Come Saturday night, Takanori Gomi will meet Mac Danzig in a lightweight tilt that could very well be considered a crucial bout for each man. Neither has managed to live up to expectations since signing with the promotion, neither man boasts a winning record inside the octagon and both seem to be fading, prime days dwindling.
The loser of this bout could well find themselves delivered their walking papers. Given the depth of the UFC’s lightweight division, neither seems poised to make a run at serious contendership, and a boot for one could very well open a door for some other young, hungry prospect.
Does Takanori Gomi deserve to be released should he lose on Saturday evening? For that matter, does TUF season six winner Mac Danzig deserve the axe? Both put on entertaining shows, and both have amassed loyal followings.
The division won’t absorb a brutal blow should one man be forced to go, but ultimately, it’s the fans who lose should Gomi or Danzig exit the octagon for the final time of their careers.
Interestingly enough, the tightrope each man walks in regards to employment mirrors the technical decline they’ve experienced in recent years. Gomi once owned the Pride lightweight rankings, while Danzig was once recognized as a top-flight prospect after building a 16-3-1 record in his first 20 fights.
As it happens, they also match up quite interestingly to boot.