"THE OUTLAW" GOMEZ RETURNS SATURDAY
Photos and Story By Jesse Kelley
7.24.09

Mixed martial artist and soon to be pro boxing Jimmy "The Outlaw" Gomez of Saint Paul's East Side is fully recovered from a shoulder injury and set to headline the mma portion of this Saturday nights fights. Gomez has established a huge following around the Saint Paul area despite having only a few amateur kickboxing and boxing bouts before turning pro in the cage. Gomez holds a record of 11-3 as an mma fighter. Gomez has been sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery following his last fight in May of last year. Gomez, who describes his style as a "street fighter" talked about the strange circumstances surrounding his last bout, his desire to make the cut for the next Ultimate Fighter television show and more.

Let's start by talking about how you got into fighting as a profession.
I used to just go down to the Rice Street Boxing gym and just spar with people. I actually only had one amateur boxing fight. I had seven amateur fights as a kickboxer. Then I decided to start myself a criminal empire and got myself locked up in prison. So I was in and out of prison. This last prison sentence I got myself a five year sentence. When I got out, the MMA thing was kind of getting big. So I thought that there really wasn't a fighter from over here (East Saint Paul) besides (Matt) Vanda. So I started thinking I wanted to get into this MMA stuff. So I when I got out, I went to my first show and said this is what I want to do. I basically got in there with no Jiu-Jitsu and no wrestling experience at all. I was just a street fighter.

Is that how you would describe your style in the ring, street fighter?
Yeah I am a stand up fighter, a striker that just likes to bomb.

I remember talking to you before your last fight which was also at the Armory last year. You were telling me about how your opponent (Joe Rekow) was calling you and leaving disrespectful messages on your phone. Can you talk little about that and your last fight?
Yeah he was being trained by BJ Lacy or Marcus Levessuer. He wanted the fight himself, basically telling everybody he wasgoing to knock me out. Just running his mouth saying he wanted to get rid of this Jimmy Gomez. So he started calling my phone and talking shit and this and that. So I wanted to confront him about it at the weigh-ins but he was nowhere to be found. Of course when the fight started, the pussy tried to take me down right away. He didn't want to stand and bang with me. I still ended up taking him in forty seconds at his own little game.

You have not fought since because of an injury. Can you talk about why you have been out of the ring?
I had two shoulder surgeries. I had two tear's in my left shoulder. It actually hurt that last fight but I needed the money to pay some bills. The plan was to get the surgery done and turn it up after I recovered.

Are there any problems with the shoulder anymore? How has training gone for this fight?
The training has been going great. The shoulder has been fine. The most important thing was getting the extra weight off. I put on about 20 pounds with all the partying and stuff. But I have been in the gym for about two and a half months training pretty regularly. I go to Lyke's gym where Vanda goes and also at Ambition with Joey Clark. The same place Brett Rogers is training at.

Any word on who your opponent will be on Saturday?
Yeah I guess we are fighting a wrestler, his name is Paul Hesch. He has had quite a few fights. I think he is from up north somewhere.

You have fought strictly mma since turning pro as a fighter. You were set to make your pro boxing debut before the card was postponed (J. Litzau- Hilario). Do you still plan to box professionally?
I definitely want to mix it up. I believe I have some talent in the boxing game. I plan on doing both mma and boxing. If there is money in boxing I will definitely go for it.

What's next for you after this Saturday?
After this fight it looks like I am fighting on September 6th at club Myth for Nick Gamst. After that I am going to try out for the next Ultimate Fighter show and see how that goes. I think it is coming up in November but I'm not sure. A lot of people tell me I have a good shot at making it on the show.

Anything you would like to add for your crazy fans that you say read the website?
Basically just that I am back in action and I am a whole new person. I am back to fighting at 100% and I hope Saint Paul is there to back me up. Just don't blink because it is going to be over fast, I am coming out to throw some punches.