PRIDE FC has given its 160-pound champion — and number one ranked lightweight in the world — Takanori Gomi (27-3) the “go sign” to fight in the Octagon, according to a recent report.
We don’t read Japanese, so we’ll go with this summary from FightOpinion.com:
Daily Sports reports in their Tuesday newspaper that Takanori Gomi has been given the “go-sign” by DSE to fight in UFC. In the pro-DSE report by DS, the paper claims that PRIDE will have Gomi fight on their 2/24 Las Vegas event and then send him into UFC as a PRIDE fighter to “make a raid on UFC” and overthrow UFC 155-pound champion Sean Sherk and fight BJ Penn. Unlike Mirko Cro Cop (who is fighting as a true UFC fighter), the paper claims that DSE will be Gomi’s booking agent for any fights in UFC.
Gomi is widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts. Dubbed “The Fireball Kid,” the 28-year-old Japanese star has torn through a “Who’s-Who” of lightweight fighters throughout his career.
Most recently, Gomi stopped Mitsuhiro Ishida in the first round via strikes at the PRIDE New Year’s Eve 2006 Shockwave show.
On the surface, this has a lot of similarities to the Wanderlei Silva project, which turned out to be a total train wreck. At UFC 61, Dana White made the shocking announcement that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell would fight the PRIDE 205-pound champion.
For various reasons, the fight never panned out and it ultimately turned into a verbal pissing match between Zuffa and Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE) — the company that owns PRIDE.
Recently, the UFC lured away one of PRIDE’s best fighters — Mirko “Cro Cop’ Filipovic — further souring an already strained relationship.
I’m not sure if this is merely saber rattling on the part of DSE or a desperate move to try and gain some traction in its losing war to be recognized as the premier MMA promotion in the world.
Perhaps, it’s both … and more.
The idea of Gomi fighting in the UFC, however, is nuts. He’s an awesome fighter who would give current UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk all he could handle.
And if this fight was to ever happen, and Gomi beat Sherk, it would give PRIDE the spark it needs to get back on track.
Does the UFC want — or even need — to take that kind of risk?
Certainly not.
But, as a fight fan, I’d love to see Gomi fight Sherk, Penn and whoever else.
I just don’t think it’ll happen anytime soon.
Check out this potentially prophetic article on MMAFighting.com today.
14 Comments »
I agree that there is no reason for Gomi to fight in the UFC unless he is a UFC fighter. Sherk is also out for a long time and BJ is fighting Jens in June. So even if this did happen it wouldnt beuntil the end of the year. Gomi is the pride golden boy. they do everything to help him win his matches i.e. refs standing up action, etc. same with Wandi. I think if he fights and loses Pride qwill cry foul. This hole thing just would be a mess. He fights at 160 also and is the reason Pride created the 160 division, not 155. Hed be screwed if he fouhgt in UFC. Not a good idea for either company but i would still like you love to see him fight!!!!!!
I agree with Griffin… He is not a UFC fighter. I think it would wreck the reputation he has.
Think about this for a minute…if he is to come into the UFC sponsered by Pride still on the Pride roster and ends up winning the belt and or beating Sherk it would demoralize the UFC. YOur supposed to be the best organization with the BEST fighters in the world and you let some other organzation come in and beat your champ? Stupid move i so hope they never consider that unless they sign Gomi to a UFC contract.
Id rather see Gomi fight Guillard. I think hed get killed. Sherk is too boring and would do the same thing to Gomi he did to Florian. BORING!!!
melvin guillard should get a title shot if he beats joe stevenson. i cant wait
gasman, your on crack. You really believe that? Guillard is up and coming, Gomi has the wars behind him and still hasn’t even reached his prime. Keep listening to Dana and Joe, they know what they’re talking about, and they never hype a fighter behind his ability.~\~ Of course Sherk has faced the same talent pool as Gomi.~\~
They say he’s the 2nd best pound for pound fighter behind pedor in the world. Now in the UFC would he fight 155 or 170.
His punching power is that of a light heavyweight. But then again if he’s at 155 BJ PENN will always be his worst nightmare.
[quote comment="6330"]melvin guillard should get a title shot if he beats joe stevenson. i cant wait[/quote]
GOMI WOULD DESTROY THESE FOOLS!!!
He just has to learn not to knee to the head when people are down or stomp on there face.
And learn the pain of a elbow crashing down on your grill from 3 inches away.
sean sherk would destroy gomi… it wouldn’t be a contest… nick diaz is a b level fighter and he beat gomi easy. Gomi has been bottle fed by pride. they delicatly pick his fights and change his diaper regularly. Thats not the way to do things… let the best fighters rise to the top…
I would love to see Gomi fight in the UFC, eventhough this could be his fall. The bad thing about Gomi is that he’s a bit cocky and tends to neglect his training as a result of not taking his opponent serious. He did that with Diaz and you could easily see that he wasn’t in shape and gassed out pretty quickly. Then again when he’s serious and on berserk mode he can beat anyone.
I don’t see him win against BJ Penn and likes though. As his ground game (excluding ground & pound) is far from being top notch.
I think that BJ will beat Stevenson and then Gomi will make his UFC debut in March 2008 against Penn. The winner of that fight will then face Sherk (When his suspension is lifted) in April or May 08.