Gomi sounds mentally exhausted.

Celtic Fan · Feb 24, 2009

A not too encouraging interview by a Japanese magazine with Takanori Gomi... he sounds mentally dun. He needs a change of scenery as far as training camps go IMO.

This interview by Japanese MMA Magazine Kakutogitsushin, which was posted by Sportsnavi and translated by Suki MMA, sounds like the interview from hell in terms of anyone being an actual Takanori Gomi fan. The guy basically has nothing good to say about his recent performances and offers no positives to the future:

- How have you been since your last fight with Satoru Kitaoka?
I though you wanted to asked me about that fight.
- Of course, it would be nice if you tell me about that.
As you saw, I couldn't do anything. I suppose fans who knew me since PRIDE considered that I looked like a totally different person. I don't even know why. I didn't feel any energy in the ring. After the fight, I felt like I was free. I thought I fulfilled my duty.
- Do you mean that you resigned from a representer of the top lightweight fighter?
I suppose so. I hadn't proven myself in the last few fights. I was training, yet everything was fall in apart. I couldn't put together because my training wasn't enough. My skills went down in the last 2 years. I experienced a lot in the last 2 years. I quit Kiguchi dojo without thinking well, and started my gym. I felt responsibility to take care of my students, and I was passive about my fight. I was just waiting and see who I fought with.
- The title of the tournament was "road to Gomi"
I have no excuse about my performance and my loss. Kitaoka was entirely better than me. I I hope he becomes a great champion and defends his title.
- Kitaoka asked you a rematch in the ring.
I wonder if he still wants the rematch. He completely dominated me. I want him to move forward to bring more fans to Sengoku.
- Did you feel that you got weaker than before?
I admit that I hadn't had enough training. I didn't feel any energy and power. After Misaki's fight, I tried to concentrate and motivate myself. When arriving at the ring, I noticed that I wasn't even sweating and my intensity was getting lower. Right after the fight started, I responded to him well and cut his tackles. Though I was concerned about something, I though I should be fine if I took my time. I appreciated my fans support in that event. However, I was already exhausted mentally when I got there. "Road to Gomi" started half a year ago, but I felt like I was waiting for 10 years. It was extremely long and exhausting.

It almost sounds like Gomi is going through some kind of depression. He basically went from this dominating fighter, hit a middle of the road period that's typical in Japan in which he fought nobodies, and now is slowly declining. The only problem with this decline is that Gomi is basically falling off the face of the Earth mentally.
While I didn't believe Gomi was the best fighter in the world at any point in time personally, this is a bit sad to hear from a guy who was the representation of the Japanese force in the lightweight divsion for some time.
Gomi needs an intense camp to get his hunger back, and hopefully he won't leave all his fans hanging.
Click to expand...

I'd love to see Gomi bounce back and fight in the UFC or even at 145 in the WEC. Right now it looks bleak though.

Mamba · Feb 24, 2009

What a depressing read. He sounds defeated. I don't know if a change of scenery will do him any good.

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Gomi sounds mentally exhausted.

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Gomi sounds mentally exhausted.

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