Gomi don't play dat: 'Fireball Kid' confirmed for Vale Tudo Japan 2009

The "Fireball Kid" will be back in action for what could possibly be his last fight in Japan.

Takanori Gomi (30-5, 1 NC), along with Rumina Sato (24-14-2) and Takeshi Inoue (16-3), has been confirmed as a participant in the upcoming Vale Tudo Japan 2009 fight card on October 30 at JCB Hall in Tokyo, according to Sherdog.com.

Vale Tudo Japan, a series of events hosted annually by Shooto from 1994 to 1999, will be resurrected after a ten-year hiatus. Vale Tudo Japan tournaments most notably served as a platform for the rise of Rickson Gracie, the tournament winner in 1994 and 1995.

In the press conference for VTJ '09, an International Shooto Commission (ISC) official announced the implementation of various rules that have been crafted specifically for VTJ '09. Even though VTJ will not be considered an official Shooto event, it will be promoted by Sustain, the leading promoter of Shooto.

Moreover, VTJ '09 will serve as a crucial laboratory for testing out potential changes to the Shooto system in near future.

Some of the notable rule changes include the introduction of five-round fights and knees and stomps to the heads of grounded opponents, use of smaller gloves, prohibition of long spats, and the absence of predetermined weight classes. The proposed modifications will see Shooto incorporate some of the mainstream rules seen in international MMA.

Sustain and the fighters will decide which bouts will be fought with five rounds. Additionally, given the absence of pre-determined weight classes, the weight limits will be left to Sustain and the fighters to determine.

As for the fight cards, Inoue is scheduled to face Alexandre Franca Nogueira in a five-round bout; Gomi and Sato are left without a confirmed opponent at the moment.

Gomi last fought in May when he defeated the current Shooto welterweight champion, Takashi Nakakura in a non-title bout to halt his two-fight skid. He was scheduled to face Rafaello Oliveira in Affliction: Trilogy, but the bout fizzled with the demise of the promotion.

He suspects that he will face a non-Japanese opponent at VTJ '09, invoking VTJ's ongoing theme of "Japan vs. the world." Asked about his plan for future, he expressed interest in fighting in Sengoku's New Year's event but also stated that he would like to look for challenges overseas.

Rumina Sato, who appeared in a grappling match against Ulysses Gomez at UFC Fan Expo in July, looks to test his water below his usual 143 lbs weight class at VTJ'09. Sato, who has been hailed as a pioneering figure in Shooto, has seen his career slide, having dropped six of his last seven bouts.

Citing his success at UFC Expo where he grappled at 135 lbs, he expressed interest in stepping into the ring with a fighter from WEC.

Sustain promoter Kazuhiro Sakamoto has been trying to contact Zuffa to acquire foreign competitors for Gomi and Sato. While confirming the ongoing negotiation, Sakamoto declined to disclose further details. He also stated that Gomi's fight at VTJ '09 could quite possibly be his last in Japan and reinforced the desire to match him against an opponent who will make for a memorable bout before heading overseas.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on the developing stories on Vale Tudo Japan 2009 and the participating fighters.