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Jun 11, 2009 - 9:00:56 AM By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief Takanori Gomi is coming to the U.S. according to a report from MMAWeekly.com. He's reportedly in "advanced negotiations" to face welterweight Brett Cooper on the Affliction "Trilogy" card on August 1st. The report states it's being considered for a 165 lb weight limit.
Gomi is coming off of a win over Takahashi Nakakura in the Shooto organization after losing two straight in Sengoku. Before dropping those two straight bouts, Gomi had only lost three fights previously in his career. There was a fourth loss in that span, as he was on the wrong end of a gogoplata from Nick Diaz, but Diaz failed a drug test and the result was changed to a no contest. He brings a 30-5 record with him into this Affliction debut.
Brett Cooper is 9-4 and appeared on the last Affliction show, "Day of Reconing." He defeated Patrick Speight via KO in the second round of their undercard bout on that show.
Penick's Analysis: Gomi's a good addition to this card for Affliction. He's going to want to keep on the winning track after losing consecutive bouts in Sengoku and responding in Shooto, and it will be a chance for newer U.S. MMA fans to see another one of Japan's longtime stars.
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