LFA 8 headliner Jesse Bazzi says opponent Cee Jay Hamilton won't even come close

A gold rush is on at LFA 8 as flyweights Jesse Bazzi and Cee Jay Hamilton angle for a shot at the title.

The 125-pound standouts headline tonight’s event, which airs on AXS TV from TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C.. It’s a fight both see as a chance to take the next step in their careers.

Hamilton (10-4) comes into the bout on a five-fight winning streak and feels he’s already qualified to fight for the belt. But he’s maintaining his focus on Bazzi (6-1).

“Absolutely (I should fight for the title), but like my coach says, we take it one fight at a time,” he told AXS TV’s Ron Kruck. “We’re focusing on Jesse Bazzi. Then after that, if (LFA President) Ed (Soares) calls and tells me he wants me to fight for it, so be it – I’m your guy.

“(Bazzi is a) tall southpaw. He’s good, but at this time in my life in the sport, I’m not going to be fighting any bums. I’m going to go in there and get my hand raised.”

Bazzi, fresh off a win over Jared Scoggins (the younger brother of UFC standout Justin Scoggins), said he’ll use his length to keep Hamilton at distance and land punches.

“He won five straight, but his record is 10-4, so he started off as 5-4,” Bazzi said. “So he does have flaws, and people found them. I’m going to open him up.

“If he tries to shoot, my hands are going to be out there stuffing shots. I’m not even going to let him into wrestling range.”

The flyweights have good reason to get fired up. Prior to a merger between the RFA and Legacy FC, champions from both organizations were snatched up by the UFC for the 24th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The Soares-led promotion, RFA, lent its 125-pound champion, Alexandre Pantoja, to the show while Legacy FC champ Damacio Page also made the cut for a season built around regional champs.

Pantoja made it to the show’s semifinals before losing a decision to Shooto champ Hiromasa Ogikubo. But he was subsequently signed to the UFC and made his octagon debut in January, outpointing fellow cast mate Eric Shelton at UFC on FOX 23. In post-fight interviews, he aimed high for his future career, calling out two-time title challenger Joseph Benavidez.

Bazzi and Hamilton are a long way from that position. But as the past year as shown, things can turn around quickly if you’re in the right place.

For more on LFA 8, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

LFA 8 is live on AXS TV tonight at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT). Make sure to tweet along using #LFA8. AXS TV airs new, live fights almost every Friday night in 2017. Find AXS TV on your TV right here: www.axs.tv/fights.