Quote of the Day: Takanori Gomi
by Chris Nelson on Feb 26, 2009 10:14 PM EST
in MMA News
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How have you been since your last fight with Satoru Kitaoka?
I [thought] you wanted to asked me about that fight. Of course, it would be nice if you tell me about that. As you saw, I couldn't do anything. I suppose fans who knew me since PRIDE considered that I looked like a totally different person. I don't even know why. I didn't feel any energy in the ring. After the fight, I felt like I was free. I thought I fulfilled my duty.Do you mean that you resigned [as a representative] of the top lightweight fighter?
I suppose so. I haven't proven myself the last few fights. I was training, yet everything has fallen apart. I couldn't put together because my training wasn't enough. My skills went down in the last 2 years. I experienced a lot in the last 2 years. I quit Kiguchi [Dojo] without thinking well, and started my gym. I felt responsibility to take care of my students, and I was passive about my fight. I was just waiting and see who I fought with.
More of the translated interview from Kakutogitsushin over at MMA Fighting. Gomi admits to undertraining, says he was "completely dominated" by Kitaoka to the point where he may not even deserve a rematch, and generally sounds pretty downtrodden.
It's interesting to note that - at least in the translated portion of the interview - Gomi doesn't address when or if he'll fight next for World Victory Road. On his blog earlier this month, he cited attending UFC 94 as a major motivation to return to training. "I think I found something very important in this trip," Gomi wrote. Then, five days later: "Please look forward to seeing me coming back to the ring patiently."
Gomi has long been considered a fighter who had no need to seek fights outside of Japan. (Then again, so was Yoshihiro Akiyama.) But with his recent run of luck and the lack of immediate challengers for B.J. Penn in the lightweight division, one could argue there's never been a better time for Gomi to consider making a jump stateside.
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KenFlo has a better shot vs. BJ. Penn already trounced Gomi in a beautiful way. Now maybe Gomi v. Florian would be awesome and adding Gomi and going to Japan would be cool, but NOT for a rematch with Penn.
Do you think B.J. whupping Gomi five years ago precludes Gomi ever getting a rematch? I think it’s a story the UFC can push easily, especially in Japan and/or if Gomi were to first get a couple wins under his belt. Not that he’s shown any signs that he’d be able to do that recently. And not that he’s actually signing with the UFC or anything. Hah.
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by Chris Nelson on Feb 26, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
Although Penn got crushed by GSP, and handly, he faired about just as well as any other WW has recently, so I am willing to write it off and look at how stellar BJ has looked at LW. On the other hand, Gomi has been in decline, dare I say free fall as of late. If you factor in the beating Gomi took from Penn and a rematch is a non-issue at this point. They would bring him in as a LW that is popular in Japan, and not as a contender like Rampage or Crocop. In reality, he is not worth the money as a mid-level fighter unless they are doing shows in Japan right away. Sure he could earn a rematch with BJ, but he is certainly not close to that level. He can be great, but he is not right now.
I hope Gomi reboots
But just like Cro Cop & Wandy I am not seeing it no matter how much I want to.
I’m hesitant to believe Gomi is coming stateside, especially with how horrible his last two performances have been. He hasn’t been powerful at all, his wrestling is still very good, yet he’s being overpowered by better grapplers.
His striking, while still decent, has declined vastly. Gomi needs to regroup in a big way, and he needs to train in the States, I believe. That’s the only way I see him coming stateside right now. Of course, that’ll jumpstart him likely heading to the UFC.
The problem for Gomi is his head right now. Mentally, he’s down hard.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
I’d love to see Gomi have a resurgence in the UFC. Even if it makes every PRIDE/anti-Zuffa keyboard warrior drone on about how Gomi was a DREAM washout who came and whooped up in the UFC. I hardly suspect that Gomi will do either, let alone both, but I would very much like to see it.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
I’d love for Gomi to come over to the UFC… and fight at least twice before getting a title shot.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions
I’d like to see Gomi go to the UFC, because he needs some tune up fights before he comes back to Japan, where the lightweight devision is much more competitive than in the United States.
I see the UFC as a viable feeder organization for Japan.
by AnonymousA on Feb 26, 2009 11:14 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
I disagree with this comment so much that it almost makes me want to rec it. Kinda like its so bad, it’s good.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 27, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions
Gomi has long been considered a fighter who had no need to seek fights outside of Japan. (Then again, so was Yoshihiro Akiyama.) But with his recent run of luck and the lack of immediate challengers for B.J. Penn in the lightweight division, one could argue there’s never been a better time for Gomi to consider making a jump stateside.
I don’t see how you could read it this way. Gomi is obviously not interested in being a top fighter anymore, regardless of whether it’s in Japan or elsewhere.
Gomi doesn’t need fights outside of Japan (thought it wouldn’t hurt him). He needs to start training outside of Japan. And that goes for most Japanese fighters. American training is so far ahead right now.
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Training with other pros couldn’t hurt. It seems like he hasn’t been himself (outside of smashing Ishida) since he started his own gym.
Who was he with before?
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 27, 2009 1:13 AM EST up reply actions
He was with Kiguchi Dojo. The dojo’s namesake, Noriaki Kiguchi, was the guy who started the ‘Combat Wrestling’ tournaments in Japan. Other fighters to come out of the gym include Mach Sakurai, Rumina Sato, Genki Sudo, Nobuhiro Obiya, Yusuke Endo, Masahiro Oishi, and a few old-school Shooto champs.
Thanks. My understanding of the Japanese scene is lacking to say the least.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 27, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
it seems like Aoki and Kitaoka and a few others
are at the leading edge of grappling.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
*cough* pants *cough*
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Feb 27, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but there is one big attribute to Gomi’s game that America really doesn’t help him with, and that’s wrestling. He’s a top notch wrestler, even so much as beating Nagata, an Olympic medalist, in a wrestling tournament.
I think the U.S. side will simply help him get into shape much better, push him. I think his striking has dropped off though, and maybe a K-1 type of atmosphere may help in that department primarily. He has ALWAYS needed some solid jiu-jitsu. I think ATT overal would be outstanding, or even Xtreme Couture.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 27, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s kinda cool that Gomi felt like there were lessons to be learned from watching UFC 94; although they’ve only met the one time in the cage in many ways Penn and Gomi have been rivals historically simply from both being the top lightweights in their respective countries, and both have clearly had issues with complacency and focus.
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