Takanori Gomi: I hope to sign with either UFC or Strikeforce

by Eduardo Cruz on Nov 16, 2009 11:12 AM EST

Quoteworthy:

“I disembarked in Las Vegas on Friday 13 with two goals in mind. The priority is to solve my professional situation in America before my marriage. I hope the negotiations go on and I can have a starting point next year. My friend Tito Ortiz has been supporting me whereas he knows the scenes from this side of Pacific. I will talk to UFC officers and I hope a good agreement this time to show off my potential and get the belt that belongs to me. If I haven’t good conversations with Zuffa, Strikeforce is an option and I hope I’m not here only to tourism.”

Former Pride FC lightweight deity Takanori Gomi talks about his desire to sign with one of two US-based fight promotions while visiting Las Vegas to catch the Nov. 14 boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. "The Fireball Kid" flirted with a stateside move a few years ago when Zuffa — the UFC parent company — purchased the Japan-based mixed martial arts promotion; however, he decided to stay loyal and close to home, competing in front of the fans who watched him ascend to stardom in the "Land of the Rising Sun." He was persuaded once again to fight on US soil until Affliction MMA collapsed and left him high and dry. This may be Gomi's final attempt at landing a deal in North America -- but which promotion will better suit him? Thoughts?

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Comments

If Gomi ever does sign with the UFC I see him not being able to handle it mentally and just collapsing. I don’t think he can even hang with the bottom of the Top 10 in the UFC

by ViolentMike on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions

I hope he signs UFC so it can be proved that he is done. I wasn’t around for Gomi’s PRIDE dominance, but from what I seen of him since, he isn’t the same guy who was wreckin fools over there. If he signs soon, give him Tyson Griffin, which will put Tyson in a No. 1 contender match vs Frankie Edgar (I’d LOVE that rematch) Florian, or Diego.

by Synyster_08 on Nov 16, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

I meant to add if’/when Tyson beats Gomi, will put Tyson into a No. 1 cont….

by Synyster_08 on Nov 16, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Rematches that are needed...

BJ Penn in the UFC and Nick Diaz in Strike Force!!! I would love to see them both. I hate that BJ still takes a back seat to this guy.

by Da Monkey on Nov 16, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

You’re harsh a little bit syn. He had a tough year but he’s far to be done. I think he could make a nice addition to the LW roster.

by Alpha Male on Nov 16, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

There are few fighters that I have wanted to see in the UFC more then Gomi!

VM: I disagree, as you would expect. I think Gomi could compete with most of the UFC’s top LW’s! I always thought he was very strong mentally. He came out on top of countless wars! That takes tons of mental fortitude!

Tyson is a terrible UFC debut for the guy. Thats just setting him up for failure. Im not saying that they need to feed him a can in his debut, but give him a better match up stylistically. I think the perfect fight for his UFC debut is:
Gomi vs. Frankie edgar! Thats a WAR!
However, Im not biased enough to ever think that Gom i can beat BJ, but I would love to see a rematch because I think Gomi could do better then he did in the 1st fight and both fighters have grown a lot so we would see a lot more of striking exchanges between the two then we did in the 1st fight which was basically a grappling match!

I would really like to see Kawajiri come to the UFC cause he could bust up many of the UFC’s top wrestlers!

by John G. on Nov 16, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Good post johnny. I totally agree.

by Alpha Male on Nov 16, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

than, x2

by argyle on Nov 16, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Japanese Help Wanted

IMO, the UFC is noticably deficient in Japanese talent. Worldwide the “SuperPowers” of MMA are the USA, Brazil, and Japan. These three nations have risen to the top of combat sports, but only 2 of them are proportionally represented in the UFC. I think this is largely due to the UFC’s exclusivity rules and the extreme distaste the Japanese have for Dana White. But I also think that American fans are biased against Japanese fighters and the UFC is aware of this. Who’s the last Japanese to get a title shot in the UFC? Caol Uno nine years ago? Okami was No 1 contender for years and never got a shot (even though he was the only man in the UFC with a “W” over Anderson Silva and they could have hyped up Silva avenging his loss) and got skipped over by guys like Lutter, Leites, and Cote. I’d love to see The Fireball Kid vs The Whining Brat. Bring Aoki with him!

by (shonuff) on Nov 17, 2009 2:29 AM EST up reply actions