ESPN teases Takanori Gomi vs Kenny Florian for UFC 'Fireball' debut
by Jesse Holland on Jan 3, 2010 11:44 AM EST
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Former Pride FC lightweight champion and Japanese fighting deity Takanori Gomi (31-5) could jump right into the UFC 155-pound title hunt when he makes his UFC debut in 2010 -- which ESPNs "MMA Live" tweets could be against perennial contender Kenny "Kenflo" Florian (12-4).
When asked about the rumored mtach-up at the UFC 108 post-fight press conference, company President Dana White was expectedly non-committal in his "Could be" response.
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 or April 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.
Imagine the fireworks for Florian vs. Gomi in "Beantown."
Of course, we may be putting the cart ahead of the horse, but if "MMA Live" has the inside scoop, the pending debut of "The Fireball Kid" could definitely be a memorable one.
Stay tuned.
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Florian takes it
How much does Gomi cut to make LW? Usually the Japs and what not just fight at natural weights don’t they? So I think Florian will bully Gomi and get the finish with a KO or TKO
I thought the UFC might try baby him and get Gomi to fight some one with a kinda big name so they could set up the BJ rematch
Wouldn’t be surprised if Stout gets him now
PRIDE LW limit was 160, and Gomi used to cut to make that limit.
So, you based your whole fight prediction off of faulty analysis. Try once more.
Right
Was just assuming, but still think Kenny’s new training camp and what not schools Gomi. Gomi lost not quote ‘losing two of his last four matches to competition that is far from elite’
While Kenny’s last 2 losses are BJ Penn and Sherk.
How bout that for a more accurate prediction? :P
Much better.
I have no doubt that Gomi loses this fight, which is all the more reason NOT to make it. Give Gomi a chance to have a good UFC career, don’t rush him into failure…
Joe Silva is a moron if he makes this fight.
I get ya
I’m not writing him off. He can be effective against the majority of UFC top contenders. I just don’t see him beating Kenny as well as BJ.
I’d love to see him fight: Diaz (for the story and the actual fight), Joe Daddy, Sanchez, hell even Huerta would be good. I think he will be competitive as long as he takes it serious. But like it was pointed out, lost to far from elite competition and the UFC pretty much has THE elite of LWs in MMA
good post anonymous!
IMO, Gomi will beat Kenny, just not in his UFC debut!
This is how Gomi’-s UFC career should go!":
fight #1: Spencer Fisher
fight #2: Frankie Edg5ar (fight of the year)
- Kenny Florian
- bJ!
this isn't the WWE....
we shouldn’t be worried about “rushing into failure” or “giving him a chance”. i don’t want to hear about how good gomi is for three months because he can beat justin bucholz or shannon gugerty. this is a big name signing; a soft touch is a waste of the signing.
formerly JB, trying to figure out this whole new SB deal. oh, and another thing; i'm not impressed by your performance.
The guy is losing to cans right now.
Why not give him a mid-level fighter to make sure someone like Kenny won’t kill the poor guy? Why make him fight the number 2 fighter in the organization in his first fight? One warm up fight isn’t going to waste that much time.
Frank Mir packed 30+ pounds of solid muscle onto his body in five months. Why hasn't anyone called him out for steroid use? Is it because he never wrestled for Vince McMahon? I give Mir credit for his taste in strippers/wives, not his fighting skills or his personality.
"Japs?" Really?
I’m sure you didn’t mean it to be offensive, but that term is very offensive, sort of like like calling Paul Daley a “spade” or Dustin Hazlett a “cracker.”
Really didn't mean for it to sound that way
Last thing I want is to offend over something like that. My bad.
Apologies
Gomi can win this
i think he can ko florian never been a fan of florian and would love to see one of these japan fighters get some ufc wins
Gomi gets choked out easily
he’s lazy and never has cardio, eventually Florian gets it down and subs him
Terrible match making. Give Gomi an easy fight for his UFC debut.
Joe Silva is really a moron if he makes this fight.
He should be fighting Guida or Stout
Someone with a good name, but is beatable. If he loses to Florian what do they do with him?
Frank Mir packed 30+ pounds of solid muscle onto his body in five months. Why hasn't anyone called him out for steroid use? Is it because he never wrestled for Vince McMahon? I give Mir credit for his taste in strippers/wives, not his fighting skills or his personality.
No joke. A Florian fight might be the fastest way to sell a fight with BJ Penn, but if Gomi loses, it’s such a waste.
Let’s remember that Gomi gassed horribly against Tony Hervey just the other day. That’s doesn’t bode well for Gomi’s UFC run unless he’s taken up slow.
“A Florian fight might be the fastest way to sell a fight with BJ Penn.”
Exactly.
UFC brass probably thinks no one wants to see Florian fight for the title again given his chances against BJ, so why not use him to legitimize someone like Gomi, who they can sell as a legit challenger? With so few legit contenders, Florian (who everyone sees as a top level fighter) is an excellent way to mint some instant challengers.
And if Gomi loses, it’s not a waste. The UFC didn’t spend any marketing capital through him via TUF and he doesn’t currently have the rep that someone like Cro-Cop had when he first came to the UFC.
He might keep the fight close
But Florian should win. Unless Gomi comes back hot again. He just hasn’t looked good lately. Hopefully it was just a phase he was going through.
Frank Mir packed 30+ pounds of solid muscle onto his body in five months. Why hasn't anyone called him out for steroid use? Is it because he never wrestled for Vince McMahon? I give Mir credit for his taste in strippers/wives, not his fighting skills or his personality.
Yeah I think it was. The long lay off, the demotivation for training and taking his opponents lightly was probably the reasons.
Now he can go train at AKA like he was doing the other day and he will be ready for any type of wrestlers that we got in the division. D’ont forget that he was trashing Nick before gassing and get submitted. Gomi can go back at the top contention for the title. I just don’t see him beating BJ though.
Interesting fight either way, we as fans can't complain
I just would have liked to see them hype him up a bit before throwing him to the wolves.
Frank Mir packed 30+ pounds of solid muscle onto his body in five months. Why hasn't anyone called him out for steroid use? Is it because he never wrestled for Vince McMahon? I give Mir credit for his taste in strippers/wives, not his fighting skills or his personality.
BJ
Will destroy both of them again. Dana needs to sign aoki.
i would like to see aoki and if he’s as bad*** as he thinks against BJ Penn. that’s the only LW fight i’m truly excited to see. KenFlo can’t beat BJ, and the rest of the LW’s waiting for the BJ Buzzsaw all fit the same mold: strong wrestlers with decent standup, usually not as good Diego’s….and we saw the absolute brutal beating that was.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Jan 3, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions
I think gomi is going to lose two or three in a row in the UFC, the UFC should try and get Aoki
Hirota, Alvarez, Hornbuckle and Zaromskis wich would add a lot more depth and have many more great fights in the LW division even if the got either Alvarez or Aoki combined with one of the the other guys. Right now the UFC has some up and comers bet as far as anyone challenging BJ it`s Kflo and Diego with the best chance and BJ has already beat them both as of late so Aoki or Alvarez would be a welcome addition for sure.
nice
I’m glad to hear this.
I don’t like kenny so hope some way gomi wins, it won’t be easy but its true gomi has punchers chance.
It was funny last night when they kept the camera on gomi for a few mins, he seemed anxious to get rid of them.
by Phenomenal Angel on Jan 3, 2010 3:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah, not really a good fight for Gomi’s UFC debut. Florian will pick him apart, rock him with a punch and then submit him. I’m guessing this fight is being put together to save Edgar and Maynard from losing to Florian. I think Gomi vs Sanchez would be a better matchup and would be a very exciting brawl.
Gomi can take a punch. His problem is that he is a power puncher who tires himself out after 1.5 rounds, which is when he falls back on his wrestling and gets caught in submissions. Gomi has been wobbled a few times but the guy can stand in the pocket and take a lot of punches and give them back. Florian would spend the entire fight running when he isn’t working his ground game.
Gomi takes it IF
If KEnny tries to stand toe to toe he will get his lights put out plain and simple so i assume he will try what he did vs BJ and go for takedowns over and over and over till he gets it and Gomi doesnt have the takedown defense that BJ has so Florian has a chance should be interesting.
If you dont like drugs then dont do them.....give them to me!
u idiots
just because kenny “i finish fights” florian managed to knockdown the hyper punching bag that is clay guida for what his first knockdown ever does that mean hes gonna fucken hurt the man with probaby one of the greatest chin in the LW division…if Florian even attempts to trade he is going to sleep period
From what I hear alot is that Kenny is on the brink of retirement. With that said as long as Kenny comes in motivated he stands a great chance vs Gomi. Gomi isnt the world beater from Pride and Nick Diaz long range striking hurt Gomi bad. Kenny has length and very good striking. I think the biggest variable here is Gomi’s condition when he hits the octagon. A ready for a title run, in shape Gomi vs the Gomi we have seen the past few fights.
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