Takanori Gomi Talks Rizin NYE Fights, Boxing Aspirations, and Legendary Legacy

Takanori Gomi went to a draw against Tenshin Nasukawa in a custom rules bout on December 30th, 2021. This transpired at Rizin 33 from the world-renowned Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

I spoke with The Fireball Kid after his NYE clash and we touched on several subjects such as: -Gomi's go-to post-fight beers

-The experience of testing skills with Tenshin Nasukawa in a custom rules bout on NYE

-Looking to secure a spot on that June event headlined by Tenshin vs Takeru

-Gomi's hybrid rules fights on consecutive Rizin New Years cards and what his future is

-Gomi's huge legacy as a lightweight champion in Japan and his thoughts on Japan's modern lightweight king Roberto de Souza

-His last MMA fight being at Rizin 11 in July 2018 and Gomi's mixed martial arts future

-Gomi's feelings on some perceiving his Tenshin bout as a Pride vs Rizin, cross-generational clash

-What fighters inspired Takanori Gomi when he was a young fighter on the rise

-The feelings associated with defeating his idol for the prestigious Shooto lightweight championship over twenty years ago