Last week we passed along a quote from Kenny Florian, who criticized those fans from the TUF generation, that don’t know who former Pride champion Takanori Gomi is (pssst- that’s Kenny’s opponent for Wednesday). In other words, don’t call yourself a ‘massive’ MMA fan, if you’re completely unaware of Gomi’s extensive accomplishments while fighting in the land of the rising sun (or if the only non-UFC fighter you can name is ‘oh that Russian dude, Federer something…’)
Now to be fair, Gomi hasn’t exactly been dominating headlines in Japan lately, like say, Shinya ‘I broke your arm now eff off’ Aoki. Although Gomi has won back-to-back fights, he is just 3-2 in his last five, and many observers around the sport have long speculated as to whether or not “The Fireball Kid’s” best days are behind him. While talking to MMA Weekly, however, Florian disagreed with the contention that Gomi is no longer world class opposition.
”I don’t buy any of that ‘Gomi has been declining.’ I don’t believe that’s the case at all,” said Florian in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio recently.
“From what I hear, it seems like it’s his last run. When you get a guy like that who says things like that, he’s a dangerous guy,” said the Bostonian. “He wants to make one last run at getting a belt in a major organization. He feels this is the toughest organization in the world, which it is, and he’s going out there for blood.”
It’s going to be damn interesting to see how Gomi fairs against Florian; one of the UFC’s best. To bet on the tilt head here.