Free agency can be a time in which an athlete can demand a high salary due to his successful performances within his sport. Pitchers with sub 3.00 ERA's, receivers and running backs with 1,000 yard seasons, and basketball players pushing 25 to 30 PPG will all see big paydays. The major difference between those sports and MMA is not only the amount of money those athletes command, but also the amount of time that fans actually see those athletes perform.

MMA fighters do, however, have an unique attribute when it comes to free agency in that their "drawing" power becomes a bargaining chip in regard to their popularity with fans. While some players in MLB can draw a crowd, generally a great team product is the ultimate drawing power in baseball. In MMA, the individual can be the major drawing power, thus commanding some very large dollars.

In Takanori Gomi's case and in most popular Japanese fighters' cases, there is a major difference in all of those aspects when it comes to moving from the Japanese market to the American market. This week, it was confirmed in an interview with Kamipro magazine that Gomi was speaking to multiple U.S. organizations about fighting on American soil. Specifically, the interview stated that Strikeforce, Affliction, and the UFC were all potential suitors to Gomi's services:

From Gomi’s latest interview in MMA magazine Kamipro it seems that he is currently in negotiations with Strikeforce, Affliction, and UFC. However, since he showed intentions to participate at Vale Tudo Japan 2009 in November, it looks like an exclusive contract with UFC won’t work.

Strikeforce have presented Gomi the right to challenge the winner of Thomson vs. Melendez, but negotiations are quite rough going.

The reason that the negotiations with Strikeforce and Affliction are quite rough going right now is because of the fight money. It seems like there is a gap between the money that Gomi’s side wants and what the organizations are offering.

Dana White and Gomi’s side were having developments the year before last also, but they couldn’t get to an agreement because of money either.

It seems that Strikeforce’s offer with a win bonus, a title challenge, Showtime (tv, sponsors, etc.) is the best. However, because of the base pay they haven’t come to an agreement yet. If Gomi signs with Strikeforce, he will probably have his first fight on their August 15th or September events.

Nightmare of Battle

The most interesting piece of the interview revolves around the idea that has jumped around in popular Japanese fighters' heads since the day those fighters thought about crossing over into the American market. Why do these huge drawing fighters truly feel they can command high salaries in the United States?

In Gomi's case, there are a number of reasons why I'm sure he believes he's worth the huge bucks, but let me elaborate on why he doesn't deserve huge money just yet. First and foremost, Gomi hasn't proven to be top-flight lightweight since his PRIDE days. He's currently ranked #15 on the USA Today/SB Nation Consensus Lightweight Rankings, and there are really only opponents in DREAM or the UFC that can prove to fans he still has what it takes to be a top ten fighter.

Secondly, Takanori Gomi isn't a draw in the United States. While he probably gets high dollars in Japan because he can draw fans to watch the events, he wouldn't be a guy that has an American casual fan base clamoring to order a PPV. To further add to that point, the UFC lightweights, in general, don't have a plethora of fighters that draw PPV buys within their ranks. We can make an argument that Clay Guida brings fans out to watch the free UFN cards, but BJ Penn is truly the only PPV draw at the lightweight division. I'd be more inclined to believe the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions are the big drawing weight classes within the UFC, and big name heavyweights seem to be more of the draw in a promotion like Affliction.

Unless either Strikeforce or Affliction plans on co-promoting events with Japanese counterparts with some type of revenue sharing scheme or being given cash in hand to lend him to those promotions, the UFC is probably the best bet for Gomi to receive the dollars he commands. They've already loaded up on fighters that fans in Asia would have some interest in with Yoshihiro Akiyama, Caol Uno, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Dong Hyun Kim, and Yushin Okami. It's obvious that the UFC is looking to expand into the region, and Gomi would fit perfectly into the puzzle.

Does that mean Gomi is worth the money he is commanding? In my opinion, he isn't worth it right now. I could see Strikeforce or Affliction potentially giving in to his demands due to Atencio's fanboy spending spree or Strikeforce's urge to attain a huge name lightweight, but ultimately, the UFC is in the best position to gain from his popularity in Japan. The problem is that the UFC under Zuffa ownership has yet to even stage a show in Asia, and we know from their U.K. expansion that it's a tough prospect to get started successfully. Dumping big money on Gomi at the start of the expansion may have some terrible ramifications if the UFC doesn't do as well as they hope in the market.

Realistically, Gomi needs to realize that he doesn't draw a large number of fans in the States like he does in the Japan. He shouldn't command a basement salary, but compromising to a slightly lower amount would probably make the deal happen quicker. He won't be grabbing up lucrative Japanese sponsorships though, and I fear that he'll be another Japanese fighter that stays within promotions like DREAM and WVR for the sole purpose of cashing in before retirement.