‘JZ’ Wants Gomi
Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti, who recently won the HERO`S 154-pound
tournament for an impressive second time, called out PRIDE
lightweight champion Takanori
Gomi (Pictures) at a news conference in Japan
following his victory last Monday.
"I want to fight tougher opposition," Calvancanti said. "I have to fight the best to become the best. I'd like other fighters from PRIDE to follow the footsteps of Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) and join HERO`S. I'd like to face current PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (Pictures) if he joins HERO'S."
After he stopped Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro and submitted Andre Amade (Pictures) to win the Sept. 17 HERO'S tournament, Calvancanti's stock as a top-10 lightweight climbed as high as ever. He has blasted his way to the top of the Japanese promotion with victories over Rani Yahya (Pictures), Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), Caol Uno (Pictures) and Nam Phan (Pictures), among others.
"I know a lot about Gomi," said the 23-year-old American Top Team product. "He has good hands and is one of the best in the world and has an exciting style. I studied his game since he fought my teammate Marcus Aurelio two times."
Calvancanti's challenge has sent shockwaves through the MMA industry in Japan at a time when rumors of Gomi's future are rampant.
According to Sadaharu Tanigawa, producer of Fight Entertainment Group -- the parent company of HERO'S -- Gomi could join HERO'S after his contract with the now-defunct PRIDE expires in September.
The Japanese media have labeled the potential bout between Calvancanti and Gomi a "dream lightweight match" and a "clash of champions."
"I want to fight tougher opposition," Calvancanti said. "I have to fight the best to become the best. I'd like other fighters from PRIDE to follow the footsteps of Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) and join HERO`S. I'd like to face current PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (Pictures) if he joins HERO'S."
After he stopped Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro and submitted Andre Amade (Pictures) to win the Sept. 17 HERO'S tournament, Calvancanti's stock as a top-10 lightweight climbed as high as ever. He has blasted his way to the top of the Japanese promotion with victories over Rani Yahya (Pictures), Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), Caol Uno (Pictures) and Nam Phan (Pictures), among others.
"I know a lot about Gomi," said the 23-year-old American Top Team product. "He has good hands and is one of the best in the world and has an exciting style. I studied his game since he fought my teammate Marcus Aurelio two times."
Calvancanti's challenge has sent shockwaves through the MMA industry in Japan at a time when rumors of Gomi's future are rampant.
According to Sadaharu Tanigawa, producer of Fight Entertainment Group -- the parent company of HERO'S -- Gomi could join HERO'S after his contract with the now-defunct PRIDE expires in September.
The Japanese media have labeled the potential bout between Calvancanti and Gomi a "dream lightweight match" and a "clash of champions."
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