Akihiro Gono

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Akihiro Gono
Image:AkihiroGono.jpg
Statistics
Height	5'9 (175cm)
Weight	183lbs (83kg)
Born	October 7, 1974
Town of birth	Tokyo, Japan
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	27
By knockout	7
By submission	5
Losses	12
Draws	7

Akihiro Gono (born October 7, 1974 in Tokyo, Japan; alternatively transliterated Akhiro Gouno) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights as a Welterweight in the PRIDE Fighting Championships. He is best known for his clever and deceptive fighting style, and for his flashy ring entrances. His fighting style is characterized by skillfully avoiding strikes, using fast counter punches and generallygetting the opponent to fight his way. He is nicknamed the " Magic Man" for his ability to pull out bizarre submissions often times when it looks like he has nothing available.

1 Biography
- 1.1 Mixed martial arts career
2 Mixed martial arts record
3 See also
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Biography

Akihiro Gono began fighting mixed martial arts in 1994, beginning with the Lumax Cup: Tournament of Japan '94. He would go on to fight in the Shooto organization, as well as Pancrase. He began fighting in Pride Bushido with Bushido 2 in 2004.

[edit] Mixed martial arts career

Gono holds wins over such fighters as Yuki Kondo, Ivan Salaverry, Crosley Gracie, Daniel Acacio, and Dae Won Kim. He has fought many tough opponents, with losses to such fighters as Mauricio Rua, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, and Yuki Kondo.

Gono began making his ring entrances in Pride FC more elaborate in 2006 with the creation of a character, DJ Gozma (a parody of Japanese musician DJ OZMA). The entrances have involved Gono wearing a vintage suit, including shoes, an orange wig, and accompanied by oddly dressed male dancers while the song age♂age♂EVERY☆Night by DJ OZMA plays in the background. Also, when the fighters are introduced in the ring, Gono drops his suit's pants to reveal zebra stripped fighting briefs. Gono's sense of humor is clearly at play in these entrances.

Gono's last fight was a split decision victory over PRIDE and Pancrase veteran Yuki Kondo at PRIDE Shockwave 2006.