Justin Gonzales speaks to MMA UK’s Myles Painter ahead of his fight in the main event at LFA 84 against Jake Childers for the vacant LFA Featherweight belt on 10th July 2020.
Myles Painter: You are scheduled to face Jake Childers on July 10 for the LFA featherweight title in the main event of LFA 84. How do you see this fight playing out given the fact that both you and your opponent are undefeated?
Justin Gonzales: Man, I feel my 0 means a lot more than his. I’ve fought the best I could find that would accept the fight. He’s fought tomato cans. Regardless I see myself beating this dude up, getting that stoppage, walking out of there hand raised, belt around my waist, with a nice check in my hand!!
Myles Painter: Why did you decide to take up mixed martial arts as your profession of choice?
Justin Gonzales: I’ve always been a fan of MMA but when I started this game I had no intention of taking it this far. I have a degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. I have a well-paying job I don’t need to fight but I enjoy it and is what I want to do! I started the summer after my freshman year of college and wanted something a little different ( I wrestled since I was 8 years old) and I started training with some of my first wrestling coaches over the summer by the end of summer they told me I should really consider doing this so I told my friend/teammate let’s try it out. LOVED IT!! Never looked back!!
Myles Painter: Throughout your career as a professional, you have appeared on several stages, including an appearance during the third season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in 2019 what is the one piece of either professional or personal advice that has stuck with you?
Justin Gonzales: There’s a lot it’s hard to limit it to just one but from various wise men and women who have supported me “If you’re always ready, you never have to be ready” “if you’re not growing in this game you’re getting passed” and from me personally “keep it fun, enjoy what you do” kind of similar to the whole Confucius quote “choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”
Myles Painter: When you are not in the gym, what do you like to do to unwind?
Justin Gonzales: I’m almost always in the gym whether it be MMA, BJJ, wrestling, lifting, running, etc… but it really depends on what’s going on I love enjoying time with family and friends. It could be snowboarding, taking out the jet skis, playing some paintball, escape rooms, or going out and having a few beers.
Myles Painter: Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
Justin Gonzales: This is a tough one. A lot of people think I got my fight name ‘J Train’ from the way I fight but really when in college we’d get together and watch the show Jersey Shore. One day they had a call-in/text in and they asked your name, sex, a little about you and they used that to give you a nickname. ‘J Train’ is what they gave me and it stuck ever since.
Myles Painter: As a mixed martial artist, what would your dream venue to perform in be?
Justin Gonzales: Another tough one. The biggest most world-renown venue probably. It’s a toss-up between Madison Square Garden if you’re fighting there you’re a star!! Old school boxing some of the greatest fights went down there. Or The Coliseum in Rome. The OG of all Venues where It all started!! We’re modern-day gladiators!!
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