Akihiro Gono (27-12-1) will make his Octagon debut against Tamdan McCrory (8-0) at UFC 78 in Newark, N.J., on November 17, according to Sherdog.com.
The PRIDE FC veteran competed at 183 pounds throughout his career; however, he is going to test the waters at 170 pounds against the gangly Binghamton, N.Y., product.
Here’s a snip from Gono:
“I know his fight record. I know that he’s tall, young and has a long reach…. For my body frame, that weight class was too heavy for me anyway. I felt a bit of pain in my knees and ankles [fighting at a heavier weight class]. My perfect weight may even be 70 kilograms (155 pounds).”
Gono is an accomplished fighter whose last three losses came to notables such as Denis Kang (unanimous decision), Dan Henderson (knockout) and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (technical knockout).
During that same stretch, the Team Grabaka-trained fighter has eight wins, which includes a unanimous decision win over Hector Lomabard — the opponent for Karo Parisyan that same night at the Prudential Arena.
It should be real interesting to see Gono in the welterweight mix, considering he has spent most of his career fighting bigger and stronger opponents.
And it doesn’t get much bigger (er, taller) than “The Barncat.”
At 6′4,” McCrory is exceptionally tall for the division and will no doubt hold a considerable reach advantage over Gono (and most of his other opponents for that matter). The 20-year-old college student and self-described “nerd” has one win in as many attempts inside the Octagon, submitting Pete Spratt (triangle choke) at UFC Fight Night 10 in June of this year.
For the latest rumored UFC 78 fight card click here.
22 Comments »
On UFC.com they have also confirmed Burkman vs. Forrest…..
Petz that is for UFC 77.
should be a good bout,
My BAD, I should of known you were on top of your shit, Mania.
Yeah, this should be interesting, as will any bout with a 6′4″ 170lb fighter. Especially against someone as skilled as Gono. don’t really care who wins, but i will definately want to see it, although it will probably be an undercard fight.
[quote post=”3438″]Yeah, this should be interesting, as will any bout with a 6″²4″³ 170lb fighter. Especially against someone as skilled as Gono. don’t really care who wins, but i will definately want to see it, although it will probably be an undercard fight[/quote]
undercard or pre ppv bout?
i hope it’s on the ppv, i dont think this one will go the distance
The Barncat is from right down the road from here. Matter of fact, I fabricated some ductwork for Central New York MMA’s gym. I work often with (the gym owner)Ryan Ciotoli’s dad. He’s got some animals up there. More than just barncats. You can get a spot on his shorts and banner for $500 up. Check out the “Bombsquad” hilite reel at….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45v_fUKof9w
I love his nickname….”barncat” might be the best one in the UFC!
Gono is in the UFC!……..And he’s fighting at 170 & possibly 155!?!?!?! WOW!
IF he transitions well from the ring to the octagon, we’ve got some incredible fights coming our way.
anyone hear about CLAY GUIDA vs. HUERTA!? on the TUF FINALE
Hey MANIA,
Are your new rankings going to come out soon? I thought you said you were going to do them after 76? I could be wrong though.
[quote post=”3438″]Hey MANIA,
Are your new rankings going to come out soon? [/quote]
im wondering the same thing!!!!
why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?!
[quote comment=”159678″]why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?![/quote]
I take it as you dont watch Mixed Martial Arts.
This card is actually going to be awesome.
I am excited about this match, but Gono has his hands full with Barncat.
I will take Barncat via round 1 KO.
[quote post=”3438″]why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?![/quote]
[quote post=”3438″] take it as you dont watch Mixed Martial Arts.
This card is actually going to be awesome.
I am excited about this match, but Gono has his hands full with Barncat.
I will take Barncat via round 1 KO. [/quote]
How can you possibly be ‘excited’ about this event, they don’t even have a main event yet. UFC 78 is by no means a blockbuster event. The next two PPV’s will most likely have the least number of purchases over the last year, with the exception of the Ireland PPV.
Ever since I heard that the UFC was coming to New Jersey, I was very, very, excited to see another event live. HOWEVER, due to this very weak card, you will NOT be seeing me there. Why spend over $400 to see this? I can think of a million better ways to spend $400. However, having some buddies over and spending $10 each is another story. This past PPV had 4 matchups that are all better than everyone on this card.
Back to the topic of conversation:
Tamdan is an excellent prospect, especially with his reach advantage at 170. Hopefully the UFC doesn’t rush him into high water.
and, no, I don’t need ‘big names’ to watch a mma fight. I am actually one of the very few people on this forum that regulary watches the show TapOut on Versus. Well, at least I am one of the very few people to ADMIT to watching TapOut on Versus… lol
Who’s the person with potty mouth that has this thread all backed up? It’s been over 1 hour 45 mins since the last comment showed up.
[quote comment=”159723″][quote post=”3438″]why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?![/quote]
[quote post=”3438″] take it as you dont watch Mixed Martial Arts.
This card is actually going to be awesome.
I am excited about this match, but Gono has his hands full with Barncat.
I will take Barncat via round 1 KO. [/quote]
How can you possibly be ‘excited’ about this event, they don’t even have a main event yet. UFC 78 is by no means a blockbuster event. The next two PPV’s will most likely have the least number of purchases over the last year, with the exception of the Ireland PPV.
Ever since I heard that the UFC was coming to New Jersey, I was very, very, excited to see another event live. HOWEVER, due to this very weak card, you will NOT be seeing me there. Why spend over $400 to see this? I can think of a million better ways to spend $400. However, having some buddies over and spending $10 each is another story. This past PPV had 4 matchups that are all better than everyone on this card.
Back to the topic of conversation:
Tamdan is an excellent prospect, especially with his reach advantage at 170. Hopefully the UFC doesn’t rush him into high water.[/quote]
Well we are looking at a BJ Penn vs. Joe Daddy/Sean Sherk lightweight title match happening on that event, which is great.
How cant you really be excited about witnessing a Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans II match.. I mean the first one was FANTASTIC..
*crickets*
Maybe the second one will be better.
Ryo Chonan vs. Thiago Alves will be a battle.
Frankie Edgar vs. Spencer Fisher might just be FIGHT OF THE YEAR.
J-Lau (Joe Lauzon) is fighting on this card.
David Terrell vs. Ed Herman is sure to be a barn burner.
and KARO will be there.. KARO!!
I would exchange the card of UFC 78 for the card at UFC 77 (except the Main event and Jorge Gurgel fight.)
I would love to see that card live instead of watching Jason Black/Matt Grice, Kalib Starnes and Alan Belcher, and I really dont want to see Tim Slyvia fight, but at least he is fighting Brandon Vera.
[quote comment=”159725″]and, no, I don’t need ‘big names’ to watch a mma fight. I am actually one of the very few people on this forum that regulary watches the show TapOut on Versus. Well, at least I am one of the very few people to ADMIT to watching TapOut on Versus… lol[/quote]
Fantastic Show. I watch it as well.
I agree, I dont need big names to watch MMA fights and enjoy it, but it does help.
Im going to a local cage fight on saturday, Im pumped for that.
[quote comment=”159682″][quote comment=”159678″]why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?![/quote]
I take it as you dont watch Mixed Martial Arts.
This card is actually going to be awesome.
I am excited about this match, but Gono has his hands full with Barncat.
I will take Barncat via round 1 KO.[/quote]
What r u talking about, we dont even have a main event for that card yet, and who knows what fights they will air, and which fights they will throw away on the pre lims?
[quote comment=”159776″][quote comment=”159682″][quote comment=”159678″]why are they making UFC 78 suck so bad?![/quote]
I take it as you dont watch Mixed Martial Arts.
This card is actually going to be awesome.
I am excited about this match, but Gono has his hands full with Barncat.
I will take Barncat via round 1 KO.[/quote]
What r u talking about, we dont even have a main event for that card yet, and who knows what fights they will air, and which fights they will throw away on the pre lims?[/quote]
Tell me John, how does this card looked so bad? You have very familiar faces who always turn it up to put on fantastic fights. Watching a Karo fight makes the whole card look incredible. Watching a Frankie Edgar match is also incredible. The reason why you dont have your main event because they do not know who BJ Penn is fighting for the Lightweight Championship.
UFC 78 is a fantastic card with some incredible match-ups.
If anybody really has a right to be complaining its me becauseIm going to UFC 77 and once again they throw Rich Franklin/Anderson Silva on an PPV with a not so well card. You guys get some up and comers in the lightweight division and 170 division who no matter what puts on a fantastic fight, I get Tim Slvyia, Jason Black (who is decent but rather not see him) Maia, I would take the UFC 78 card over UFC 77 minus the main event.
[quote post=”3438″]Well we are looking at a BJ Penn vs. Joe Daddy/Sean Sherk lightweight title match happening on that event, which is great.
How cant you really be excited about witnessing a Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans II match.. I mean the first one was FANTASTIC..
*crickets*
Maybe the second one will be better.
Ryo Chonan vs. Thiago Alves will be a battle.
Frankie Edgar vs. Spencer Fisher might just be FIGHT OF THE YEAR.
J-Lau (Joe Lauzon) is fighting on this card.
David Terrell vs. Ed Herman is sure to be a barn burner.
and KARO will be there.. KARO!!
I would exchange the card of UFC 78 for the card at UFC 77 (except the Main event and Jorge Gurgel fight.)
I would love to see that card live instead of watching Jason Black/Matt Grice, Kalib Starnes and Alan Belcher, and I really dont want to see Tim Slyvia fight, but at least he is fighting Brandon Vera. [/quote]
I had heard that BJ Penn would no longer be fighting for the LW belt at the November PPV, mainly because of the Sherk appeal hearing.
Frankie Edgar vs. Spencer Fisher is the fight that stands out to me that I want to see the most. I always enjoy watching Karo fight also, even though I hate him as a person (from what I’ve seen of him and read about him over the years).
This card does have a handful of quality matches, but the Edgar/Fisher fight is the only one that REALLY stands out to me. And I am still nervous that they are going to make Tito/Rashad the main event…
i don’t know who will win yet, gono fighting down a class he should fight at middleweight for now they need guys, but i can see how he would drop the weight have fun, you have a ton of guys in welterweight that will beat you