Gomi dispatches Griffin, earns his first UFC victory
The 31-year-old Takanori Gomi already made a name during his Pride FC days. He has been considered an elite fighter for years, yet his UFC debut was not as fruitful as expected after suffering a loss via submission at the hands of Kenny Florian last March.
But after emerging victorious against Tyson Griffin, MMA followers believe that “The Fireball Kid” is an up-and-coming talent in his division.
For the critics, however, they know it’s just another win for Gomi, since the Japanese claimed that he’s also suprised at his victory, too.
In his second UFC battle, Gomi pulled off a 64-second victory via a first -round knock out over Griffin – a stunning scene that would go as one of the best one punch, KOs of the year.
The victoy completely erased Gomi's hesitation to prolong his MMA career in the United States.
“Yes, there was (doubt) just in terms of fighting in the States. “I'm established at home, but I was wondering, 'Am I really going to make it here?” Gomi told MMA Junkie.com about his expectation fighting outside Japan.
Though this was what he thinks of himself as a cage fighter, UFC fans who gathered and watched his recent bout thinks the opposite.
After overriding the ever-tough Griffin, it can be inferred that Gomi’s career is heading onto the right direction.
Pride FC’s former lightweight champ surely knows how to do it his way to be reach the elite status in his division.
Nevertheless, Gomi wants to take things one step at a time. He said he was content with the win and will look for bigger fights, if available.
“I started off a little bit uneasy – not during the fight, but of course before the fight because I was coming off a loss,” Gomi told MMA Junkie.com on the importance of the win over Griffin. “I was h**l-bent to make up for that, and I was training really, really hard. But I wasn't absolutely convinced when I got to the bout that I was to the place that I was supposed to be at,” he continued.
Definitely, Gomi’s hardships turned fruitful.
During the start of the round, Gomi and Griffin simply exchanged shots. But after a series of solid body blows, Gomi released a heavy right fist onto Griffin’s face. Apparently a counter to Griffin’s low kick, the right-hook turned out to be a powerful one that connected straight to Griffin’s chin. Griffin crashed down to the ground, and Gomi continued the assault. Finally, the referee stopped the fight and gave Griffin his first career knockout defeat.
Gomi said his loss to Florian certainly motivated him to do well in his second outing.. For the Japanese fighter, the loss is an experience that gave him something to look forward to – the right approach to dominate inside the cage.
“There was the sense of experience I had having fought here once and lost here once. I sort of got over the case of nerves that I had,” Gomi explained.
“I basically mastered the way that you have to switch over from the Japanese emotional style of fighting to the American emotion. We tend to be maybe a little bit more subtle. I had to do that, and then there was sort of a release that I could let myself go and get a little bit more emotional,” he continued.
Being a capable wrestler, many MMA fans assumed that Griffin would use his grappling skills to override Gomi, but they were wrong. Gomi, known to use a variety of fighting styles including boxing, effectively traded shots and counter- attacks over Griffin.
Takedowns, grapples, punches and knees are never considered an option for Gomi.
“I was never looking at this as a wrestling match," said Gomi. "I figured he was coming to box. He's a good boxer, and I was prepared accordingly. I was prepared for everything,” he added.
With his recent victory, expect Gomi to face other top fighters, since the lightweight division has a lot to offer.
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