"I’ve had so many high-profile fights in Japan; it might actually be good for me and my career to take that next step and go abroad to continue fighting. The world is a big place, and the challenges are out there. As a Japanese champion, I want to set a good example for the next generation of fighters here."

"Representing and proving Japan is still strong and has the best fighters is important to me…but maybe the rumors are true. Maybe they were overestimated (PRIDE FC fighters) when compared to their UFC counterparts. However I’m a champion, and champions like me are totally different."

Takanori Gomi (27-3) is rated consistently as one of the top five lightweights in the world. He holds wins over Jens Pulver, Hayato Sakurai, and Ralph Gracie.