Justin Gonzales Record: 14-5-0

Contender Series and the LFA title

In June 2019, Gonzales picked up a key win over Zach Zane by decision on the Contender Series, raising his profile. He capped his climb in July 2020 by stopping the unbeaten Jake Childers with knees and punches in the fourth round at LFA 84 – a headlining performance that crowned him LFA featherweight champion and put him on the radar of the major promotions.

Bellator and PFL

Gonzales signed with Bellator and opened his run there strong, beating Ty-wan Claxton before running into top prospect Aaron Pico, who handed him a decision loss at Bellator 271 in 2021. He rebounded with back-to-back decision wins, including a 2022 victory over Kai Kamaka III at Bellator 279 and a win over the durable Andrew Fisher. The competition then stiffened: he dropped a decision to Mads Burnell at Bellator 295 in 2023, then lost to unbeaten Timur Khizriev at Bellator 301. Moving to the PFL for 2024, he was stopped by Gabriel Alves Braga's left hook and then lost a doctor-stoppage decision to former champion Brendan Loughnane at PFL 6, a cut ending an otherwise competitive bout.

Fighting style

Gonzales is a decision fighter by trade, and his record reflects it: nine of his 14 wins have come on the scorecards, against four knockouts and a single submission, for a relatively low 36% finish rate. His value lies in volume, pressure, and a strong wrestling base that lets him control position and bank rounds. The flip side is that he often needs the full 15 minutes to win, and his more recent losses against elite, well-rounded opposition like Khizriev and Loughnane show the margin tightens considerably at the top of the division. Even so, he has proven himself a tough, reliable test for anyone at 145.

Career highlights

• LFA featherweight champion — stopped unbeaten Jake Childers in the fourth round at LFA 84 to claim the vacant title, the peak of his regional run.
• Contender Series win — defeated Zach Zane on the prospect showcase to push toward the major leagues.
• Bellator and PFL veteran — tested himself against the likes of Timur Khizriev and former champion Brendan Loughnane on the sport's biggest non-UFC stages.