Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez: What Went Right for Sanchez

In many people’s eyes, bad judging is the only thing that went right for Diego Sanchez in his controversial split decision win over Takanori Gomi at UFC on Fuel 8 last Saturday. 

Some are already calling it a “robbery.”

Gomi was fighting in his home country of Japan, but the judge’s still failed to see that Gomi won every round of that contest, giving it to Sanchez 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.

The only thing Sanchez really did right, was stay on his feet. Considering trends in MMA judging lately, that alone seems to count for a lot. 

The fight started with Gomi in the centre of the cage, and for much of the fight, that’s where he stayed.

In a lesson in using your jab effectively, one Stefan Struve should have heeded ahead of his KO loss to the diminutive Mark Hunt later in the night, Gomi was quick to establish his range and began peppering his opponent with shots. 

For much of the first round, Sanchez was left circling away—desperately searching for an opening against his opponent. But every time he drew near to strike, he was repeatedly beaten to the punch by his opponent. 

Gomi, for his part, was able to do little damage. Sanchez’s strategy—which some are already blaming on coach Greg Jackson—left enough ambiguity after the first round, that it could (at a stretch) have gone either way. 

By the second round, this strategy quickly looked to be failing. Gomi again took the centre of the cage and Sanchez spent more of his time circling around his opponent, unable to find a way in. 

For all watching, this was a different Sanchez than the one who had gone in like a maniac in his Fight of the Night performances against Martin Kampmann and Jake Ellenberger in his previous two matches. 

Perhaps the toll of the weight-cut, which he missed anyway after returning to lightweight for the first time in years, had taken something out of him.

By the third round, his corner imploring him to grab a takedown to steal the match, Sanchez looked to increase the tempo and close the distance. But this proved completely ineffective. 

Gomi was able to stuff all his opponent’s takedowns, but, more importantly, he failed to take Sanchez down himself or to rock him with any significant shots.

Sanchez had, in the eyes of the majority of the judges, done enough to neutralise his opponent to seal the win.