MMA Quick Quote: Takanori Gomi dissatisfied with Sengoku performance

by Jesse Holland on Aug 25, 2008 8:41 PM EDT

My performance wasn't good enough as the main event. I felt the pressure since the other lightweight fighters did a great job [in the grand prix]. It was the last fight in my twenties and I was very motivated to KO him. I didn't have chance to KO him despite giving him pressure and I changed my game plan and focused on the win rather than the KO. In my next fight, I want to show that I can do better.

-- Lightweight sensation Takanori Gomi (29-3) discusses -- via Yahoo! Japan -- his less-than-dazzling performance at Sengoku 4 on August 24 against former DEEP champion Seung Hwan Bang (5-2). Gomi is expected to face the winner of the Sengoku lightweight grand prix later this year to determine the first-ever Sengoku lightweight champion.

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I promise i will do better against the next C level opponent I face. That’ll be good for 2009.

by Amos on Aug 25, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

hahaha

by RedDog on Aug 25, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Say what you want about him, he is a top 5 lightweight WITHOUT A DOUBT!!! Even top fighters have lacklauster performances. at the end of the day, he still won the fight against the DEEP Champion. Gomi is one of the most exciting fighters in the game. To bash him is to not know him.

I am a big fan of the fireball kid and I look forward to the day I see him competing in DREAM against:
Aoki
Diaz 2
Alvarez
Hellboy 2
Kawajirri 2

by john on Aug 26, 2008 7:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly I agree… whenever I watch Gomi it’s exciting stuff, one bad outing(if you want to call it that) doesn’t make or break a fighter. Penn still wins in a rematch but so what! Penn beats most lightweights in the world…

by Robert on Aug 26, 2008 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree that he’s one of the best lightweights out there, but if that was the first time someone watch him fight, it won’t do him justice.

Anyone know how long his contract is for WVR? Because he could really use the good fights in DREAM, and so could us fans.

by Toms Bombs on Aug 26, 2008 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I too would like to know how many fights he has left on his contract.

Hopefully WVR just folds. MMA is better off having DREAM absorb most of WVR’s fighters

by john on Aug 26, 2008 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I read an article that said he’s tough to deal with ala Fedor. His demands are crazy. I’ll google it and maybe post a link!

by kevin doesn't know shit on Aug 26, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Gomi needs to get to DREAM asap.

by Macho Bullshit on Aug 25, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly.. If he doesn’t come to the UFC, he belongs in DREAM.

by pUniSHment on Aug 25, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see him coming to the UFC, but if he does, I see him losing to more than just Penn at lw.

by naturalshadow on Aug 26, 2008 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

its good to see Gomi wanting to do better. perhaps he’ll become a big force in the division again

by sbud on Aug 25, 2008 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

does anyone have a link to watch the card? thanxx

by jin on Aug 25, 2008 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

Gomi/Diaz II !!!!!!

by the_mexicutioner on Aug 25, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

That’d be awesome.

I think if he actaully came ready to fight, (unlike last time)
He’d box Diaz up worse then Noons did.

by ShaiZ on Aug 25, 2008 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

by MMAmania on Aug 25, 2008 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

hmm…seems like the fireball kid’s fire was flailing out….id rather see him in the UFC or DREAM…awesome matchups still left…id love to see gomi/penn again.

by santiago69us on Aug 25, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for posting the vid, Mania.

Gomi did well, I think. Bang looked strong in R1, and the beginning of R2. I would have given R1 to Bang. Gomi came back in R2, picked Bang apart, then mounted late in R2, though to little effect, though he was landing some good shots before and just after mounting. R3 was more picking-apart-by-low-kick action from Gomi. He gassed his opponent by keeping up the pressure, and keeping those low kicks coming. It wasn’t a bad performance. He just didn’t finish like he’d hoped.

The only things I understood from the color commentators were “low kick”, “left hook”, “southpaw”, and “Gomi”.

by MMACrossfire on Aug 25, 2008 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I said it in a previous thread, he didn’t impress me very much at all either. Think my quote was “This is the best Japan has to offer at 155?” Seomthing along those lines. The first round was harrible, I don’t think Gomi won it either. All he did was throw the odd jab and leg kick, more of a defencive approach to the fight, which isn’t usually a winning strategy. He needs to fight in DREAM, or somewhere else with top lightweights.

by Toms Bombs on Aug 25, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Toms Bombs – I didn’t think it was a bad strategy, since he did pick apart Bang with low kicks. Bang had no answer, except for the occasional attempt at countering when Gomi would nail him again. Bang was definitely gassing by the end of R2. Gomi kept up the pressure, but he wasn’t in “killer” mode, so I can see where you’re coming from. Gomi reminded me a little of Arlovski against Werdum. Not a bad fight, but not a great fight either.

by MMACrossfire on Aug 26, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions