Rumor: Takanori Gomi vs. Brett Cooper at Affliction III
by Leland Roling on Jun 11, 2009 9:25 AM EDT
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According to MMAWeekly, a bout is in the works between former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi and former IFL and current Affliction fighter Brett Cooper.
Japanese star Takanori Gomi is in advanced negotiations to face Brett Cooper at Affliction "Trilogy" on Aug. 1, MMAWeekly.com has learned from sources close to the fight.
Both parties have agreed to the match-up, though financial considerations are still being ironed out. The fight is being considered at a 165-pound weight limit.
This is an interesting development considering Gomi was likely to continue competing in Japan where the money is much better. We can't really say its a bad move considering Gomi would get some much needed exposure to the American market out of the matchup, but I question whether he'll actually try to stay under the Affliction banner.
Brett Cooper isn't exactly a pushover, although he doesn't have the skillset that Gomi possesses. Currently, Cooper is riding a six-fight win streak with a solid win over Rory Markham during his IFL days. He recently defeated Patrick Speight at Affliction: Day of Reckoning and Joe Cronin at Call To Arms I.
[UPDATE] by Nick Thomas - MMA.Fanhouse.com says Takanori Gomi vs. Brett Cooper not happening at Affliction:Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio, told FanHouse on Thursday that after brief consideration, the fight is not happening and was never even close to being finalized. Atencio said that he is still looking to book one more high-profile fight for the upcoming pay-per-view portion of the card.
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165lbs?
why does Gomi deserve his own weight class?
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Cooper’s been fighting at 170 and Gomi at 155. A catch weight seems logical, no?
by Chris Nelson on Jun 11, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
There’s more than enough 155ers out there to put against gomi, I don’t get why they need to put him against cooper in a catchweight.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
To me it has to do with the size of roster the promotions are able to keep under contract. The UFC is flush with cash so they keep at least 200 fighters under contract. Strikeforce and especially Affliction don’t have near that many fighters under contract. So they have to get creative with their match-making or sign more fighters. I’m guessing getting creative with their match-making saves them money.
Well...
we’re fast leaning that the only major promotions in America that care about these “weight classes” are the WEC and UFC. Affliction doesn’t really care about divisions. Nor does Strikeforce. It’s just about making fights that they want to have made. Not saying that is right or wrong…just saying.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 11, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
good point
and anything that gets us closer to Gomi vs Diaz II is fine with me.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
I think strikeforce is excusable
As they are putting their big guns from one weightclass against another guy in a smaller weight class.
Affliction couldve put him against another 155er but instead, they’re doing a catchweight.. I hope this doesn’t turn into boxing where you have too much weightclasses and catchweights..
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
But to be fair
The card is shaping up to be STACKED.. Last show or not, major props to them for putting on another good card.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
No Dout !!!
Eather Love Affliction or hate them but one thing you can’t deny is they are putting on great fights and stacked cards.
I should also have said
It’s just about making fights that they (and the fans) want to have made.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 11, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Brent here. Zuffa (UFC & WEC) seem devoted to building up divisions based on weight classes. There are the occassional GSP/Penn or Franklin/Silva, but overall they make guys stick to weight classes and move them up and down the ranks from there. And even with GSP/Penn, Penn was a former Welterweight Champion.
On a complete side note, this is why overall rankings have become silly. Most organizations barely show anything organized. To me, there are UFC Rankings and then everybody else.
by AlwaysRelaxing on Jun 11, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Minor quibble:
GSP/Penn was a title fight for the 170 belt, not a catchweight.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jun 11, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
True. I guess I was just refering to fighters moving around outside of their normal weight classes, whether it be a catch weight or just being outsized. But you are correct.
by AlwaysRelaxing on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Takanori Gomi will not be facing Brett Copper at “Affliction: Trilogy” on August 1.
MMA Weekly reported early Thursday morning that the 165-pound catchweight bout was close to being finalized, but Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio, told FanHouse on Thursday that after brief consideration, the fight is not happening.
Atencio said that Gomi, who usually fights at 155 pounds, does not want to fight at a higher weight class. Meanwhile, Cooper, who usually fights at 170 pounds, was willing to do so, and who can blame him? A win over Gomi would be the biggest win of his young career. Atencio added that the fight was never even close to being finalized.
sweat sweat cause i'm a poisonous pill
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jun 11, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions
God, how I wish Affliction wasn’t so fucking stupid when it comes to actually trying to turn a profit, or at least not lose millions of dollars per card. They put on good fights that the harcore fans want to see, unfortunately this might be the last time they ever hold an event. If they could just get their costs under control and market their product a little better there might be some chance of them sticking around for a while but I don’t see that happening.
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