LAS VEGAS – Shamil Gaziev hopes to make his UFC debut on the same card as Jon Jones.
Gaziev (11-0) remained unbeaten when he submitted Greg Velasco (6-1) in the first round to earn a UFC contract Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 63.
Heavyweight champion Jones headlines UFC 295 on Nov. 11 when he defends his title against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden in New York, and Gaziev wants the opportunity to introduce himself on the same card.
“I would like to ask the UFC if it’s possible to give me a fight where Jon Jones will fight,” Gaziev said through an interpreter at the DWCS 63 post-fight press conference. “To open the card and to announce that today I’m opening the card, but my goal is to fight the guy that will win in the main event. If the UFC gives me the chance, I will be happy to open this historical fight card.”
With an extensive amateur background, Gaziev thinks he has enough experience to take on top-level competition right off the bat but is willing to fight whoever the UFC gives him.
“Since I started my career in amateur in IMMAF, I was fighting high-level guys, world championship in Asia, European championships,” Gaziev said. “I won a gold medal, and best fighters from each country coming from amateur national teams so, in UFC as well, I’m ready to fight top guys. But, if UFC will not give me top guys, I will not be upset. I will fight anyone as soon as possible.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 63.
