10 Legendary MMA Fighters You've Probably Never Heard Of

Takanori Gomi Gets Second Chance at UFC Success Against Joe Stevenson in August


(Either he’s suffering from jet-lag, or he stayed up all night watching a Bad Girls Club marathon. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.)

After getting soundly handled by Kenny Florian last month, Takanori Gomi will get another chance to prove himself in the UFC — but it won’t be easy. As first reported by MMA Mania, the Fireball Kid will compete at the next "UFC on Versus" show (August 1st, Salt Lake City) against UFC lightweight contender Joe Stevenson. Though Stevenson is coming off a decision loss to George Sotiropolous at UFC 110, he looked better than ever in his previous victories over Spencer Fisher and Nate Diaz, and has to be thought of as the favorite in this matchup. It’s an absolute must-win for Gomi, who would likely be released by the UFC if he loses. Anybody think he’s got a shot?

Semi-related: Randy Couture is slated to appear on the UFC’s August 28th card in Boston, which has fired speculation that he will be facing former boxing champ James Toney, who he previously called dibs on. You’d better hope this doesn’t actually come together, Randy — this guy’s daddy was an original death fighter, for God’s sake…

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Ratel- April 24, 2010 at 9:46 am
Here's my 2 cents' worth: Stevenson is barely hanging on, and it's pretty generous of the UFC to feed him Gomi like this. He's way too powerful for Gomi, I think.

But there's the problem: Stevenson is doing just enough to keep his ass in the UFC, and we all know he's not going anywhere near a title shot. By feeding him a soft target like Gomi, it's going to cause the vicious cycle of self-delusion to perpetuate itself and Stevenson will keep on believing that he belongs in the UFC among the top tier guys. If Gomi wins, then that spells the end for Joe Daddy since Japanese imports typically look overmatched when they come to the UFC.

I don't know what Stevenson has on UFC management, but they just seem to love him. The UFC overlooks the fact that dude had to drop from MW to WW, and finally to LW in order to keep his head above water. I think it's time for Joe Stevenson to be shuffled off to a lesser promotion.
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Mr_Misanthropy- April 23, 2010 at 1:41 pm
This is a terrible fight for Gomi. Shtevenson has looked like a new dog since he switched to Jackson's, maybe not champ-like but at least second or third place gatekeeper (a job is better than no job). Hopefully the loss to Florian woke Gomi's ass up a bit, but a lot of these Japanese fighters seem like they are all apathetic and butt-hurt that their shits not on top anymore. I miss ze Prides as well (I think I own 43 events on DVD, plus a couple of greatest KOs), but that doesn't mean they have to get all Hari-Kari on us.

C'mon, whose a big mean tough guy fighter? You are! Yes you are! Now drop the razor blade and go back to training...
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macreadysshack- April 23, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Stevenson is a solid gatekeeper. robthom, I think you're right, this is a very good test to see where Gomi is at. I'd have had him start with Stevenson and if he won, then feed him to Florian. I didn't see Gomi beating Florian at all, especially his first time fighting in the States (right?) and in the UFC no less. It seems that a lot of guys need an adjustment period to get used to the level of competition and the spectacle of the Octagon. I wish they'd given Hendo to A. Silva only after he'd fought a few other top guys first. He could have beaten him once he acclimated. Tangentially, I think Hendo screwed the pooch and got lazy with his training for Strikeforce. Maybe that's why he quit UFC - too damned hard to stay in winning shape there. He was out and he took it easy. Big mistake.
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ghostboner- April 23, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I would like to point out that I heard this rumor at the gym last night, and requested an update/confirmation of it's legitimate rumor status a few posts back. That is all.
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robthom- April 23, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Thats a good fair fight. If Gomi cant beat Stevenson then he done gone rotten.

Although it might be tougher than it would seem. I thought I noticed Joe Daddy catching a second wind recently.

Still woulda preferred Gomi/Nate though.
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macreadysshack- April 23, 2010 at 11:36 am
Randy is great at securing the clinch but I wonder if we'll see him actually shoot in on Toney. It's not Randy's style but it is absolute kryptonite for one dimensional boxers. Randy's shot has never been his strong suit but I think it's probably more than enough to take down Toney.
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DazedNConfused- April 23, 2010 at 11:12 am
I was hoping they would give him a pure striker, a little tune-up fight, before fuckin' throwing him to the wolves. Oh well. I just wanted to see a James Toney knockout. The man is a boxing legend, and can throw a hell of a punch. In 4oz gloves i'd imagine he would of permanently fucked up Kimbo's face.

Actually the perfect fight for Toney would have been Denis Stojnic, that motherfucker had the hardest head I've ever seen, and all he did was throw bombs. He was also huge. Toney could have looked like a boxing vet against someone like that, thennn give him Couture or someone.
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DazedNConfused- April 23, 2010 at 11:09 am
Toney has the 1st round, that's it, to knock Couture out. This will be in the first 1-2mins of the round, when they're feeling eachother out. After that, Couture will throw him against the cage and Greco-Wrestle the shit out of him. Couple dirty boxing lefts, before throwing him down. That will be the end of it. Toney will get molested for the first round by ground and pound, and if it he makes it to round 2 he will be gasssssed, like we all know.
So although i'd love to see Toney win, just to stir the pot a bit, he literally has to be perfect in this fight to execute it. Best of luck.
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macreadysshack- April 23, 2010 at 10:15 am
Can you say 'clinch', boys and girls? How about 'ground into dog shit'? I think that pretty much summarizes what's gonna go down here.

If Randy wanted to, he could actually get a sub in this fight! That would be fun. Not quite as much fun as Randy grinding toney down like he's trying to make fire with his backfat.

Hopefully, we won't be saying 'glass jaw'.
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Nut Puncher 9000- April 23, 2010 at 10:01 am
I think the UFC is taking a risk if they announce this fight between Couture and Toney. Should Toney win, and he has a better chance then you guys think, he puts down a MMA legend and that is just bad. Even if Toney went on to get Crushed by others he still put down the Natural. Not a fan of that idea.

I think Toney should fight A. Silva at LHW for his shit at the last PPV.
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ReX13- April 23, 2010 at 8:33 am
iDestroy Says:
Fri, 04/23/2010 - 10:29
Lol. Rex spelled retart wrong.


buncha bich-ass grammer notzis around hear

(fixed)
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ReX13- April 23, 2010 at 8:31 am
ubidoob>> i believe your doob is full of crack, nutmeg, and retart juice. Please explain to the class how James Toney would stay on his feet for more than fifteen seconds. Then apologize to Captain America. Obviously, this match hasn't been made official, but i'd bet the effin ranch on Couture. Fucking KIM Couture would beat Toney.
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iDestroy- April 23, 2010 at 8:29 am
Lol. Rex spelled retart wrong.


I've always wondered why Gomi never employed his fireball technique in an actual fight. Is it against the unified rules? Gomi by 3rd degree burn round 2.
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WILLIEX- April 23, 2010 at 8:18 am
Lets hope everyone here is right and Randy greco slams his ass if not and James wins Im never gona Hear the end of it form the idiots that think grabing someone is fighting like a fag. putting big country in there would be much less risky for MMA cause if Randy Loses its a stain in MMA but if Big Country Losses then the MMA outsider would just think that Dana just gave Toney some fat guy to fight.
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ReX13- April 23, 2010 at 8:09 am
justscrappin>> i think it's the switch to 5 hour energy; i'm a little keyed up. No hard feelins, boys.
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justscrappin- April 23, 2010 at 8:05 am
If Toney fought "suga free", he would lose to a wrist lock. Cuz he would get his fist stuck in her cavernous va-j-j when he threw a punch...and then get wrist locked trying to shake her off.
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knucklesamitch- April 23, 2010 at 7:59 am
Dana White, you magnificent bastard...putting Couture against Toney is an excellent idea. If Toney somehow manages to pull out a W, you've got a built in excuse in that Couture is 62 years old.

That match-up can't be any worse than Hughes/Renzo Gracie.
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justscrappin- April 23, 2010 at 7:57 am
Does anybody else feel like Joe Stevenson is always the bridesmaid...and never the bride? Him and Guida are like eternal gatekeepers. They beat everyone but the top 5 or 6 in the division. Gomi could knock him out..but his notoriously poor sub defense will probably be his downfall. As far as Toney goes....he has one f'n chance to catch Randy coming in...like Chuck did. If not....he will be mangled after being flipped upside down on his head. On a side note.....Rex..you seem a little edgy today. You have been so happy go lucky and loving lately....it's weird to see this bad boy side of you. what gives playa?
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ReX13- April 23, 2010 at 7:54 am
WILLIEX>> A young hot head might try to stand up with Toney. Probably not--hopefully his corner would smack some sense into him--but maybe a young lion trying to prove his badassery.

Randy Couture has a Doctorate of Badassery from Mean University's School of Hard Knocks. He hasn't had to prove this to anyone in years. He's acknowledged as one of the best gameplanners in the sport, and engaging in the only area where Toney would be comfortable is not the gameplan he'd go with. He might KO Toney--but "Lights On but Nobody's Home" would already being laying down when it happened. Randy's just a nice guy like that.
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J Akuma- April 23, 2010 at 7:52 am
@WILLIEX

Agreed, and I like the comparison.
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BENedictArnoldFOWLKES- April 23, 2010 at 7:46 am
There hasn't really ben (not fowlkes) any Asian fighters to really make an impact in the UFC. A gatekeeper like Florian will likely keep that from happening anytime soon. And just like the UFC I ignored Okami.
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WILLIEX- April 23, 2010 at 7:44 am
Wait guys, if Randy Couture tries to stand with Toney which I may see him doing, he will get KOed. Remember MMA guys suck at boxing especially Randy. Randy need to shoot from far to avoid a trouble. If he even dreams of standing with Toney for more than 30 seconds were gona see a big face in MMA a fall to a Boxing guy. Remember if you think in belt terms when it comes to Boxing James Toney is a seasoned Black Belt a guy like Anderson Sylva maybe just got his Purple Belt.
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jimbonics- April 23, 2010 at 7:31 am
@rex

High 5 for Kim Couture. It's funny 'cause it's true.

I want Gomi to win, but JoeDaddy likely takes this.

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ReX13- April 23, 2010 at 7:24 am
SweetAfflictionShirt>> Agreed. That fight would burn the roof off that place.
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SweetAfflictionShirt- April 23, 2010 at 7:22 am
Gomi needs to fight Spencer Fisher. I don't see him shaking things up at lightweight anymore, but that fight would rock.
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