THE CANADIAN PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kenny Florian spoiled Takanori (The Fireball Kid) Gomi’s debut in the UFC, choking out the former Pride lightweight champion at a UFC Fight Night show Wednesday night.
Gomi (31-6) never challenged Florian, who controlled the mixed martial arts fight throughout.
In the battle of southpaws, Florian scored with the jab in the first two rounds which were fought entirely on the feet. Florian looked to tie Gomi up early in the third and ate a left but survived to take the Japanese fighter down. Florian mounted Gomi, who gave up his back and Florian locked in a rear naked choke to win at two minutes 52 seconds of the third round.
Florian (15-4) was accompanied to the cage by Canadian coaches Firas Zahabi and Jon Chaimberg, and his brother Keith Florian.
“I just do what they tell me to do and thank God it worked out,” Florian said of his coaches. “Tonight was my night.”
The 31-year-old Gomi, whose pro career dates back to 1998, had won his last two fights but lost the two prior to that.
Since being beaten by Diego Sanchez in the final of Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the 33-year-old Florian has won 11 of 13 in the UFC. The losses were both in title bouts — to Sean Sherk for the vacant title at UFC 64 and to champion B.J. Penn at UFC 101. Most recently, he submitted Clay Guida at UFC 107.
The televised show at the Bojangles Coliseum was briefly interrupted by a power outage.
In the co-main event, heavyweight Roy (Big Country) Nelson needed just 39 seconds to topple Swiss Stefan (Skyscraper) Struve.
At six foot, the roly-poly Nelson (16-4) was giving up 11 inches to Struve. But he floored the big man with an overhand right and then finished him off with eight unanswered punches. The 22-year-old Struve (23-4) had his three-fight UFC win streak snapped.
“Give it up for Stefan, guys. Because, man, when he turns 25, he’s going to be a stud,” said Nelson.
Nelson suggested he would like a shot at former boxer James Toney next.
Jorge (El Conquistador) Rivera looked impressive in stopping Nate (Rock) Quarry via second-round TKO in a battle of hard-hitting 38-year-old middleweights.
Quarry (18-4) was busier to start the fight but Rivera (18-7) bided his time and then hurt Quarry, who was lucky to escape the round.
A pair of heavy rights and a left ended it 29 seconds into the second round.
“I asked for this fight because I know Nate’s a tough dude,” said Rivera. “And I knew he would put on a show for the fans.”
England’s Ross (The Real Deal) Pearson won a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Denis Siver, ending the German lightweight’s three-fight win streak in the UFC.
The German auto mechanic was game but Pearson’s crisp striking and kicking won the day. Pearson, a former bricklayer who took Season 9 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ is now 3-0 in the UFC.
“It just goes to show how tough Dennis really is,” Pearson said. “I hit him with some good shots and he kept coming, man.”
The two stayed on their feet to start the first round and Pearson (13-3) found his range as the round wore on. Siver, his face battered and nose bloodied, took his lumps but kept throwing.
Siver (15-7) connected with his trademark spinning back kick in the second — which finished two opponents in the UFC — but Pearson took it and kept fighting.
“It tickled a little bit,” Pearson said later.
English lightweight Andre Winner, who lost to Pearson in the TUF finale, won a unanimous decision over Rafaello Oliveira.
In other action:
— Middleweight Gerald (Hurricane) Harris stopped Mario Miranda by first-round KO,.
— Middleweight Yushin Okami defeated Lucio Linhares via second-round TKO.
— Lightweight Gleison Tibau stopped Caol Uno via first-round TKO.
— Lightweight Nik (The Carny) Lentz won a unanimous decision over Rob (The Saint) Emerson.
— Welterweight Jacob (Christmas) Volkmann earned a split decision over Ronys (Jungle Boy) Torres.
— Welterweight Charlie (The Spaniard) Brenneman won a unanimous decision over Jason (The Kansas City Bandit) High.
The Charlotte card featured a rare double weigh-in, thanks to North Carolina rules. Fighters weighed in at 4 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday and were not allowed to gain more than 13 pounds in the interim.
