(Blonde ambition: Chris Tuchscherer with his road-dog Brock Lesnar. Photo courtesy of snbcmma.com.)
Though Gabriel Gonzaga is one of the most fearsome can-crushers in the sport, he has repeatedly struggled against high-level competition during his tenure in the UFC. Now coming off a knockout loss to Shane Carwin at UFC 96 — his third defeat in his last five fights — Gonzaga may be getting his "win or GTFO" matchup. MMA Weekly reports that "Napao" and UFC newcomer Chris Tuchscherer have agreed to face each other at UFC 102, which is scheduled for August 29th in Portland.
The last time Gonzaga fought a UFC newcomer (Josh Hendricks at UFC 91), the Brazilian dominated. But Tuchscherer isn’t an unseasoned sacrifical lamb. The Minnesota Martial Arts Academy product holds a 17-1 record with big wins over Krzysztof Soszynski, Travis Fulton, and Branden Lee Hinkle, and he’s a regular training partner of Brock Lesnar. Tuchscherer’s sole career loss came in a decision against Travis Wiuff in the finals of last year’s YAMMA tournament, which shouldn’t even count on his record because who could deal with that ridiculous inclined ramp-edge?
Since Gonzaga has had problems with big, strong wrestlers in the past, Tuchscherer may have a solid chance in this one — and if the Minnesotan can pull off the upset, Gonzaga could be getting his walking papers.
Cagepotato Comments
Showing 1-25 of comments
comments@anhonestmoose
Gonzaga quits the second he gets hit, I'd give him less than 2 minutes with Fedor's canned ham-like fists that seem to put everyone out.
Thanks! I'll have to check those out.
If what you say is true, and I have no reason to doubt you... Gonzaga is a total prick and deserves every ass-beating he gets. Training/rolling/sparring is supposed to be a learning experience. Not a time for total war.
I've never been particularly impressed with his skills and now have every reason to wish him the worst.
Need to whack Gonzaga's knees with a 2x4 just to show him what it feels like.
It still amazes me how people get ahead just by who they know.
are you f'in kidding me? affliction still has barnett for fedor. also, they could cross promote with dream and strikeforce for monson and overeem. both of those guys are far further in line than gonzaga. honestly, i see strikeforce picking gabe up and letting overeem smash him in the face repeatedly. in fact, i'd be quite happy to see that fight.
"fighters" only or "fight!" mag r good
@ wyatt
gonzag sounds like an ego driven prick
hope he gets ktfo
What MMA Magazine would you guys recommend (if there is a good one out there that is)?? This is the only site where I (I'm sure others agree) find good MMA info....but seriously, when I'm taking care of biz in the bathroom, I would rather be reading about MMA then about some stupid ass Hollywood idiots getting arrested for a DUI then let out 5 mins later....and yes I currently have crap to read in the bathroom, but that's besides the point......
Tuchscherer should give him a good fight. Hope Gonzaga gets the Carwin treatment again.
I'd hate to see Gonzago leave the UFC, but he's in a weird position. He's too good to be a gatekeeper, yet he's so inconsistent that beating him doesn't always mean you're awesome and losing to him doesn't always mean you suck. He could totally dominate in a smaller org though.
Gonzaga trained out at warrior fitness in Las Vegas and used a few of my friends as sparring partners for a while. I had just started teaching jujitsu at another place near by and one of my guys decided to jump gyms to come and train under me. He told Gonzaga that it was his last day and he was going to pursue his own fighting career more seriously. That day while working on some technique, not sparring, JUST WORKING ON TECHNIQUE...Gonzaga intentionally broke his arm and just got up and walked off the mat. After he gets his cast on he goes right back to Warrior to see what is up with Gonzaga and the douchebag just says, "let your new gym worry about your arm." Dude just wanted to make his own way and Gonzaga cheap shots him out of 6 weeks of training.
So long, I wish you the absolute worst, you prick.
Agreed. I think there should be a bottom-line benchmark fighter in each weight class that can be included in "notable wins in HIS career include..."
That bottom line, in my opinion, is not K-Sos, but perhaps it's a start.
I mean, it's okay to say "while this guy has an impressive 17 - 1 professional record, he has yet to secure his first notable victory."