Takanori Gomi in talks for Affliction debut against Brett Cooper at 'Trilogy' on August 1 (Updated)
by Stefan Manojlovic on Jun 11, 2009 10:55 AM EDT
Email
Print
***UPDATE: MMA Fanhouse has spoken to Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio who informed them that despite early consideration, the fighters could not come to terms on a weight class and the bout will not be taking place.
Former PRIDE FC lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (30-5) is in talks to make his Affliction debut against Brett Cooper (9-4) at "Trilogy" from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Aug. 1, according to MMAweekly.
"The Fireball Kid" recently snapped a two-fight losing skid in the Sengoku promotion.
He first lost a decision to Russian journeyman Sergey Golyaev (13-7) at Sengoku 6 last November. Then he had another lackluster outing against Satoru Kitaoka at Sengoku "Rebellion" in January, tapping out to an Achilles lock just 1:41 into the very first round.
It was a major setback for a fighter as revered as he is. Gomi didn’t look like the same dominant fighter who once tore through PRIDE’s lightweight ranks with ease, which led to people questioning his heart and whether he still had what it takes to compete on an active level.
Gomi managed to silence some of his critics and get back to his winning ways by obliterating Takashi Nakakura with a barrage of strikes in an exciting showdown this past May when he went back to his roots and paid homage to the organization that kickstarted his career at Shooto "Final Tradition."
Now with that victory it appears he’s refocused and motivated to once again climb up the lightweight ladder, continuing that journey when he clashes against Brett Cooper at Affliction 3: "Trilogy."
Cooper has one bout under the Affliction banner, a TKO victory over Patrick Speight at Affliction 2: "Day of Reckoning" that took place on January 24. Since then he went on to defeat Joe Cronin (12-10) via doctor stoppage at Call to Arms 1 last month.
He now faces the biggest challenge of his career against Gomi and a win would boost his stock considerably.
Affliction 3: "Trilogy" will feature a main event between WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and top-ranked division player, Josh Barnett. Former Dream middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi is also expected to make his fighting debut on American shores against Renato "Babalu" Sobral in a light heavyweight showdown.
To check out the latest fight card and rumours for Affliction 3: "Trilogy" click here.
49 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
He made his US debut against BJ in Rumble at the Rock in HI, and got his ass whooped for it lol.
by Pat on Jun 11, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
this is what will happen if Gomi fights any UFC or bigger LW’s!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfU7ZyLV4vk
I was telling my wife I love how all the lesser educated guys always mention the gogo like it happens regularly!
by kevin on Jun 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know why diaz fans are so proud of this fight. Gomi killed him for every second of that fight until he gassed and fell into it. If it was a guillotine instead of a gogo, everyone would just talk about it like “ah, he got lucky.”
by NameNotRequired on Jun 11, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I am probably a bigger Gomi fan then I am of Diaz, but I thought it was an amazing fight. Both fighters looked amazing during different parts of that fight!
by john on Jun 11, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow! Way to step it up Gomi! I’ve always wanted to see Gomi fight Brett Cooper!! Wow!!! Way to take a challenge!
by RedDog on Jun 11, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
He lost yeah, but I’d hardly call it an ass whipping.
by massiveammounts on Jun 11, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Gomi may not be a top LW anymore, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be exciting to watch him fight. I’m pumped for this Affliction card.
by War Wagon on Jun 11, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
The match is off, but hopefully that doesnt stop Gomi from appearing on the affliction trilogy card. Im sure Bret Cooper isnt the only fighter in the world willing to fight Gomi.
This is really a good sign though that Atencio isnt content on where Affliction is right now and that he is going to continue to bring world class athletes to the USA that havent fought here often!
by john on Jun 11, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I doubt we’ll see Gomi on this card, but we’ll see him stateside soon enough. Probably in the UFC LW division if this is Affliction’s last event. I hope it’s not. These cards are sweet.
I think Gomi could hang in the UFC just fine. He might be best suited to the WEC featherweight division, but is that big enough a stage for him? Doubt it.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 11, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
JOHN, I know you’ve been looking for odds on Hathaway, they are up on BoDog:
249 John Hathaway
- 155
250 Rick Story
- +125
by ViolentMike on Jun 11, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Hathaway at -155 sounds great to me!!!!
THanks a lot VM
by john on Jun 11, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
US Debut?????? Gomi fought in Pride 33 in Las Vegas. Is Vegas not part of the US?
by dave v on Jun 11, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
Why the heck does everyone keep commenting about when Gomi made his U.S. debut? This article does not mention anything about him “making a U.S. debut.”
The only thing it says is he making his Affliction (promotional) debut…
by Cole on Jun 11, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I can’t get the Diaz fight out of my mind; I figured maybe he watched Raging Bull before the fight and thought Jake Lamata’s strategy of keeping his hands at his sides and eating punch’s was a good idea??
by O damn he got caught on Jun 11, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
Diaz definitely worked him over in that one. Nevertheless, I am excited to see Gomi on this card. Trilogy is stacked. Hopefully he is completely focused and delivers a great performance. There are a lot of fights waiting for him here in the states if he can get back to his dominate self.
by Cole on Jun 11, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
lol,He just gassed that night O damn,that’s all!I just hope that he would have more luck in the States this time!
by Alpha Male 360 on Jun 11, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Gassed…and got picked apart for 75% of the fight. Diaz got dropped, but he still kicked his ass for the most part.
by Big Daddio on Jun 11, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
You might want to go back and watch it again.
by massiveammounts on Jun 11, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Dan Quinn calls out Nick Diaz
Nick, the fountianof youth makes me destroy you in punching!
by Alpha Male 360 on Jun 11, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why would Gomi sign with Affliction?? I know they like to cross-promote and stuff, but EVERYONE knows that if you want to fight the toughest lightweights, you go to DREAM or UFC. But Affliction? I guess Gomi still wants to take the easy road by beating Dan Lauzon and Chris Horodecki, but with his recent slump, they would probably beat him.
Since the Diaz fight, Gomi has been a coward. Going to WVR, then to freaking Shooto to try to win fights, while avoiding the best competition. Thank God Kitaoka showed him he couldn’t hide in WVR.
I wanted to see him try to prove his relevance with the DREAM or UFC’s LWs, but I guess I will still have to wait.
by Syn on Jun 11, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
because he can’t hang with the guys in the UFC, they are too big. Diego, sherk, stevenson on mame him!
by kevin on Jun 11, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Gomi is that small. Didn’t he fight at 163 in Pride? I do think he needs a better strength-and-conditioning program though. I don’t know why, but S&C is not taken as seriously outside the US.
by Pat on Jun 11, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s funny!
Just a little advice go back and look at Gomi’s wins over the course of his career before you post comments that are going to make you sound like an ass.
Even if you probably aren’t familiar with some of the guys it doesn’t mean they’re not good fighters.
Gomi has more quality wins over a career than any other lightweight fighter you can name.
by massiveammounts on Jun 11, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Umm, BJ has more quality wins than Gomi. BJ has also lost to better competition than Gomi (Machida, Hughes, GSP x 2, prime Jens). BJ has also beat the crap out of Gomi.
by Pat on Jun 11, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
MassiveAmmounts- I said SINCE the Diaz fight. Some advice for you, learn how to read the comments I post before you make yourself sound like an ass.
I didn’t criticize any part of Gomi that fought in PRIDE, or his past career at all. I wasn’t hardcore into MMA till after PRIDE fell, but I am VERY familiar with the names he’s beaten. I know what I’m talking about dude.
The whole point of my post was questioning his motives behind signing with an organization that only has 3 LW fighters. He SHOULD have signed with DREAM or UFC. But I guess he thinks he doesn’t have to prove anything anymore (I mean, he was the PRIDE LW champ, and as my little friend here says, has a bunch of quality wins over quality fighters). Maybe Gomi is just here for a paycheck now.
by Syn on Jun 11, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Gomi can’t debut in the US twice, he fought in Las Vegas against Nick Diaz back in PRide 33.
by dave v on Jun 11, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions
Read the f@cking article, nowhere does it mention it’s his US debut, IT’S HIS AFFLICTION DEBUT!!!!!
by attakdog on Jun 11, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Why are you so angry? It said U.S. debut, then it was edited.
by Pat on Jun 11, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
gomi needs to stay away from america if he wants to have a successfull carreer, there are too many no names that can beat him, same as kid yam.
by sac165 on Jun 11, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions
for sure man, but i expect more from gomi in the u.s. than i do from the kid
by Jared on Jun 11, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
even out of america! From what I’ve heard, he’s very lazy, doesn’t train hard and is impossible to negotiate with! I’ve always been a fan, but his time may be done!
by kevin on Jun 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Who have you “heard” this from?
Are you an insider with reliable sources or just saying that to sound like you actually have more information than the average guy posting comments.
by massiveammounts on Jun 11, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
massiveammounts gets butt hurt when you diss Gomi so be careful with the comments guys.
by jay on Jun 11, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess so huh. Well, I do know for a fact that he’s (management) is tough to deal with, which is normal for china and Japan! He obviously doesn’t like to train very much, look at his improvement and stamina over the years (plus there are many articles on this). Any other questions massive amounts? I’m not even bashing Gomi, I’m a fan, but I don’t think the competition he’s fought in Japan would make him ready for Diego or sherk (I hate sherk). Any good wrestler takes him down and pounds him out!
by kevin on Jun 11, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Uh, Gomi already made his US debut in Feb. 2007 against Nick Diaz in Las Vegas.
by William on Jun 11, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions
William you stole what i was going to say… but yeah it is not his debut.
by Gil on Jun 11, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions
its been said by bas many times if two fighters of equal skillset are fighting the stronger one will win and anyone who just will look at a picture of both can tell diaz is much larger of a guy nick than gomi. i hope gomi strictly fights at lw and doesnt take this fight.
by butters on Jun 11, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions
The Honda Center is in Anaheim, not Los Angeles
by Falcon on Jun 11, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions
This Affliction card is looking great, Fedor, Mousasi and Gomi all fighting on a US PPV is huge news. Time to see whether Gomi is still relevant in MMA.
by David W-S on Jun 11, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
A win over an Affliction LW still wont answer that question.
by Syn on Jun 11, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
True Affliction’s LW division is poor but a dominating win for Gomi would at least show that he has something left and could get him a deal with another promotion like Dream or the UFC.
by David W-S on Jun 11, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Gomi is and always has been extrememely overrated. He may have won the Grand Prix, but I remember when he was ranked #1 LW. I’m not too dissapointed, cause if he actually fought stellar competition in the UFC, he’s have 2 losses and head back to Japan.
by Amos on Jun 11, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions
Not if you ever want to see Gomi alive again
by RedDog on Jun 11, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on MMAmania.com
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
