01-04-2010, 10:57 AM
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|  Takanori Gomi Ready To Fight For US Fans, Compares His Style To Manny Pacquiao
Takanori Gomi Ready To Fight For US Fans, Compares His Style To Manny Pacquiao | News .:. NOKAUT Quote:
[Jan 04, 2010]
Randy Harrison
Former PRIDE Fighting Championship Lightweight star Takanori Gomi is ready to make his long-awaited US debut after signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and he is already making some plans for his career inside the Octagon.
Speaking to UFC.com, Gomi talked about his desire to fight in America, his want to face BJ Penn again, as well as a comparision of his fighting style to that of a fairly famous boxing champion:
"I didn't want to end my career without fighting on the biggest stage in the world. I welcome any challenge that ignites me. My challenge right now is to become the UFC champion. Honestly, I have reached the age at which I hit my physical peak. My training at American Kickboxing Academy has has served as a great motivation to transform my career. Needless to say, BJ Penn is a high caliber fighter, but so is everyone else in UFC. There is much to learn from BJ's fighting spirit. To tell you the truth, he is a fighter whom I am aiming for. My immediate goal is to establish myself as a UFC fighter and continue fighting in front of the American fans. At this age, I have to train harder than ever. As long as I manage to do so, I just need to look up and continue my ascent. I want to fight at age 60, just like Eikichi Yazawwa (Japanese rock n' roll demigod). The only qualm I have about fighting in America is that my mom will grouse about not being able to come to my fights. Younger fighters will vitalize MMA in Japan -- like Satoshi Ishii. I want to enthrall the fans the world over. They can picture Manny Pacquiao. I will constantly storm ahead with a flurry of strikes."
Gomi and Penn met at a Rumble on the Rock event in 2003 with Penn coming out victorious via submission. After the loss to Penn, Gomi went on a streak of ten straight wins and fifteen victories out of seventeen fights in PRIDE Fighting Championship, earning that promotion's Lightweight Championship. Gomi is just 2-2 in his last four bouts, leaving many fans wondering if he's entering the best promotion in the world while his best days are behind him.
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