Fernando Gonzalez Eager to Join Tito Ortiz-Chuck Liddell 3 Card

Gonzalez joined the This Week in MMA with host Craig Allen on Friday to talk about his MMA career and potential Golden Boy Promotions bout

With bouts at Bellator 193 and ACB 87 under his belt heading into the latter half of 2018, Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (27-16) is looking to add another interesting matchup to his resume. After facing Lorenz Larkin (19-7, 1 NC) in January, Gonzalez took a long look at potential suitors before finally deciding to sign with Absolute Championship Berkut.

“I have a lot of respect for them (Bellator),” said Gonzalez. “They got my name to where it was, but I just didn’t want to burn that bridge or lose respect for them and you know, cross that line — they gave me my break, and so it was better to part ways.”

Upon signing with ACB, the option was given for Gonzalez to fight at both welterweight and middleweight. His first contest with the promotion came in June at ACB 87 as a number one contender matchup against Polish middleweight Piotr Strus (13-4-2, 1 NC). It was another tough loss, this time by split decision with Strus going on to fight champion Albert Duraev (12-3) at ACB 89. Due to ACB’s cancellations and management decisions, and with provisions written in his contract, Gonzalez has been given the opportunity to fight outside of the ACB banner.

“I have six fights with them,” said Gonzalez. “But right now the same thing, they’re allowing me to fight outside of the promotion just because they’re trying to play catchup with the guys that haven’t fought yet. So it’d be almost too soon yet for them to throw me back on. I put it out there if Albert Duraev needs an opponent, ’cause he was asking for a super fight so I know more than likely that’s the one they’ll put together. But if he didn’t have anybody I’d be willing to fight him — down there in Moscow.”

Gonzalez went on to say that a potential bout on the Tito Ortiz-Chuck Liddell trilogy card isn’t out of the question. Golden Boy Promotions’ first MMA event is set to take place on November 24 from The Forum in Inglewood, California and already includes former UFC vet Gleison Tibau on the under card.

“Right now we’re in the works of trying to get on that Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell three card,” said a confident Gonzalez. “One of my buddies had hit me up and his friend’s the matchmaker and they’re starting to put the undercard together. So my fingers are crossed, I’m hoping to get on that.”