By The Numbers: Takanori Gomi

Takanori Gomi for a time ran parallel to B.J. Penn in the race to be considered the sport’s premiere lightweight, and while Penn’s submission of “The Fireball Kid” ended the discussion with brutal clarity in 2003, the Japanese superstar nevertheless managed to chisel out quite a legacy for himself.

A former Shooto and Pride Fighting Championships titleholder, Gomi debuted as a 20-year-old in 1998, rattled off 14 consecutive victories and ultimately started his career with a remarkable 27-3 mark across his first 30 appearances. Father Time, subpar conditioning and the natural progression of the sport conspired against him during his 30s, as he looked more like a journeyman than contender…