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Takanori Gomi cancels media interview
By Zach Arnold | November 1, 2006
According to a Daily Sports report. Gomi was supposed to meet with the media and do a training session for the media on behalf of DSE. He canceled.
And the bad news for PRIDE got even worse. Gilbert Melendez is off the Yokohama Arena card due to an injury. Here is a statement from Gilbert Melendez’s MySpace blog:
With my objection and due to my doctor’s and manager’s insistence, I have pulled out of my fight with Shinya Aoki, set for Bushido 13. I ruptured an infected bursa sac on my left elbow and am unable to extend my left arm, even after getting it drained multiple times. I am scheduled to get an MRI after more of the swelling goes down as my doctor suspects I may have ligament and tendon damage. This predicament and absolutely no other reason (so unfounded rumors and speculation can end), is why I am not fighting on Nov. 5. With PRIDE’s understanding, I was forced to withdraw and they have found a replacement for me. I’m relieved that at least, MMA fans will still be able to watch Aoki fight.
I have been preparing intensely for this fight and have been looking forward to making my first appearance on PPV for a long, long time. This fight would have been a landmark in my career. I am at a loss for words to express my disappointment and frustration. Most of all, I am sorry for disappointing the MMA fans, my supporters, PRIDE and Aoki. I have expressed to PRIDE my desire to reschedule a match-up with Aoki as soon as I am able.
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Gilbert’s injury excuse is garbage. I heard about 3-4 days ago that he was dropping out because he has a fight for the next Strikeforce card and he’d be in breach of contract to take it.
That’s terrible news as regards Melendez. I was looking forward to that fight more than almost any other this year. The card is still excellent, but that’s certainly a loss.
As for Gomi, is there anything else on the cancellation? Rumors? After all, he could have simply had a scheduling conflict. Or it could be something more serious.
On a Bushido post yesterday, I linked to something Gryphon wrote about Gomi’s strange attitude going into the Aurelio fight. Gomi did an interview in Kami Pro magazine and was lacking on confidence.
For Gomi and the DSE media session, all he did was issue a “no comment” and that was it. Therefore, this gave the media a storyline to push in the papers about the erratic behavior.
yeah i love the bad news for pride. hopefully fightopinion will be right and they will go out of business! sherdog sucks as well!
“For Gomi and the DSE media session, all he did was issue a ‘no comment’ and that was it. Therefore, this gave the media a storyline to push in the papers about the erratic behavior.”
Gotcha, thanks. I also read the Gomi interview, but it didn’t actually strike me as that odd. Japanese fighters tend not to do the trashtalking so common among their Western counterparts (“I will do my best,” instead of “I’ll beat his ass”). I guess I approached the piece with that mindset. But maybe there is something more to it. We shall see…
“Japanese fighters tend not to do the trashtalking so common among their Western counterparts (â€I will do my best,†instead of “I’ll beat his assâ€).”
True, but Gomi was speaking more along the lines of “I don’t think I can defeat him.”
That sucks about Melendez, but at least we still get to see Aoki in action.
“bad news for PRIDE again…”
WTF? Why is this retard reporter always trying to make it seem like PRIDE is on the verge of falling over and dying. There is still a bunch of good fights on the card.
Come on Aoki, do it for Paraestra! Woo!
It’s clear from the quotations I’ve read… Gomi is worried. Aurelio is his kryptonite. His natural enemy.
I think it’s cool. Gomi has found his nemesis. Like Silva vs. Sakuraba, the Brazilian is going to stop the Japanese in his tracks, again and again.
Actually, that’s not a prediction. I think it will be a close fight and could go either way. Although if Gomi’s head is together, I give it to him.
Japanime, why don’t you do us all a favor and go back to Sherdog? That’s the place where you can call people names all day long, but over here are actually people who want to discuss topics concerning the fight game, without resorting to using “colorful language”…