Rumored Gomi-Cooper Bout Off For Affliction: Trilogy
A rumored 165-pound catchweight bout between lightweight Takanori Gomi and welterweight Brett Cooper will not take place at Affliction: Trilogy despite earlier reports that the bout was close to being finalized.
MMA Weekly first reported the matchup this morning, but MMA Fanhouse was quick to debunk the rumor, with Affliction vice president Tom Atencio confirming that the bout had been briefly considered but was scrapped due to Gomi’s unwillingness to move up from 155-pounds. According to Atencio the fight was “never even close” to finalized.
Gomi (30-5), the former PRIDE lightweight champion, was one of the top-ranked lightweights in the world prior to suffering losses to Nick Diaz (later overturned), Sergey Golyaev, and Satoru Kitaoka in three of five bouts before returning to Shooto in May with a second-round knockout of Takashi Nakakura. Cooper (9-4) is currently riding a six-fight win streak, including an IFL victory over Rory Markham as well as recent wins against Patrick Speight at Affliction’s January event and Joe Cronin at Call to Arms 1 in May.
Affliction: Trilogy takes place on August 1st at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and is headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett.
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[Pictured: Takanori Gomi]
Tags: Brett Cooper, Takanori Gomi
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If the “FireBall Kid” comes to the US soil that isn’t too good for him, don’t get me wrong he would be a great addition to the card and all, but has he won on US soil? NC to Diaz, and a absolute asss whooping loss handed to him by BJ Penn (Hawaii/Rumble on The Rock)…. I wouldn’t mind seeing him compete for Affliction in August, I wouldn’t mind going to this event but I doubt I will definately will buy it on PPV, especially if Fedor v Barnett actually happens….
o and F~WAMMA~edited by me for me
yeah dude F-WAMMA!
I like Gomi, but the dude has seen his best days pass him by. I wouldn’t mind watching him fight here in the states again, but yeah
F-WAMMA
Good on Gomi for sticking to his weight class. I think he’s better than he showed in his last few fights. He said that he couldn’t deal with the pressure from people expecting him to “be the best” because he had been performing so well, and sort of self sabotaged.
What fighter hasnt had a skid lately ? And if it hasnt happened yet ..it may . Gomi is a good fighter and I wouldnt mind seeing him go at it . The question is who would be available . You need someone who will want to throw down ….. like fellow Japanese star Kawajiri . That would be one to see .
DR. Doom you’re better than this, Gomi beat Kawajiri 9/25/05 by RNC, but I would love to see that rematch especially with Kawajiri beating Gesias recently…. Or a rematch between Gomi and Ishida that would be awesome…..
The Ishida bout was my second choice .But the mind slip was evident …… they did fight in 2005 .And it would be a good matchup for the reason more Japanese fans would tune in . I dont like Affliction as an every day promotion …… but if they held three superfight cards a year at this quality then why not …. just dont buy the shirts hehehe
never have and I won’t be buy their shirts but thx
Yeah, no worries on me buying their shirts. I thought about it before when they were still in the UFC’s good graces, but just couldn’t justify $40+ for a T~shirt, especially one that thin. Now, they have no chance at getting my money.
The shirts only suite certain people anyways ……. I am athletically built so that style is OK , although I dont wear them ,but when a 50+ man is seen with the belly bulging in one …. ouch !!! hahaha .
Belfort was having problems with opposition ………… why not fight Nick Diaz ??? That would be cool to watch .