Ansar Khamzaev says he would beat Justin Gaethje now after winning LFA title at 21
The unbeaten 21-year-old, who trains with Khamzat Chimaev's team, submitted Juliano Prescendo with a first-round D'Arce choke at LFA 245 to win the vacant lightweight title and move to 7-0.
Ansar Khamzaev says he would beat UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje if they were put in the cage today, after the 21-year-old won the vacant LFA lightweight title on Friday night.
Khamzaev, who trains with Khamzat Chimaev's team, submitted Juliano Prescendo with a D'Arce choke at 3:20 of the first round in the LFA 245 main event at the Seneca Niagara Event Center in Niagara Falls, New York. The win keeps him unbeaten at 7-0.
In his post-fight interview with Rashad Evans, Khamzaev said he was already tired of beating the fighters in front of him and asked for the best Brazilians and Americans in the world. He said he would beat Gaethje right now, called himself the best in the world and said nobody trains like him.
The LFA lightweight title was vacant after interim champion Jefferson Nascimento and linear champion Richie Miranda both signed with the UFC. Khamzaev moved to 6-0 in May with a win that took 96 seconds.
Chimaev said earlier this year that Khamzaev would be a future champion if he kept working hard.
Gaethje holds the UFC lightweight title, and Paddy Pimblett has said he would take a rematch with him before a fight with Ilia Topuria.
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