Bellator MMA
Lance Gibson Jr. is ready to make a big splash in Bellator.
Lance Gibson Jr. has lived and breathed mixed martial arts his whole life. Don’t let his 2-0 record fool you.
The British Columbia native is the son of Lance Gibson Sr, a veteran of UFC, Shooto and Super Brawl. The two even share the “Fearless” nickname. Gibson Jr. is preparing to make his major league debut at Bellator 232 and he has a wealth of experience backing him. Along with his dad, Gibson Jr. will also have his step-mom and Bellator women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd in his corner.
“It’s freaking amazing. A four-time champion that is freaking special. You don’t get that just anywhere,” he told Bloody Elbow of Budd. “She has worked for everything she has achieved in this sport and I’ve been along the riding watching. It’s definitely an inspiration. It definitely tells me that I can be the best mixed martial artist that Bellator and this world has ever seen.”
In fact, Budd indirectly facilitated Gibson Jr.’s signing with Bellator.
“Julia was renegotiating her contract and I was fresh off my win at Mamba. I spoke to Scott [Coker] — I was sitting in the meeting which doesn’t really happen to someone who is an up-and-comer,” he shared. “I sold myself to him. Now my job is to show the world what I’m capable of.”
“I’ve been prepared for this my entire life. I have dedicated 22 years of my 24 years on this earth to mixed martial arts,” he said of his impending Bellator debut. “I thought I was going to be in the NBA or NFL. I found out when I was 17, I did my first amateur fight, I did just to try it out … Nobody wanted me to fight. I wanted to see if this was something I actually wanted to do. I went in there and dominated my opponent. I showcased my skills. From then on I was addicted.”
Gibson Jr. also touched on the long-running rumors of a Bellator show headed north of the border.
“I know it’s coming. Scott Coker has been mentioning it,” he said, noting Canadian talents like himself, Budd and Rory MacDonald. “We have a lot of great fighters coming out of here. A Vancouver show would be freaking amazing. We would definitely fill out a stadium.”
Gibson Jr. only has two professional fights to his credit, but he already has a win over WSOF veteran Myles Merola (11-8) at Mamba Fight Night 6 in B.C. Gibson Jr. feels no urgency to climb his way up the lightweight rankings but expects to be flirting with the 155-pound elite in “two to three years.”
Gibson Jr. (2-0) makes his promotional debut against Dominic Jones (2-2) at Bellator 232 on Saturday, Oct. 26.