Takanori realizes MMA may have passed him by

Two straight losses and Takanori Gomi may be realizing something that many in the States have whispered about for years, that MMA has passed him by.

Gomi said this in a recent interview, 

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.

Takanori's recent performances have caused the once top lightweight to fall out of the top ten. It didn't help that Nick Diaz defeated him easily at Pride 33, though the NSAC ruled it a no contest since Diaz tested positive for marijuana.

For Takanori Gomi he is left with only questions and "what ifs". Sometimes the fire dies out in an athlete, and it now appears that fire was long ago extinguished in the "Fireball Kid".