Takanori Gomi

[jmt225]

If you would do me a favor please and watch this video below, I'd appreciate it. It's a tribute to Japanese Mixed Martial Artist, Takanori Gomi.

[YOUTUBE]kJzKhhT8ww0[/YOUTUBE]​

Pretty bad ass dude, right? Well, he's personally one of my favorite fighters, and right now he's a free agent that supposedly both UFC and Strikeforce are heavily competing over to get. In fact, rumor is that UFC has already made their offer to him and that it's damn good. So, hopefully, sometime this week, or sometime after the holidays we'll get an answer to where he ends up.

But, the question is... where would YOU like to see him go, UFC or Strikeforce? Or hell, would you like to see him stay in DREAM, or would you even like to see him retire? Let me hear it...

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Before I share my thoughts, let me give a quick review of Gomi's actions these past couple of years.

Takanori Gomi at one point was ranked as the absolute best Lightweight in the World. BJ Penn was the only person who defeated him for over 2 years (and keep in mind that the reason Gomi was the #1 Lightweight in the World for a long time was because BJ was fighting at Welterweight during that period). Then... his fight with Nick Diaz happened.

Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi is my favorite fight of all time, and most agree that it's one of the greatest fights in MMA history... but, the Takanori Gomi in that fight was NOT the Takanori Gomi we saw in that video above. Maybe it was because it was his first fight in America, or maybe because he took Diaz too lightly and didn't train hard enough, but after a great start, Gomi gassed about 4 minutes into that fight and got his ass kicked, big time.

Ever since that fight with Diaz, Gomi just hasn't been the same. He's 4-2 since that fight, with none of those 4 wins being against anybody worth mentioning. And those 2 losses came against a couple of scrubs. People blame the fact that Gomi's more into teaching the sport these days than he is actually training himself (he opened up a school right before the Diaz fight). Whether that's true or not doesn't really matter, the fact remains that Gomi just hasn't been himself.

However, I strongly believe that a motivated, well-trained Takanori Gomi can still be one of the best Lightweights in the World. The guy's only 31-years-old, and I know he has another run in him, if he wants one. And if he decides he does want one, I personally would like to see him go to the UFC, not Strikeforce.

Even though Gomi seems worst since they last fought, and even though BJ Penn seems like a million times better, I still think Gomi stands more of a chance against BJ Penn in the Lightweight Division than ANYONE else in the division. That includes those outside of the UFC. People forget just how good Gomi's wrestling and boxing is. Hell, Gomi was the last Lightweight to get a successful takedown on BJ Penn, believe it or not, and I think if he starts taking the sport seriously again, he could easily put up another great fight against Penn, and perhaps even take it this time around, you never know. I just want to find out with my own two eyes if that's true. I don't care how Gomi would do against Melendez, or Thomson, or Aoki, or anyone else not in the UFC, if he decides to continue fighting. If he believe he has one more run in him, he has to do it in the UFC. He has to. There's no way Strikeforce is offering him the same kind of money, and there's no way he'd be able to better end his career than with a good run in the UFC.

 

[INDYjon22]

Damn, I didn't know Gomi was a free agent. He would be such a great pick up for either company especially now since were seeing the beginning of the mma Saturday night wars. I would love to see him go to either company but of course I am biased and would prefer to see him fight in the UFC more, in fact I think the UFC lightweight division needs him more right now.

With BJ Penn running through the division leaving a path of destruction behind him Gomi is one of the few people who could actually stand up to him and give him a decent fight. He may not be his old self but he is still a very dangerous fighter and one of the best in the world.

Like I said the UFC lightweight division is beginning to lack whereas the Strikeforce lightweight division if growing by leaps and bounds with names like Josh Thompson, Gilbert Melendez and KJ Noons. The only lightweight superstar the UFC has is BJ Penn and no one can touch him. The UFC should do everything in their power to bring in a top contender such as Takanori Gomi.

So yeah, I would like to see him go to the UFC and see him help bring the lightweight division up some more and maybe give BJ Penn one more big money fight at lightweight before he moves permanently to Welterweight.

 

[jmt225]

It's official.... Takanori Gomi has signed with the UFC! I'm fucking stoked!!

Now, hopefully Nate Diaz will make quick work of Gray Maynard on the 1tth, and then Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi could then be set-up, with the winner of that getting a shot at BJ Penn. How awesome would that be, seriously?

So, what do YOU want to see happen with Gomi in the UFC? The options are endless.

 

[INDYjon22]

This is some great fucking news for the UFC and their dwindling Lightweight division. Personally, I am in pretty much agreement but I would like to see Maynard beat Diaz first just to set up a short term challenger for Penn which will in turn lead to the big time match up between Penn and Gomi.

Takanori Gomi and Nate Diaz has fight of the night written all over it and will really set up either man for a legit push towards a fight with Penn. But, really all I really want is to see Gomi fight Penn, so it does not really matter to me how it happens or who he has to fight first just as long as Dana makes it happen.

 

[jmt225]

Guess who Gomi is training with, IndyJon? Motherfucking American Kickboxing Academy. Can you believe that shit?

As much as I can't stand Koscheck, it's nice to know Gomi will be working with someone like him everyday. Same goes for guys like Velasquez, Swick, and Jon Fitch. These are some of the hardest work horses in the entire sport.

Now there's no excuse for Gomi. Working with talent like that everyday, you know he's taking this shit seriously and is going to be in tip-top form for his first fight. I absolutely cannot wait.

 

[INDYjon22]

Thats fucking awesome. I had no idea he was training with AKA, that's whats up. Gomi is going to get some great work in before his debut and that is only a good thing. Gomi's wrestling should be off the chain which it will need to be if he is going to make a legit run at BJ Penn and his BJJ should improve which will also be needed. I cannot wait to see what he can accomplish with AKA and their work ethic, great things could be happening.

 

[RAUl Mf. L0wk0]

When I heard this i thought rite away that the reason they signed him was to feed him to BJ Penn. Im not a big fan of Gomi, but hes a great fighter and im glad the UFC signed him! And im really hoping they get a hold of more Japanese fighters! But yeahh this brings more depth to the 155 pound division in the UFC. I cant wait to see him in the UFC and i read somewhere that Kenny Florian is being mentioned to be his first opponent which sounds like a great fight, but id rather have the UFC give him a different fighter to build momentum, because Kennys a beast at the moment. And giving BJ Penn a legit run for his title maybe? I wouldnt say that just yet.