Takanori Gomi's Opponent, More Vale Tudo Japan '09 Bouts Announced

by Chris Nelson on Oct 13, 2009 1:00 PM EDT in News Comment 13 comments

Takanori Gomi holds up a picture of his VTJ '09 opponent, Tony "Lionheart" Hervey. Photo via GBRing.

More details for Vale Tudo Japan '09 were revealed by Sustain at a presser in Tokyo today. It feels like the Shooto promoter is having a hard time pulling this one together, as we're now about two weeks out from the show and still without a full card. In any event, they've secured an opponent for Takanori Gomi's big "last fight in Japan," and it is... drumroll, please...

Tony Hervey. You know, King of the Cage lightweight champion Tony Hervey? Yeah, I wasn't familiar either, but a quick background check reveals that the Warren, MI, native has both battered Victor Valenzuela and KO'd Alberto Crane in the past four months - not elite opposition, but not names to scoff at either, and certainly among the best you'll find in the KOTC ranks. This may be looked at by some as a going away present for Gomi, but it could be an upset waiting to happen if a lackadaisical "Fireball Kid" shows up. After all, Gomi's got a lot on his mind with a baby on the way and his impending move to the States. Oh, and his pro surfing career.

It's also worth noting that the Gomi-Hervey main event is set for five five-minute rounds contested under "VTJ Rules," as is the previously announced "Lion" Takeshi-"Pequeno" Nogueira match. Ironically, the Shooto 155-pound title bout between Kenichiro Togashi and Nova Uniao's Willamy Chiquerim will be a three-rounder.

Also made official: a bantamweight bout between Mamoru Yamaguchi and Jesse Taitano (as reported by Bloody Elbow earlier this month) and this year's 167-pound rookie tournament champion Yoichiro Sato, who will participate against an as-yet-unnamed opponent.

Vale Tudo Japan '09
October 30, 2009
JCB Hall
Tokyo, Japan

71kg/156 lbs. - VTJ Rules - 5R x 5 min.
Takanori Gomi (30-5, 1 NC) vs. Tony Hervey (11-4)

65kg/143 lbs. - VTJ Rules - 5R x 5 min.
"Lion" Takeshi Inoue (16-3) vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira (13-5-2)

Shooto Welterweight (70kg/155.3 lbs.) Title Match - 3R x 5 min.
Willamy Chiquerim (14-1) vs. Kenichiro Togashi (10-6-5)

56kg/123.5 lbs. - Shooto Rules - 3R x 5 min.
Mamoru Yamaguchi (20-5-3) vs. Jesse Taitano (7-5-2)

65kg/143 lbs. - VTJ Rules - 3R x 5 min.
Tenkei Fujimiya (7-4-2) vs. Tito Jones (6-3)

Rumina Sato (24-14-2) vs. TBA

Yoichiro Sato (5-1-1) vs. TBA

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by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 13, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Some videos...

Tony Hervey vs. Derek Griffin – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcKdIi_UxV8

Tony Hervey vs. Angelo Sanchez promo (some HLs) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55SWaHA4uZI

by Chris Nelson on Oct 13, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love this site

by argyle on Oct 13, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What are the VTJ rules? Same as Prde’s? (Foot stomps, soccer kicks, etc.?)

by ThomasJ on Oct 13, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, soccer kicks, head stomps and knees to the head of a grounded opponent are all in, and they’re using smaller gloves.

by Chris Nelson on Oct 13, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they’re using smaller gloves.

So that got confirmed?

If so, FUCK YEAR!!!

by Tonley on Oct 13, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For this show anyway. And it sounds like they might implement the gloves + 5×5 title fights for pro Shooto next year.

by Chris Nelson on Oct 13, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy Shit!?!

Smaller Gloves! Really? I can’t believe they can get any smaller than MMA gloves. Why not just do bare fists? If they make the gloves too small their is a greater chance for the fighters breaking their hands, which is not good.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Oct 13, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, smaller than Shooto gloves, which is to say normal MMA gloves.

by FRANKIE on Oct 13, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shooto gloves are 8oz I believe. They should be the standard bearer in MMA. Less flash knockdowns and ko’s allow for less randomness. I hate the taut leather 4 oz style.

by gunranger on Oct 13, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs