UFC 135: Potentially Explosive Bout Booked Between Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi

I normally don’t comment when it comes to the Ultimate Fighting Championship booking two fighters into the Octagon, but I must say that the booking of Nate Diaz (13-7) against Takanori ‘The Fireball Kid’ Gomi (32-7, 1NC) is just such an exciting matchup that I couldn’t help myself.
Both men have agreed to a lightweight matchup for the upcoming UFC 135 event in September. This, to me, is one of the most exciting fights of the year and fans could really see the sparks fly. I just hope, that this doesn’t turn out to be like last years Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens bout from last fall. So much potential for “Fight of the Year” but it ended up being such a dud in my books.
Anyway, the official announcement was made late Monday evening on the promotions website UFC.com.
September’s big UFC 135 card in Denver just got bigger with the addition of a lightweight clash between former PRIDE champ Takanori Gomi and Nate Diaz, who is returning to the 155-pound weight class after a stint at welterweight.
“Verbal agreements are in for an explosive lightweight matchup, as the “Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi takes on Nate Diaz at UFC 135,” said UFC President Dana White. “Gomi had an amazing battle with Nick Diaz in PRIDE and is looking for some payback against his brother.”
UFC 135 is expected to take place on Sept. 24 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado and is headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones vs. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.
Diaz drops back to lightweight after going 2-2 above 155 lbs, dropping his last two fights by unanimous decision. He lost to Rory MacDonald at UFC 129 and to Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 125, while beating Marcus Davis at UFC 118 with a guillotine choke, and Rory Markham in a 177 lb catchweight bout at UFC 111 by TKO. Nate’s older brother Nick, fought Gomi back in February of 2007 at a PRIDE 33 event. Nate originally won the bout by submission but it was declared a “No Contest” after he tested positive for marijuana.
Gomi hasn’t had the success many had hoed for in the UFC going 1-2 in his three Octagon appearances. ‘The Fireball Kid’s’ last bout was at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 against Clay Guida, a fight that saw Guida win by first round guillotine submission. Gomi stopped Tyson Griffin in August by knockout at the UFC on Versus 2 event, earning the “Knockout of the Night” bonus. In his UFC debut, Gomi was forced to tap in the third round by Kenny Florian at UFC Fight Night 21.