TAKANORI GOMI

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

DUCKING LEFT/RIGHT HOOK

LEVEL 3 - BOTH STANDING, STRIKING RANGE

Gomi can unleash these powerful hooks to catch opposing strikers as they attempt to close in. Make use of his speed and try combining these technique strikes for maximum impact.

LUNGING LEFT HOOK

LEVEL 3 - BOTH STANDING, STRIKING RANGE

When remaining elusive and striking from the outside, “The Fireball Kid” can lunge forward and deliver a heavy left hand. The range of this technique strike makes it useful from the outside.

LEFT/RIGHT HOOK

LEVEL 2 - OPEN GUARD, TOP

Though he doesn’t often utilize it, “The Fireball Kid” has excellent ground-and-pound from many sub positions. Bring his opponents to the mat, then bring down these heavy technique hooks.

STRENGTHS

• Knockout power

• Striking

• Experience

Takanori Gomi, “The Fireball Kid,” is a feared striker who held the lightweight championship back during his unstoppable run in PRIDE.

More recently, “The Fireball Kid” has had mixed results in the UFC, yet he continues to find success using his excellent hand speed and knockout power to dismantle his rivals in the striking game.

Keep the fight upright when you choose to fight as Gomi, setting up his fast, heavy hands with his agile footwork.

Unleash his high-level technique strikes to batter his opponents on the feet, but remain patient and keep a respectable distance away from grapplers—he tends to fizzle when he’s taken down and trapped on bottom.

Stay elusive on the feet and look to impose his dominant boxing game to end his opponent’s night with a big punch that he never saw coming.

WEAKNESSES

• Takedowns

• Submissions

• Ground bottom grappling
  

“The Fireball Kid” is an extremely dangerous striker, so respect his boxing game and keep your hands up at all times.

Strike with extreme caution against Gomi, picking your shots carefully as you look for opportunities to shoot in for the takedown or clinch up and turn the fight into a grappling match.

He has the advantage for as long as the fight remains on the feet, so get him to commit to a striking exchange and then dive in for the takedown as soon as you’re able.

Once you’ve got him on his back, work at passing his nonthreatening guard and get into dominant position. With poor submission ability,

“The Fireball Kid” can’t bring the heat while he’s being held on bottom—keep him down to extinguish his offense and look to end his night with a sudden submission, which “The Fireball Kid” is susceptible to.