Akihiro Ghono
Props: Nottingham.co.uk

Quoteworthy:

“I am sorry for Dan Hardy’s fans, because I think the English are cool people, but I will be sending them home in tears after I beat him. This is the first UFC which has been shown in Japan for a while and I don’t want to let the Japanese fans down, like Hardy doesn’t want to let his English fans down. But beating Hardy in England will be great and I am working very hard in the gym to make that happen. To be honest I’ve never see him fight. I don’t know too much about him. I read somewhere he likes to stand and fight, has a hard left hook and is preparing for this fight in the USA. I am more experienced than he is, but he is eight years younger. I tried to get footage of his fights and it was difficult, but I know there are some on YouTube which I will be watching. I understand from reading about him he is an exciting fighter, and so I am, so this will be a great fight. My goal is to become the UFC welterweight champion of the world. I won my first UFC fight last November –- now I have to beat Hardy.”

Akihiro Gono is ready to spoil the Octagon debut of Dan Hardy — a top British welterweight
prospect — in front of his hometown fans at UFC 89: “Bisping vs. Leben” at The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, England, on October 18. Unfortunately for us fans stuck watching the event of Spike TV and other networks, the bout is slated for the under card, which means that it is not guaranteed to air on the tape-delayed telecast. That’s too bad … this should be a very exciting match up between two talented fighters who could make some big waves real soon in the crowded 170-pound division.

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August 27th, 2008    

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37 Comments »

Comment by the_mexicutioner
2008-08-27 08:47:13

Ive seen them both fight. I’ll take Hardy by TKO.

Comment by the_mexicutioner
2008-08-27 08:53:30

And aside from Baroni, Gono has the gayest fight entrances. Looks like a bad “Village People” cover band.

Comment by TheNegation
2008-08-27 23:35:10

LOL! “Bad Village People cover band”…Don’t wanna be listenin’ to that shite!

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Comment by Nick J
2008-08-27 08:50:58

I recon Hardy might suprise a few people here. 2nd round TKO.

 
Comment by ViolentMike
2008-08-27 08:56:13

I will more than likely be putting money on Ghono in this fight.

Just look at thier two records and who they have fought and who they have lost to. Advantage = Ghono

Comment by PhilQNY
2008-08-27 09:54:28

Ghono is a real good fighter. I got him this match up too.

Comment by john
2008-08-27 17:09:54

I am PROUD TO SAY that I am Gono’s biggest fan on this site and thats not DEBATABLE!!!

Mother F’in WAR GONO!!!!!!!!!

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Comment by MoonUK
2008-08-27 11:43:46

VM: I would be really carefull beating against Hardy. I agreed that Ghono has the better record, but Hardy is fast improving and is really tough. I’d say Ghono has a slight advantage but this fight is far to close to bet big on.

Comment by MoonUK
2008-08-27 12:42:47

Id say its a 50/50 (lol), well nearer to a 50/50 than Semtex / GSP will ever be!!

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Comment by ViolentMike
2008-08-27 14:21:55

LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

MoonUK, I hear you on Hardy - I really don’t know too much about him. But I do know a good amount on another young up and comer in the UFC named Tamdan McCrory, AKA BarnCat, and Ghono ran right through him. That is my reasoning. I will be interesting to see what the odds to this one open at. Too bad we’ll have to wait until the day of the fight to find out since its a prelim.

 
Comment by john
2008-08-27 17:10:36

WAR GONO!!!!! WAR GONO!!! WAR GONO!!!!

 
 
 
Comment by TheNegation
2008-08-27 23:39:22

Ghono has like 40-somethin’ fights under his belt. He has tons of experience compared to HArdy. Mr. Hardy boy will realize the true meaning of “a seasoned veteran” after this match

But once again, I’ve been a hardcore fan of this sport long enough to know that funny things could happen inside the octagon so don’t ever count Hardy boy out…

 
 
Comment by UKmmaBOY
2008-08-27 09:00:27

Cant wait for this event. Counting down the days. Heart says Hardy, head says Ghono.

 
Comment by Volatol
2008-08-27 09:00:34

I know there are quite a few places to watch fight videos. But in case anyone didn’t know mixedmartialartvideos.com (no “s” after “art”) shows a ton of fight videos. If you go there the day after a UFC event you can see all the undercard fights. So if they don’t end up playing this fight on fight night you can check it out the next day on this site. If there are other sites like this which I’m sure there probably is let me know. Thanks.

Comment by UKMMA
2008-08-27 09:05:05

http://www.pancrase.org/

it’s not a bad site either, very similar in fact.

 
Comment by the still operator
2008-08-27 09:27:37

how do they get the undercard fights on there?

Comment by TheNegation
2008-08-27 23:40:18

through pirates? hehe!!

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Comment by Insain
2008-08-27 09:14:28

I dont know Ghono personally, but Hardy - he hangs with some bad mans - he can not just dish out a tasty beating, but he can take one too. Its gonna be mint if the ufc sign Daley aswell, 2 guys from notts ruling the WW devision. I cant see Hardy beating GSP, but Semtex has got a good 50/50 chance

Hardy by sub 3rd

Comment by ViolentMike
2008-08-27 09:45:54

What?? If GSP fought Paul Daley, you would have the odds opening at even? (which is what 50/50 means)

I laughed when I read the comment, and then I saw who typed it and it made me laugh even harder.

In reality, the odds to that potential fight if it were to happen right now would be approximately:

GSP -800
Daley +600

GSP would take him down and finish him.

50/50, LOLOLOLOL.

Comment by Insain
2008-08-27 12:29:45

havnt i told you before, stay off my posts. When i say 50/50, thats what i think. Im not going into all the odds bullshit, im not a bookie. 50/50 is what i think the chance is for him to beat gsp. VM - how many times do i have to tell you how much shit you talk

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Comment by PW
2008-08-27 13:27:41

If you mean that either GSP wins or Semtex wins, then yes, it’s 50-50. And it’s quite clear that you don’t understand odds or bookmaking or you wouldn’t have posted such a ridiculous statement.

 
Comment by Insain
2008-08-27 13:53:44

PW your not making sense - you just said that its a 50/50 chance too, are you ridiculous as well then?

 
Comment by ViolentMike
2008-08-27 14:19:42

How many times??? I just noticed you yesterday. Your posts never really grabbed my attention - you are very unnoticeable. To my knowledge, it has been approximately 2 to 3 times and it all began yesterday in the Chuck Liddell/Anderson Silva thread. You made ridiculous statements in that thread, just like you did in this thread, and you got called out on. That’s not talking smack. It’s called discussing or blogging and even sometimes, learning something.

But instead of talking about real situations, you like to talk about fairy tales and create your own myths. I will always continue to keep it real. And you? I could really care less what you do.

 
Comment by Insain
2008-08-27 14:42:31

so dont comment on my posts - ever

 
Comment by ViolentMike
2008-08-27 15:43:39

I base my posts on WHAT is said, not WHO said it.

 
Comment by john
2008-08-27 17:12:39

Insain is living up to his name! Someone censor this dude!

 
 
 
Comment by DB
2008-08-27 12:30:51

There’s no way Hardy submits Gono. Gono’s submission game is world class. I’ve got Gono by submission or Hardy by TKO. I’m leaning tword Gono, he just has too much experiance.

Comment by Insain
2008-08-27 12:58:59

DB: im just thinking we mite see an upset, as in, hardy gets a freak sub from some where - its on the cards, but your prob spot on, TKO - either way Hardy takes it

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Comment by Ian Dean
2008-08-27 09:18:30

Hardy by TKO in round 2 or 3, pretty in the same way he beat Monma last September.

Every Dan Hardy fight is a Roller Coaster ride but I don’t see Gono knocking him out and Hardy just keeps attacking non-stop and i think with the UK fans behind him and Hardy’s cage experience and skills will see him through.

For me Dan is the UK’s best p4p fighter and is a star in the making

But i am very very bias lol

 
Comment by Ca$z
2008-08-27 09:44:25

Undercard or not I won’t be missing this fight cos I’ll be there.

Im trying not to think to much about this event cos it semms like ages til it all goes down and the more you want it to happen the longer it feels but….I CANT WAIT!! lol

oh BTW Hardy 2nd Round TKO as I think even though Ghono has fought tougher opponents Dan is gonna wanna make a big entrance into the UFC and he has better striking than Ghono. As much as I do like ghono I dont see him winning this one unless Hardy gets tired after 2 rounds following adrenaline dump and gets sloppy. Very interesting match up though.

 
Comment by Wanderlei Fan
2008-08-27 10:29:29

I call Ghono winning 2 round Sub.

 
Comment by McArthur
2008-08-27 11:00:13

both great fighters with bright futures….too bad one of them has to lose

 
Comment by SuperCr3w
2008-08-27 11:01:12

I thought his last name was spelled ‘Gono’ not ‘Ghono’. Whatever, I pick Gono to win.

 
Comment by Tsunami Bong
2008-08-27 11:42:40

GHONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 
Comment by hbdale309
2008-08-27 14:02:47

This is a great match-up for both of these guys, because neither of them are wrestlers. Should be a cool fight, and I got Akihiro by brutal submission.

 
Comment by kama kaze
2008-08-27 15:16:39

Gonzo is 1 of a kind showfighter. On his way into the Dennis Kang fight, he wore a orange wig with a bright white miami vice suit doing some kind of Frank Sinatra dance only to strip down to leopord print speedos! lol WTF! He’s not the most technical striker but he fights with style and taps people out! Funny guy, but not to be taken for a joke!

 
Comment by Bill Maher
2008-08-27 16:01:50

I see gono via tapout round 2. hardy hasn’t fought near the quality of people Gono has.

 
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