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21/01/10 - The Fireball Kid: Takanori Gomi
The fighter they call ‘The Fireball Kid' is the latest high-profile foreign MMA star to put pen to paper with the UFC.
Japan's Takanori Gomi is hugely popular in his homeland and for much of his career has been heralded as one of the top two or three lightweight/welterweight fighters in the world.
His resume is certainly one of the best in the business. A four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion, a former Shooto welterweight champion and the last Pride lightweight belt holder (before the famous promotion ended).
Sporting a 36-6 record most of Gomi's losses have come in the latter part of his career. Indeed ‘The Fireball Kid' fought for about five years before he encountered his first loss and was 13-1 with one NC in Pride.
First and foremost a wrestler - Gomi evolved into a dangerous striker with heavy hands on either wing. He racked up numerous wins via submission too.
Career highlights include the quickest win in Pride history - a TKO of the then undefeated Brazilian Ralph Gracie in six seconds, courtesy of some vicious knees.
In the same organisation he also won the star-studded lightweight grand prix in 2005 - a performance which saw him as many people's ‘fighter of the year'.
Gomi was also involved in one of the most exciting fights ever witnessed at Pride 33, in Las Vegas, against Nick Diaz. Both fighters threw the kitchen sink at each other, and more, during a gruelling contest.
The Japanese fighter initially landed many blows against the decidedly taller Diaz and dropped him in the first round. Diaz recovered quickly though and started to pepper Gomi - who quickly became exhausted - with punches of his own.
In the second round of the war Diaz pulled a stunning gogoplata submission out of the bag on the ground forcing his opponent to tap.
Despite the result - a major upset at the time - Gomi said after the fight that he enjoyed the encounter. He also blamed his lack of preparation time for gassing so early in the fight.
Sadly the memorable fight and outcome was marred after Diaz tested positive for marihuana and the bout was ruled a no contest.
Since this fight and the subsequent demise of Pride - the organisation where Gomi really made his name - his MMA career has somewhat stuttered.
He has gone 2-2 in his last four fights, one of these losing out to Satoru Kitaeka for the Sengoku lightweight championship.
At 31 Gomi is a legend in Japan but somewhat unknown to the casual North American fight fan. Signing with the UFC gives the Japanese fighter a platform to change this.
Although very few of his countrymen have had any success in the octagon - usually being outsized and outmatched - Gomi remains defiant that he can reach the top of the food chain in the UFC.
"My challenge right now is to become the UFC champion. Honestly, I have reached the age at which I hit my physical peak," he stated in a recent interview with UFC.com
"Needless to say, BJ Penn is a high calibre fighter, but so is everyone else in UFC. There is much to learn from BJ's fighting spirit. To tell you the truth, he is a fighter whom I am aiming for. My immediate goal is to establish myself as a UFC fighter and continue fighting in front of the American fans."
Gomi has already fought BJ Penn. Before the Japanese fighter made a name for himself in Pride the squared off in Penn's homeland of Hawaii at a promotion called Rumble on the Rock.
Despite putting up a good showing Gomi was ultimately finished in the third by Penn's rear naked choke.
If Gomi succeeds in the UFC he will be one of the only Japanese fighters to do so. Names such as Nakamura, Chonan and Sakurai never repeated the success they had in their homeland in the octagon.
Before any thoughts of a Penn rematch though Gomi will first have to put together a string of victories and prove to the casual fan that he has a legitimate shot at the unthinkable, and dethroning "The Prodigy" at lightweight.
The MMA rumour mill has hinted an encounter with the tough Kenny Florian may well be his first octagon encounter.
Matt Hyde
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