozali explained. Like 5 hours before the fight, I came to my coach, Antonio McKee, I told him ‘I’m gonna do it.’ He said ‘let me watch it’, so I showed him and he told me ‘okay, do it.
Speed seems to be the name of the game with Gozali, who is taking the same approach to his career as his recent victory. With lots of preparation, but quick execution, he plans on snagging a Bellator record in the near future.
I want to be the youngest champion in the history of Bellator. The youngest champion right now was like 22-years old, Joe Warren, Gozali declared. I’m going to do as many fights as I can to get there as fast as possible.
Gozali looks to continue that run on November 14th, when Bellator goes back to Tel Aviv, Israel. Both Aviv and his father will be on the main card of that fight card. Although the shock of his Imanari Roll likely made it so that he can’t attempt it again to start a fight, he is sure that he’ll have something new for us next time out.
I’m gonna surprise you, Gozali said. Watch me November 14th.
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