Takanori Gomi joined training practice with the fight team at American Kickboxing Academy on Tuesday in San Jose, Calif., Sherdog.com has learned.
Bob Cook, one of AKA’s head trainers, said the Japanese striker “mostly grappled” with UFC welterweight contender
Jon Fitch, Strikeforce champion
Josh Thomson,
Justin Wilcox, as well as with middleweight
Trevor Prangley and UFC heavyweight
Cain Velasquez.
The former Pride lightweight champion is in the U.S. reportedly to take meetings with both the UFC and Strikeforce. Cook is a consultant for Strikeforce.
Gomi also attended the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto boxing match last Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
One of Japan’s biggest attractions during the Pride era, Gomi dropped back-to back losses against
Sergey Golyaev and
Satoru Kitaoka in Sengoku, but rebounded in the last half of 2009 with victories over
Takashi Nakakura in Shooto and
Tony Hervey in Vale Tudo Japan 2009 in late October. Gomi carries a third-round submission loss to UFC lightweight champion
B.J. Penn from October 2003.
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