Gomi, Gomi Gomi

His manager, a Mr. Ichikawa, is required to sit in on the interview to interject and comment on questions that either he or Gomi feels are too sensitive to talk about.

"What exactly will be the theme or shape of your interview?" Gomi asks.

I explain that the Western MMA community has been curious as to his status in the past nine months, and where and when they will see him fighting next, now that PRIDE has changed hands and has since been unable to continue.

For better or worse, the word "contract" comes up during my explanation, prompting the beginning of a long and delicate negotiation of information that, until now, has only been anecdotally referred to by those in the business who have attempted time and again to bring Japan's best and brightest fighters to compete in the West.

"I can't really comment on the specifics of my contract status," he replies quickly. "The situation is a little too delicate, right now."

I ask if he can elaborate, but once again he is wary to volunteer much information.

"To be honest, we can't really disclose the specific terms of his contract," Ichikawa says, "mostly because of its vagueness and our likewise unclear relationship with the new PRIDE entity. Thus, our position has become somewhat complicated."

In an attempt to reword the question and ask why he hasn't simply followed in the footsteps of his PRIDE peers -- Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), Mauricio Rua (Pictures), Dan Henderson (Pictures) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) -- I bring up the example of fighters who have opted out of their contracts to compete in other organizations.

"PRIDE invested very much in [Gomi]," Ichikawa says. "As Gomi is the lightweight champion of PRIDE, he is also the symbol of PRIDE, so his position is very different from everyone else."

The implication, though unsaid, is clear.

"We have indeed been approached by the UFC," confirms Ichikawa, offering no more and no less.

Gomi chimes in regarding the UFC deal as well as Dana White's open challenge to PRIDE's fighters to prove themselves in the Octagon. "Actually, I'm honored to have been offered the opportunity," he says. "I'm ready for that -- ready to prove that I'm still the best in the world."

When I ask whether or not he would like to have a second shot at Penn in the UFC, or even try his luck at the current lightweight champion, Sean Sherk (Pictures), Gomi quickly responds with a smile.

"If it's possible someday, of course," he says. "I want a third belt. Sherk is a top fighter for sure. He's very strong and has great control, both from on top and against the cage. I think that in order for me to fight him, I'd need to step-up my weight training and get stronger to match his strength. I hate the idea of being taken down and put on my back, but Sherk looks like the type of fighter who is so strong and stiff, it would be easy for me to maneuver my way up underneath and keep the fight standing. He is indeed an elite-level fighter, but I can beat him."

"`JZ' is certainly a top fighter," Gomi says. "He's young, energetic, extremely powerful, and his submission and wrestling skill are excellent. Furthermore, he has a really mean right hook. He also strikes me as the kind of fighter who takes very few chances, especially on the ground, so a fight with him would be a great challenge. To be honest, I don't think I could say what the outcome would be in a fight between the two of us, other than it would be an entertaining and challenging one."