Sengoku Moves Forward With Gomi-Kitaoka Title Match

by Kid Nate on Nov 3, 2008 11:49 AM EST in MMA News

Takanori-gomi_medium Despite the shocking split-decision loss of their poster-boy, Takanori Gomi, World Victory Road plans to go ahead with a title fight between Gomi and tournament winner Satoru Kitaoka on January 4th, from Sherdog:

Despite Golyaev’s split decision victory over Gomi at Sengoku "Sixth Battle" on Saturday, the promotion plans to move forward with a Satoru Kitaoka-Gomi title fight on Jan. 4.

Kitaoka (23-8-9) -- who defeated Eiji Mitsuoka and Kazunori Yokota to win the grand prix -- was asked during a post-fight press conference at Hotel East 21 if he had any desire to challenge the man who bested Gomi. The 28-year-old Pancrase mainstay indicated he had no interest in a potential matchup with Golyaev, expressing disdain for both the Russian and Gomi.

"I have no need to fight that Russian fighter," Kitaoka said. "If it was me in there tonight, I would have crushed that Russian in seconds. I had a tougher time than Gomi -- my two fights tonight and my training for them -- so that’s why I said what I said [when I challenged Gomi in the ring]. Anyone have a problem with that?"

The same story confirms that middleweight tourny winner Jorge Santiago will fight Kazuo Misaki for the WVR middleweight belt at the same event.

Nightmare of Battle speculates on another possibility for the January 4th card, a light heavyweight tournament:

Hidehiko Yoshida said today that if there is a tournament (I don’t know if he means a first round or a one-night tournament) on January 4th, he will drop in weight to 93 kg. He wants to know as soon as possible though or else it will be too hard to drop.

A Light Heavyweight tournament is certainly possible now. With fighters such as King Mo, Nogueira, Randleman, Kikuta, Kawamura, Yoshida, Yang Dong Yi, and Jocz they could make a decent tournament.

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Comments

This is the right move, and I agree with Kitaoka – he probably would’ve heel hooked Golyaev in about 30 seconds. Gomi/Kitaoka is a tougher matchup and more interesting fight, let’s just hope Gomi gets up for it.

by Chris Nelson on Nov 3, 2008 11:55 AM EST reply actions

TOTALLY OFF TOPIC

Anyone know that the UFC just signed Denis kang? I am pretty pumped about it.

by Nick Travaglini on Nov 3, 2008 11:59 AM EST reply actions

Nice.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 3, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

What a fucking joke

Toss a guy a can, he loses to said can and then gets a title shot. This would be like giving the next LHW shot to Chuck even after what Rashad did to him.

I’m sorry, but you don’t get to say I’d rather fight the loser of that fight because I’d whup the shit out of the winner. That’s just straight bullshit.

by Derek Suboticki on Nov 3, 2008 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Did you see the Gomi/Golyaev fight?

Golyaev didn’t do anything remotely resembling what Rashad did to Chuck, so that’s a shaky comparison. I’m still baffled as to how two judges gave Golyaev the fight.

by Chris Nelson on Nov 3, 2008 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

it was fairly close

he rocked Gomi twice. A little more killer instinct and he’d have won.
I too would probably score the fight for Gomi but still think the Rashad/Golyaev comparison is somewhat apt — I had Chuck ahead on points until the KO.

by Kid Nate on Nov 3, 2008 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

I had...

Golyaev winning a VERY close decision.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 3, 2008 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

they're using the 10point must

so I had it 10-9 Gomi, 9-10 Golyaev, 10-9 Gomi.
You could easily have it 10-9, 8-10, 10-9 for a 28-29 tie.
How’d you score it to get to a win for Golyaev? 10-9, 8-10, 10-10?

by Kid Nate on Nov 3, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

They use the 10 point must system? Is that something new. I didn’t think they did.

by szucconi on Nov 3, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, with three fives too

Not very Japanese, but I like it personally.

by Blackout612 on Nov 3, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Gomi won the fight

http://www.worldofcombat.net/takanori-gomi-vs-sergy-golyaev-video.html

A better example for the UFC than Liddell/Evans would be Almeida/Cote with Almeida still getting a shot at Silva.

by Blackout612 on Nov 3, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions

i agree with nate. gomi got the 1st and 3rd. this IS the right move.

by Dark Tower on Nov 3, 2008 2:28 PM EST reply actions

I’ve watched the fight about five times since Saturday and I still see no way how someone could score it for Golyaev.

by Tonley on Nov 3, 2008 4:45 PM EST reply actions

It happens

I wish the judging process contained more consistency. Perhaps some general guidelines, less liberal interpretation. Which is not to say certain elements should be more important, but rather that they should all carry a more worldly value and interpretation (though equally).

by Blackout612 on Nov 3, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions