After his recent win at Shooto Tradition Final over Takashi Nakakura, Takanori Gomi sparked MMA fan interest by humbly soliciting Dana White and UFC for a chance to enter the Lightweight division.
Despite his victory over Nakakura and his brief salutation to Dana White, promoters would have to hit the books to determine whether the "Fireball Kid" has re-ignited his career.
Prior to his Shooto win, Gomi upset fans and promoters alike with three dismal performances: an ugly decision win over Seung Hwan Bang; a loss to middling Russian fighter Sergey Golaev; and a devastating submission loss to Satoru Kitaoka via heel-hook.
In a manner akin to Liddel's narrowing career options, each fighter who bested Gomi made an appearance on Lightweight Ranking lists as Gomi made a speedy descent.
With Lightweight stand-outs Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki punishing their competition with respective clobbering hands and technical submissions, and B.J. Penn's push to hold both UFC Lightweight and Welterweight titles, Gomi fell to the wayside like a changeling in swaddling clothes.
Going from a heavily favored No. 2 Lightweight Ranking to no rank at all bears the ominous signs of early retirement.
Indeed, interviews with Gomi suggested the premiere fighter had lost all motivation to fight and that fans shouldn't be surprised to see their once heavy-handed, fiery Japanese All-Star give mediocre performances.
In an interview with MMA Fighting after his loss to Satoru Kitaoka, Gomi ceded his top-tier position with little prodding.
"I haven't proven myself the last few fights," he explained, chalking those feeble perfromances up to competing coaching responsibilities and an inability to "feel any energy in the ring."
Since his loss to Kitaoka in January, Gomi has hinted at fighting in UFC for its stiffer competition.
Behind Gomi's hint lays a big-fish-in-a-big-pond mentality. Given that Gomi has dominated Japanese Lightweight/Welterweight divisions in Pride and Shooto until recently, it's only fitting that he foster a mentality to move where the best, or most popular, fights occur: UFC.
But could he compete with younger, hungrier fighters like Gray Maynard, Kenny Florian, and Diego Sanchez—three fighters grooming themselves to dethrone B.J. Penn?
Would he stand a chance against Nate Diaz's submissions or the astounding development that Efrain Escudero and Phillipe Nover exhibited during Ultimate Fighter?
Bottom line, does Takanori Gomi (granite chin, heavy hands, good takedown defense) have the gumption to compete?
Sherdog.com writer Leland Roling highlights Gomi's strengths in his May 12 article, noting his four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling Championships victories, especially his 2007 win over Katsuhiko Nagata, Japan's Olympic Silver Medalist.
Similar to Rumina Sato, Shinya Aoki, and Genki Sudo, Gomi's submission accolades in Japan are on par with Georges St. Pierre's rabid man-handling of B.J. Penn.
Most spectators wouldn't know it from watching Gomi's MMA fights (certainly not in his fight against Penn), but a quick Youtube review of Gomi's Combat Wrestling days will turn heads concerning his ability on the ground.
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