Takanori Gomi (Pictures) will take on UFC and K-1 veteran
Duane "Bang" Ludwig (Pictures) on March 5 at Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium No. 1, World Victory Road announced Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Gomi, who announced his signing with WVR late last month, has not seen action since February 2007, where he took on
Nick Diaz (Pictures) in their infamous Las Vegas encounter. Gomi was submitted in the second round via gogoplata, however, the fight was later overturned to a no-decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after Diaz tested positive for marijuana.
Ludwig, also 29, lost his most high profile bout in 2007 when he was dispatched by upstart UK product
Paul Daley (Pictures). However, Ludwig rebounded in front of his hometown Colorado crowd in September, knocking out German
Mario Stapel (Pictures) in under two minutes.
Ludwig was scheduled to compete two weeks before the slated Gomi bout on Feb. 23, when he was to take on
Steve Berger (Pictures) as part of Strikeforce's card in Tacoma, Wash. Berger will now do battle with local fighter
Eddy Ellis (Pictures).
WVR also unveiled two other bouts for the March 5 bill. BodogFight champion Nick "The Goat" Thompson will face Brazilian import Fabricio "Pitbull" Monteiro, and
Ryo Kawamura (Pictures) meets undefeated Brazilian
Antonio Braga Neto.
Earlier this week, WVR announced the signing of
Kazuyuki Fujita (Pictures), who will be in action on the March 5 Sengoku bill against a yet-to-be-named opponent.