Takanori Gomi Draws Rafaello Oliveira for Affliction: Trilogy

(Rafaello "Tractor" Oliveira highlight reel. He’s handled Big Big and Fabio Fabio, but will he be able to handle the Fireball Kid?)

After a proposed catchweight bout between Takanori Gomi and Brett Cooper went up in smoke, Affliction has added a lightweight match between Gomi and Rafaello Oliveira to the Affliction: Trilogy fight card page of their official website. Gomi’s name has a suspicious-looking asterisk next to it, but the meaning of that asterisk isn’t defined, and the bout is being reported as official.

Gomi is coming off of a second-round KO victory over Takashi Nakakura at Shooto Tradition Final in May, which followed back-to-back losses in Sengoku. Oliveira has an 8-1 record, fighting mostly in regional leagues in Brazil and North America; he made one appearance in a ShoXC Challenger Series event last year, where he lost to Fancy Pants Beerbohm via doctor’s stoppage TKO. On paper, Oliveira should get crushed by Gomi. In reality…well, he’ll probably still get crushed. This matchup seems to have been made for the benefit of nostalgic PRIDE fans who want to see the Fireball Kid smoke somebody. The current Trilogy card — which is looking pretty damn entertaining from the main event to the prelims — is after the jump.


Pay-Per-View Card
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett (HW)
Renato Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi (LHW)
Vitor Belfort vs. Jorge Santiago (MW)
Gilbert Yvel vs. Paul Buentello (HW)
Takanori Gomi vs. Rafaello Oliveira (LW)

HDNet Card
Jay Hieron vs. Paul Daley (WW)
Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon (LW)
Ben Rothwell vs. Chase Gormley (HW)
LC Davis vs. Javier Vazquez (FW)
Mark Hominick vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (FW)