Will Takanori Gomi Rejuvenate His Career in the UFC?
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 3:17 PM EST
in MMA News
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One of the more heated debates we've been having within our own community here at BloodyElbow.com has been the ongoing struggle to find a legitimate challenger to B.J. Penn's belt at 155 pounds. While a lot of fans believe Gray Maynard can present a gameplan that could be a little troublesome for Penn, I've swayed my stance into the camp of fans that believe Penn is unbeatable against the current crop of talent in the UFC's lightweight division.
Some of the suggestions and rumors we've heard from fans and news sources have been the possibility of Shinya Aoki or Takanori Gomi making their way into the Octagon to eventually challenge Penn. Neither fighter seems like a threat in terms of skill, but many fans would love to see a crossover Japanese star in the cage against the UFC's best lightweight fighter. One of those fighters may be heading to the UFC sooner than you think.
According to @gryphonjapan on Twitter, Japanese MMA magazine Kamipro was quoted as stating:
@gryphonjapan - From Kamipro, "Now, Strikeforce and UFC offer Gomi Takanori. UFC's offer money is so good"
Now, his translation skills into incorrect English are self-admitted, just ask him, but the interesting talk coming from the magazine is that the UFC is offering some good money for Takanori Gomi to come stateside and fight in the UFC.
This news definitely hits at the debate as to whether the UFC would shell out some dough for Gomi in order to create a contender to Penn, even though to most hardcore fans -- Gomi would receive a drubbing at the hands of Penn. A showdown between the former PRIDE champion and the current UFC lightweight champion would probably be another win on Penn's record, but many fans will point out Gomi's admission following their 2003 tilt that he hardly trained at all for the fight due to the his own ignorance.
In more recent fights, Tony Hervey damaged him pretty badly in their Vale Tudo Japan 2009 match-up, and Satoru Kitaoka made him look like an amateur at Sengoku No Ran 2009. It's obvious that Gomi needs some sort of major motivation to become the fighter he once was, and a deal with the UFC could rejuvenate him.
I think it is safe to say that whatever the UFC is offering Gomi, he's probably not worth it at this point. I'm a bit more interested in the other fights that Gomi could take in the UFC than just a showdown with Penn. After all, Gomi did beat the 2000 Sydney Olympic Greco-Roman 69kg Silver medalist Katsuhiko Nagata in a combat wrestling match, and he's always been known for his power punching and boxing skills. I wouldn't mind seeing him against any top 10 opponent in the UFC.
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What would the betting line be for Aoki-Penn?
-500 for Penn? Higher?
Giving Shogun his props. I had the fight 48-47 Machida but Shogun put up a monumental performance and I am honored to have seen it in person.
I think the lines would be closer than that. Penn was like -285 for Diego and many people seem to think Aoki is a threat to Penn.
Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.
by lowellthehammer on Dec 23, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Wouldn't matter to me how well he did
I’d like to see him put into the picture inside the UFC. After Maynard who is left to challenge Penn at this point, that hasn’t already had a shot. At the very least it spices up the LW division and from all accounts people were saying it’s going to take a really good striker to get at Penn, and well that’s Gomi’s bread and butter.
I am a huge Aoki fan, some of the best submissions around. Unfortunately, he is one dimensional and would not be a serious threat to BJ. The fight would never go to the ground and he would be picked apart on the feet.
Gomi’s case is interesting, I don’t think he is the dominant fighter he once was. That said, I would like to see him in the UFC, string a few wins together and see where it goes from there.
"You don't come to have your fingernails or your toenails painted. Goddamn, you come to fight, not to be a fairy."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Dec 23, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions
Gomi makes sense if the UFC plans a card in Hawaii. Besides the locals, Gomi could draw a lot of Japanese fans, helping to sell the high-priced seats. Too bad this fight wasn’t made 2 years ago.
by John Nash on Dec 23, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
smart
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
Gomi is a lose-lose situation for the UFC
Either he comes in, tears it up in which it would prove the UFC lw division is vastly overated or he comes in and loses to a bunch of guys but then everyone would say that Gomi is old and a fraction of a fighter he used to be so it still doesnt prove anything about the UFC lw division.
Yeah, but Penn beating Gomi convincingly wouldn’t be a surprise. Plus, Gomi could come in as a ready-made contender with some hype and a good win. It doesn’t necessarily become a lose-lose in my mind.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
tears it up in which it would prove the UFC lw division is vastly overated
I don’t necessarily agree.
Anderson Silva came in and started destroying guys and the UFC just made Silva UFC property.
The UFC marketing monster is too huge. If Gomi came in and destroyed people they would hype it up, anyone he beat would also be considered low contenders and then when he fought B.J. Penn and lost, which he would, UFC could say that with the Japanese elite against the UFC elite, UFC wins everytime.
Was Mirko Cro Cop a lose-lose situation?
They were able to push Gabe Gonzaga as a contender primarily because of his win over Cro Cop (though the spectacular nature of the finish obviously helped). He has since been exposed as a front-runner, but at the time people thought he was a future champion in the making. Plus, like Cro Cop, there are always going to be people who want to see Gomi fight, even if he’s not the force he once was.
by BilboMcFonzie on Dec 23, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
Gomi would have to fully commit himself and do a full training camp with in a seriously good training center (AKA, Xtreme Couture) before he will ever be the fighter he was before. No surfing aspirations, no training with your own students in your own gym. I think he can still be a dominant fighter, but it remains to be seen whether he has the drive to be the best anymore.
"My diet is like Atkins, but with the carbs." - BJ Penn
Gomi
Much as I loved watching the fireball kid, I don’t think he’ll ever get back to form, which was as much matchmaking as anything. Bring him in for the BJ threshing machine, but don’t expect a worldbeater.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
but many fans will point out Gomi’s admission following their 2003 tilt that he hardly trained at all for the fight due to the his own ignorance.
This was also before BJ really trained. Well, he likely trained for that fight more then when he fought Ryoto, but less then he does now And for people that have not seen it. It was a beating. He trounced Gomi in a tremendous fashion. Its hard for me to understand why people still what this rematch. with Gomi’s decline and BJ looking like a world destoryer its hard to think the outcome will be anything but worse for Gomi.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
This is true, although BJ still trained somewhat back in those days. Definitely not even close to the level he has shown recently, but from all indications… Gomi didn’t do a thing to train for that fight, hence why he gassed out pretty quickly.
The previous fight was an absolute drubbing, and every time I hear it mentioned… I see that whole image of Gomi having BJ on his back with the hooks in for lengthy amount of time with Gomi struggling to find a way to get him off. Impressively, BJ wasn’t able to easily sprawl out Gomi while he had his back, which is something a lot of fighters can’t stop. Gomi was at least strong enough to do that, but he easily gassed out because of the defense.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
This doesn’t really pertain to him coming to the UFC but I was at PRIDE Bushido 3 when Gomi fought Ralph Gracie. Before the fight they showed some videos of the fighters training at their dojo’s, beating people up etc. For Gomi they showed a video of him at a school on a playground with little kids, in the classroom etc. Kind of an awwww how can anybody not like this guy thing. And then he proceeded to knock out Ralp with a knee to the chin in under 8 seconds.
"You don't come to have your fingernails or your toenails painted. Goddamn, you come to fight, not to be a fairy."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Dec 23, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions
please gomi!!
come get smeared by bj again =) I believe that was the fight he started bloodying people (?)
by cagefightonacid on Dec 23, 2009 2:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I really hope Gomi comes back to form. I don’t think he could ever beat Penn but the man is one of the most fun LW’s to watch when he is motivated.
I agree, he was one of the most interesting fighters to me back in Pride, would love to see him fight in the UFC
"The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look." - Revolver
by flyingkneetoface on Dec 23, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Nick Diaz frustrated Gomi with much sloppier boxing than Penn has. it’s no contest here.
by slantedwindows on Dec 23, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Diaz’s boxing is much more different than BJ’s. He keeps those jabs coming non-stop. BJ doesn’t do that and he has a shorter reach.
But, Gomi’s work ethic is what is keeping him down.. if that changes, he would be a dangerous opponent.
I really don’t see what Gomi offers in terms of threat to BJ, he’d get wrecked by midtier LW’s and sent on his way out of the UFC in about a year.
Which mid-tier LWs would "wreck" Gomi in a three round fight?
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Off the top of my head Spencer Fisher, Thiago Tavares and Mac Danzig would all handle Gomi if he ever fought them.
Spencer Fisher would get completely punched out by Gomi inside two rounds. Mac Danzig would also get his ass punched out in a round. And Tavares would likely suffer the same fate. While Gomi hasn’t looked great in recent fights, the UFC would at least get him training again. He’d easily crush those guys… badly.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
Gomi is very interesting as a pre-fab contender for the UFC, considering there really isn’t any heat behind guys like Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard as viable challengers. And he would be an interesting addition stylistically, since there aren’t really any great body punchers (by MMA standards) in the UFC like Gomi. I could see him demolishing a lot of the 155lb wrestleboxers currently populating the division, especially in a three round fight.
Wasnt the fight between BJ and Gomi a few years back a pretty competitve fight before BJ got the sub??
"Everyone has a game plan, untell they get hit." -Mike Tyson
No
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Dec 23, 2009 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
Some people will only acknowledge that at gun point.
by scrambledeggs on Dec 23, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
I think the UFC needs to make use of its PRIDE investment and set up a match between Gomi and Penn. They could make an awesome countdown showing Gomi’s better days.
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
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