Leandro Gomes used to play a video game featuring Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. Now, he’s fighting on the same card as the UFC legends, at The Forum in L.A. later this month.
A lot has been said about the undercard of Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 since it was unveiled several weeks ago. For fans used to relatively stacked UFC cards, there was just a sprinkling of familiar names. That’s not to say the card lacks talent. Leandro Gomes, a.k.a. ‘The Pequeno Hulk,’ faces Westin Wilson at the show on November 24. He’s excited to be sharing the card with legends, and told Cageside Press Tuesday about what he feels Golden Boy Promotions, who are putting on the show, can do for MMA.
“For me, I feel blessed to fight on the same card,” Gomes (3-1) said of the opportunity to fight alongside legends. “I train every day, I train hard at King’s MMA with master Rafael Cordeiro. I wait for a long time. This opportunity — now it’s my time.”
Gomes feels that Golden Boy moving from boxing to MMA is “great for the sport. It’s great for everybody, because Golden Boy is so big.” To jump to MMA now, he feels, is perfect. And he hopes this first card results in “2, 3, 4,” and so on. If that works out, “boxing, we know the fighters, boxing pros, have respect, a lot of money. MMA needs this too. And Golden Boy can give respect, money to the fighters.”
When it comes to the fighters atop the card, “I’m a big fan of both guys,” Gomes told us. “I played a video game when I was young with Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. I know it’s going to be a great fight, for everybody, it’s going to be a great show.”
He’s wasn’t about to pick a winner, but told us “I hope to finish my fight quick, then back to watch the fight.”
As for that video game, “I played more with Tito Ortiz,” Gomes admitted.
Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 takes place November 24 at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. The card, under Golden Boy MMA, airs live on PPV.
