Forget seeing Takanori Gomi in the UFC/WEC anytime soon, Sherdog is reporting the veteran PRIDE lightweight has signed with the newly formed World Victory Road (WVR) in Japan. While no opponent has been named, Gomi is expected to fight in March 5 at the debut of the Sengoku card.
Gomi, 29, was one of MMA’s most prized free agents following the Zuffa buyout of the PRIDE Fighting Championships last year. Gomi has been courted by several promoters in recent months, including K-1 and HERO’S parent company Fight Entertainment Group, as well as UFC and WEC company Zuffa.
While the source could not confirm the length of Gomi’s deal with WVR, the deal will see Gomi debut for the promotion on their March 5 Sengoku card at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 1. The Japanese standout will earn approximately $190,000 USD per bout.
it's no surprise that gomi didn't sign with the UFC. he has stated numerous times that his future is in japan and nowhere else. what is a surprise is that he signed with WVR, since he had hinted he would sign with either K1 or shooto.
your right no suprise the ufc does not pay there l.w. anything(other than b.j.) and he would not have gotten that kind of money and there is plenty of top l.w. talent out there thats not with the ufc.i don't know alot about wvr but i have heard that they are making some moves to try and replace what pride was there in japan.
i hope the WVR doesn't get corrupted by the yakuza there. that's why pride lost their tv deal. and damn, takanori is making $190K PER FIGHT, which is just crazy. considering he fights more than 3 times a year and is an icon in japan.
Thats a really good payday considering how bad he looked in his last performance.
sucks think of all the sick matchupsm he could have had in the ufc
i think he should have sgned with the ufc.. that is were aall the best fighters are and in my eyes i think if you get asked to fight for them and dont you are scared and should not be ranked over the top 3…
Why would you fight in the UFC when you make 190k a fight, beating chumps.
Thats Couture Money, but not Liddell Money
I'm with Cage. Gomi should go where the money is. I would. I don't think it's about fear, or match-ups. It's about the bottom line. MONEY. You can't really blame the guy.
I think Gomi is about the money and fame. He doesn't care about where people place him in the rankings and he probably doesn't care about seeing how he matches up with the best in the world. When he came to Vegas with Pride to fight Diaz he was out of shape and didn't take the match seriously and thats why he looked terrible. I remember seeing an interview with him right after and he admitted that he came here to have fun in Vegas and didn't care about losing that fight. I wouldn't even want a guy like that in the UFC.
not that the rankings mean much but the top rated l.w. are not in the ufc so there is plenty of match ups for him outside the ufc, and i am sure the ufc offered him close to nothing so why would he sigh with the ufc.
Why would Gomi take on Penn? There's no money in that other than what Penn gets. Screw Dana White and go where the money and Sushi is Gomi.
Money and sushi… not a bad combo for 190K