Takanori Gomi loses Sengoku 6 fight, wins title shot
by Jesse Holland on Nov 3, 2008 4:26 PM EST
33 comments
How good is Japanese lightweight Takanori Gomi? Even when he loses, he still wins.
"The Fireball Kid" will face Satoru Kitaoka, winner of the lightweight grand prix at Sengoku 6 last Saturday, at World Victory Road's upcoming seventh event on January 4, 2009 according to Sherdog.com, despite losing a split-decision to Russia's Sergey Golyaev at the same event.
The winner of Kitaoka vs. Gomi will be crowned the Sengoku lightweight champion, a title that already carries a layer of baggage thanks to the efforts of Golyaev.
After besting Gomi last Saturday, many wondered if Golyaev would be the one to challenge Kitaoka for the vacant lightweight crown.
An idea that didn't sit well with the former Pancrase warrior:
"I have no need to fight that Russian fighter. 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?"
Gomi was long considered to be one of the world's best lightweights, but that position has recently been called into question after being submitted by the pot-smoking Nick Diaz at PRIDE 33 (a loss that was overturned by the NSAC) and a less-than-stellar performance against the inexperienced Sueng Hwan Bang at Sengoku 4.
Now this loss leaves Gomi with something to prove, specifically that he belongs at the top of the lightweight food chain. Even with a win over Kitaoka on January 4, a rematch with Golyaev may be required before he's accepted as champion by the court of public opinion.
First things first - win on January 4.
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Way to keep your Org. legit! Get a loss, win a title shot!
by JV on Nov 3, 2008 5:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kitaoka didn’t want sergey and the loss was questionable. You’re still right though it’s shouldn’t be for a title.
by NameNotRequired on Nov 3, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The whole point of the tournament was to find someone to face Gomi. The UFC does this kind of crap all the time, gioving title shots to undeserving fighters, so I wont rip an upstart mma organization with limited fighters and resources for doing this sort of thing. Its much worse when the UFC does it!
by john on Nov 3, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
C-mon john, name one guy in the UFC that got a title fight after a loss? Title shots to “undeserving” guys is only an opinion!
by JV on Nov 3, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Randy Couture got a HW title shot against Tim after losing the LHW title to Chuck.
by Pat on Nov 3, 2008 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BJ Penn lost to GSP, then replaced an injured GSP in a title match against Hughes.
by Pat on Nov 3, 2008 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
lol JV we all slip up every now and then
by brendan on Nov 3, 2008 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
However name a single UFC champion that held a belt fought in the weight class that they were a champion of but not for the belt of said division? not to mention losing that fight (but not the belt) and then fighting a lesser opponent for the belt. Gomi is the best paper tiger ever.
by sycboi on Nov 3, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t understand your statement at all.
by Brandon on Nov 3, 2008 9:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Doesnt matter what Kitaoka wants, Sergey won the fight and if there’s going to be a title fight he should be the challenger no matter what people say about his win. Gomi lost,and he’s getting a title shot. No wonder doubt surrounds this guy,he got fed cans in PRIDE and when he didnt he had trouble or he outright lost. Now he’s getting a completely underserved title shot, way to make your organization look legit Sengoku…
by Dan on Nov 3, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I believe the title shot was promised to him since he signed with them, he really should of been part of the GP though.
Also Santiago Vs. Misaki for the MW title.
by Stefan Manojlovic on Nov 3, 2008 5:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
misaki is going to give him a beating! Grabaka HItman Baby!
by john on Nov 3, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL that dude is so good when he loses he wins
by Brandon on Nov 3, 2008 5:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Let Gomi and Kitaoka fight for the “Interim” LW belt, then a rematch with the Russian if Gomi wins, or he is the next challenger if Gomi loses… It is kind of a sham though, Gomi’s title shot had to have been written into a contract.
by zaxonortesus on Nov 3, 2008 5:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gomi must have pictures of someone… he keeps coming up roses.
by Graham on Nov 3, 2008 5:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I dont see the hype with this guy. He got derailed by Diaz and he hasnt beat anyone with a good track record. But whatever, hes Japans poster boy…similar to what Liddell was to the UFC. Bring Gomi to the UFC and he’ll get knocked out retarded.
by The 5th Beatle on Nov 3, 2008 6:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gomi sucks. Bring him to the UFC LD and he’ll get his ass handed back to him.
by The 5th Beatle on Nov 3, 2008 6:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
remember back in Pride’s “heyday” when everyone thought that Gomi, Shogun, and Crocop would destroy their UFC counterparts? My how times have changed…
by JB on Nov 3, 2008 7:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
shogun has fought once and lost against the champ so thats not really true and cro-cop just doesn’t have it anymore
by mikeybear on Nov 4, 2008 1:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I watched that fight, and Gomi arguably won that fight. As for undeserving title shots, a certain fighter competing against Couture at UFC 91 comes to mind. Whoever thought laying on top of Heath Herring for three rounds would grant a title shot?
by Belisarius on Nov 3, 2008 10:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Was Gomi ever among the world’s best fighters?
Gomi lost a bjj match to Matt Serra, ’nuff said.
by sdow on Nov 3, 2008 10:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow! Reminds me of when Nebraska got their ass handed to them by CU 62-36, but still ended up in the BcS championship game. Then Miami beat them. Doesn’t bode well for Gomi.
by Mike on Nov 3, 2008 11:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
whats so great about gomi.. Ol Diaz Gogo’d him and out boxed him. lets see him fight bj penn , hell lets see him fight any top ufc lightwieghts. The New Sean Sherk Would Beat Him.
by Bond James Bond on Nov 4, 2008 3:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
gomi alredy fought penn. he was destroyed.
by b.w. on Nov 4, 2008 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
gomi was robbed. he clearly won rounds 1 & 3, and rebounded pretty well from the knockdown in round 2.
by eric seeds on Nov 4, 2008 4:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gomi landed a very small amount of his shots in the first, that’s why the round didn’t go in his favor.
by Big E on Nov 4, 2008 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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