Kenny Florian vs Takanori Gomi under consideration for UFC Fight Night 21 on March 31 in North Carolina
by Jesse Holland on Jan 21, 2010 10:28 AM EST
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Former Pride FC lightweight champion and Japanese fighting deity Takanori Gomi (31-5) could jump right into the 155-pound title hunt when he makes his Octagon debut against perennial lightweight contender Kenny Florian (12-4) at UFC Fight Night 21 on March 31 in North Carolina.
ESPN's "MMA Live" tweets the bout is expected to serve as the night's main event.
Gomi recently signed a multi-fight deal to compete for the UFC after fighting exclusively for Japanese promotions.
In his heyday, the "Fireball Kid" was considered perhaps the best lightweight fighter on the planet. He has struggled recently, however, losing two of his last four matches to competition that is far from elite.
Nonetheless, Gomi is a fantastic and exciting addition to the talent-rich 155-pound class, which is currently dominated by division champion, B.J. Penn. Gomi and Penn actually went toe-to-toe at "Rumble on the Rock 4" back in 2003, with "The Prodigy" coming away with a convincing submission (rear naked choke) victory.
A rematch is a tantalizing prospect -- though don't expect "KenFlo" to ever let such a scenario materialize.
Florian has twice been to the mountaintop in the lightweight division -- and twice came away empty. To his credit, the Boston native always seems to come back stronger in his next fight, as evidenced by his second round destruction of the venerable Clay Guida back at UFC 107 on Dec. 12.
Quickly after the win, Florian expressed his desire to fight "top guys" every 3-4 months. A March 31 contest would still give him enough room to prepare for a 155-pound superfight when the UFC debuts in Boston on August 28 of this year.
In addition, BJ Penn has begun contemplating an eventual return to the welterweight division should he get past Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Unless of course Gomi wins, which would all but guarantee he hangs around for a rematch.
If not, it will be interesting to see if and when "The Prodigy" sets sail -- and if that vacancy finally gives Florian the chance to become champion.
Stay tuned.
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Hmmm
Dont know about this one. Good main event for a fight night but i was sure they where going to put it on a ppv awell. It about time Kenny gave mmalive so blood info he usally keep his cards close to his chest. Maybe Franklin told him one of his source’s or somthing.
by Jamie The Peach Hunter on Jan 21, 2010 10:39 AM EST reply actions
Shit yes.
That’s one hell of a free fight.
by HappyLittleTreez on Jan 21, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
kenny is still #2 contender
no matter who he faces. gomi will prob lose this fight and beat everyone else.florian vs maynard or edgar whoever florian is a really good fighter. i don’t like his brother yelling the whole fight but oh well
by mikeybear32 on Jan 21, 2010 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
This a great headline to wake up to
I’m a little surprised they are throwing Gomi is such deep water so quickly. I thought they might toss him a few bones first. It’s just letting Gomi know from the door that there is no way but down. Kenflo wins.
The one and only Smitty...
Gomi and Aioki
will have problems here in the states. I see Kenny taking this quite easily and I see Melendez (who trains at Caesar Gracie’s) giving Aioki a problem too! He’ll be bigger and stronger with enough BJJ skills to off set what Aoki will try to do!
Wish they would have given Gomi at least on warm-up
Gomi still has a lot of fights left in him, but debuting with loss is not good for anyone. I think it will be closer than most think, but I still see Kenny taking it.
I don’t know about Aoki/Melendez. Gilbert is still to sloppy in his striking, and All it takes is one mistake for Aoki to sink in a SUB. I would have to go Aoki at 60/40.
"I’m a very unique fighter. If there were two of me, I’d be unnecessary." – Sam Morgan
the law of averages says it'll be held either in, or somewhere near a waffle house
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
by McArthur... on Jan 21, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
HAHAHAHA FUNNY SHIT MAC!
I moved down to NC almost three years ago….from NY. Man it fn sux here!!! If you want a boring ass life, come on down!
Hendersonville, in the mountains
it sucks this time of year but with good weather there are always things to do if you like the outdoors
Yea you're right
and I do like all of that shit, but I had that in NY as well. Plus the Hamptons and the City. also have the Casino’s!!! I almost went to one around here, but thank God I didn’t bc they don’t serve ALCOHOL!!!!!!!!!! WHAT? REALLY? No joke, ever heard of such a thing? A dry casino? This is the crazy shit I deal with in the south!!!
dude they JUST passed the law in the casino in cherokee to serve alcohol
its still BS though because you have to pay for it, $3 for bud light at that, but at least they are getting better…
WOW, didn't know that.
It is weak that you have to pay for it, but yea better than nothing! I’m not even a big drinker, but at a casino it’s a MUST! Along with other shit!
An alcohol free casino
That is messed up.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
No shit...LOL
funny story: I had plans on going than I heard that it was a dry Casino. I said to the person “there is no such thing” and laughed at him, wouldn’t you? So, I call them up and get some lady on the phone. I ask her, do you serve alcohol in the Casino and she (without laughing) said no we do not. I said " how do you have any business?" She said " you should see it on the wknds." I said " if you served alcohol, it would be busy all week and busier on the wknds!" That was when I moved down here about 2.5 years ago. 2.5 years of hell that is!!!!! I guess they finally smartened up, but charging is the wrong way about it!
BOW
you going to Montreal bro?
"He wants to get in close and use that reach advantage" - Mike Goldberg
"Half of this game is 90% Mental" - Tim Sylvia
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
Anyone interested in a dumbest MMA quote of all time poll?
by Bigger Zino on Jan 21, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
yeah for sure. It's no different in Canada
Well I haven’t forgot you trying to help me out for 101 – so at least a few drinks will be on me if we all get there.
"He wants to get in close and use that reach advantage" - Mike Goldberg
"Half of this game is 90% Mental" - Tim Sylvia
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
Anyone interested in a dumbest MMA quote of all time poll?
by Bigger Zino on Jan 21, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
no problem... I will pour them into a brown envelope
"He wants to get in close and use that reach advantage" - Mike Goldberg
"Half of this game is 90% Mental" - Tim Sylvia
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
Anyone interested in a dumbest MMA quote of all time poll?
by Bigger Zino on Jan 21, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
I am 90% confirmed (life always throws curve balls - could still)
so far
Mac , jay and I are carpooling because we all live in the Toronto area.
OJR is meeting us in Montreal. I would imagine well will find Alpha somewhere too..
"He wants to get in close and use that reach advantage" - Mike Goldberg
"Half of this game is 90% Mental" - Tim Sylvia
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
Anyone interested in a dumbest MMA quote of all time poll?
by Bigger Zino on Jan 21, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
I woulda liked to see Gomi vs. Guida...i think Kenflo's too much for Gomi, esp as a first fight
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
I like that match-up better too
Gomi/Kenny is putting all of your eggs in one basket if you ask me
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
by McArthur... on Jan 21, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
I didn't even think of that...
Makes no sense cuz he will most likely lose and he instantly will lose a ton of cred. Especially to the casual fans who don’t know him well already.
I am happy to watch it but I think it will be a lopsided match
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
on the other hand
Losing to Kenny in your first fight in the octagon would be greatly more respectable than potentially dropping one Guida.
by PSYQO78 on Jan 21, 2010 12:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Diaz beat this guy "Stoned"
I still think this guy is clueless that Nick Diaz was deemed “too stoned” and beat him with not just a wild punch but, by a submission and just a rear naked choke….a rare GoGoPlata….nuff said lol
being stoned during a fight doesn' tneccesarily hurt you
especially for someone like diaz who proabbly focuses better high.
Tons of guys come to BJJ training stoned and do fine
I wanna see Ashley Sahffer on your TIT
AMERICA.....FUCK YEAH
agreed bren...i do it as much as I can..oddly enough it really helps with self-control,concentration, breathing, and patience
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
by McArthur... on Jan 21, 2010 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
i've thought about it but
i’d probably gas way too quickly
I wanna see Ashley Sahffer on your TIT
AMERICA.....FUCK YEAH
I am a guy losing weight trying to get down to LHW lol
i need nothing that will hurt my cardio, if it helped it i’d smoke a pound
by ThePunisher on Jan 21, 2010 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
The weed itself doesn’t hurt weight loss, but all the Taco Bell and Cheetos you eat afterward do.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
and Funions
"Because real champions beat guys 20 pounds heavier than them"-jay.
I guess Brock Lesnar isn't a real champ, nor Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Lyoto Machida,
by bigbadbunbun on Jan 21, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
im sure he wasnt stoned during the fight
the high doesnt last forever, so unless he blazed like an hour or less before he wasnt high. if he did blaze that day he is an idiot cause hed be dragged out and probably was mucnhed out haha
I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.
I think it’ll be in Charlotte…and I’ll be there!!!
by Charles Walker on Jan 21, 2010 10:52 AM EST reply actions
I dont see the sense in this
I think its Joe Silva still trying to prove that the UFC guys are better than all of the Pride guys.
If Kenny wins, Which he should, what does that do for Kenny? not much.
If Gomi wins though, you do have another cahllenge for Penn, but people might not buy into it if Gomi gets a shot after just 1 fight
I wanna see Ashley Sahffer on your TIT
AMERICA.....FUCK YEAH
good test
I think Kenny is a good test for Gomi in his first match in the ufc
I dont think we should count the fireball kid out
He has been losing to terrible opponents. But he was on top my guess hes been bored hasnt been training the way he needs to. The UFC is a real test for him. He might train his ass off and come in real hungry. Doubt it tho i got kenny tko first round
"Because real champions beat guys 20 pounds heavier than them"-jay.
I guess Brock Lesnar isn't a real champ, nor Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Lyoto Machida,
Bojangles Arena
@ SAC165
I have a friend that works at the Bojangles Arena on Independence Blvd. (OLD CRICKET) And told me that on their event calender it said booked on the 31st and TBA as the event. That is the same venue that previous UFC events where held in NC
My guess is Charlotte
Outside of another Fight Night at a military base, Charlotte’s the largest city and would be the best guess I would think.
Wow...
This event is looking better than some of the PPVs… lots of great fights and it’s free! Sweet, definitely watching this.
I hope Fireball wins, would make the lightweight division a lot more interesting. With nate and diego going back to WW and BJ probably following after he kills Franky, the LW division needs more guys. Its a make or break fight for Fireball. Hope the fight happens.
I think this wud be a cool fight.
i just wana see Gomi in the cage already! Last time i seen him fight it was live in las vegas against Nick Diaz. 1 of the best fights i ever seen!
Great fight
Good to see that they’re not wasting anytime with Gomi, usually tune-up fights end up going wrong (unless it’s against a complete can) so it’s good that the UFC are giving Gomi a big fight immediately. Both him and Kenny have a lot to prove, Kenny needs to be able to win the big fight whilst Gomi needs to prove that he’s still world class and isn’t past his prime. Whoever wins will probabaly get the next title shot as a win over Kenny would be huge for Gomi whilst dominant wins over Gomi and Guida as well as Diego’s move back to 170 could get Kenny another title fight especially if BJ leaves the division as well.
I’ve got Kenny winning by submission in round 2 as I personally think that Gomi is past his best but if he comes into this fight focused and renewed then the Fireball Kid could prove me wrong.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
I think this happened because Diego moved back to ww.
I’ll bet anything the ufc would’ve preferred a rematch between Diego & Kenflo. Having Kenny fight Gomi is not a bad second option.
Damn it wouldve been nice to see Gomi vs Maynard
Just so Gomi could KO that overhyped can in the first minute of the first round, Gomi doesnt bangup faces like Nate he leaves people on the canvus.
If you dont like drugs then dont do them.....give them to me!
lol i wud love 2 see that 2 dog!
gray trying 2 fight gomi the same way as diaz. maynard wud be out cold in the 1st miute!
Haha I wish mate, can't stand Gray
I’m going to be a fan for life of the first guy who KOs Gray.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
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