Gomi x Kid almost happened?

According to rumor, early this year PRIDE approached K-1 Hero's to promote a dream match: Gomi Takanori x Yamamoto Kid Norifumi. The co-promotion would probably have made lots of money for both companies. However, K-1 producer Tanigawa said no. This may also be a reason why Kid was allowed to leave to compete in amateur wrestling. That would mean less pressure on K-1 and Kid to put on the match.



Usually, this would just be the normal kind of rumor you see on Japanese chat boards, etc. But the source of this rumor is believed to be the staff of the magazine "Number." This is the most respected sports magazine in Japan. The writing, the photographs, and the layout are all beautiful. Actually, it might be the only magazine I read regularly. That makes this story a little bit more believable than most rumors.

Here is the link for "Number" on the web.

And here are covers from recent issues of "Number" that focus on MMA.