Sengoku 7 Crowns New Lightweight King

Takanori Gomi has strayed from the path that once marked his dominance as the No. 1 rated lightweight in MMA, most recently losing the Sengoku 7 title fight to Satoru Kitaoka.

Gomi, once a feared and deadly fighter with efficient wrestling and gruesome knockout power, was expected by some critics to put away the tenacious Kitaoka. Kitaoka, whose potent submission style was being compared to the likes of Mitsuhiro Ishida a fighter Gomi had already beaten.

However, Kitaoka was not to be underestimated and wound up submitting Gomi in the first round of their fight at Sengoku 7.

Kitaoka, a member of the Nippon Top Team had told teammate and WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, "I will make it so you won't here anything about Gomi anymore." Kitaoka also said, "Gomi says he wants to show speed and strength. So I’m thinking, ‘Fine, let’s finish it fast.’ If I go as usual, this will be a quick fight.”

Bad blood seemed to be brewing between the two prior to the fight when Kitaoka told the press that "He looks strong, but I think I hate him; I don't know why. After this fight I don't think I'll ever talk to him again, no matter the result."

This was hardly the case though after the fight when a emotional Kitaoka went to check on Gomi looking concerned for his fellow fighters leg. The two talked as Gomi smiled, and the crowd laughed at what appeared to be an overly concerned Kitaoka.

Gomi, who is the former PRIDE lightweight champion has been  experiencing some difficult bumps in his career ever since his loss to Nick Diaz back in February of 2007.

With a win over Duane "Bang" Ludwig in March; Gomi then went on to fight Seung Hwan Bang a fighter he was expected to easily defeat but ended up taking to a decision. Next up on Gomi's list of disappointing fights was a decision loss to Sergey Golyaev, another fighter he was expected to beat easily, which questioned whether he should even compete for the newly created Sengoku Lightweight Title.

However, World Victoty Road, the company that runs Sengoku, promised whoever won their lightweight Grand Prix would fight Gomi for the title. WVR held to their promise and matched the exciting Kitaoka to fight with Gomi in January.

Kitaoka, who had been on a tear through the grand prix since he first debut at Sengoku's second show has been dispensing off his competition quite easily. With submission victories within the first round in three of his four fights prior to the title shot against Gomi.