It’s hard for people who bet on UFC to choose between two fighters who are each coming from losing their last two matches. Therefore, and in order to make that decision a bit easier for UFC betting fans, here are the odds for the bout between Jim Miller and the Fireball Kid Takanori Gomi at UFC 200 on July 9th:
Takanori Gomi – 1½ (-150) +185
Jim Miller 1½ (+130) -225
As you can see, Miller is the favorite and Gomi is the underdog. And just so there is no misunderstanding, the Japanese fighter does not actually throw fireballs; that would be against the rules. Plus, it might backfire on him and burn off his eyebrows like Hollywood Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1998. But there is plenty of other stuff he can do with the attributes listed below.
Takanori Gomi
• Country: Japan.
• Age: 37 years old.
• MMA record: 35 (13 by KO, 6 by submission, 16 by decision)-11 (2 by KO, 6 by submission, 3 by decision)-0.
• KO percentage: 37%.
• Submission percentage: 17%.
• Decision percentage: 46%.
• Height: 7’0”
• Weight: 155 pounds (lightweight).
• Reach: 70”
• Leg reach: 0”
• Strikes landed/minute: 3.8.
• Strike accuracy: 41.7%.
• Strikes absorbed/minute: 3.4.
• Defense: 60.4%.
• Takedown average: 1.2.
• Takedown accuracy: 65.3%.
• Takedowns defended: 65%.
• Submission average: .8%
• Team: K’z Factory (1998–2000), Kiguchi Dojo (2000-2006), Kugayama Rascal, American Kickboxing Academy.
• Trained by: Noriaki Kiguchi.
• Rank: A-Class Shootist.
• Active: 1998-present.
Jim Miller
• Country: USA.
• Age: 32 years old.
• MMA record: 25 (3 by KO, 13 by submission, 9 by decision)-8 (1 by KO, 2 by submission, 5 by decision)-0.
• KO percentage: 12%.
• Submission percentage: 56%.
• Decision percentage: 32%.
• Height: 5’8”
• Weight: 155 pounds (lightweight).
• Reach: 68”
• Leg reach: 40”
• Strikes landed/minute: 2.5.
• Strike accuracy: 38.2%.
• Strikes absorbed/minute: 2.3.
• Defense: 62.6%.
• Takedown average: 1.6.
• Takedown accuracy: 43.3%.
• Takedowns defended: 52.4%.
• Submission average: 2.2%
• Team: Miller Brothers MMA.
• Trained by: Brian McLaughlin.
• Rank: Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jamie Cruz, Black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
• Active: 2005-present.
As mentioned above, these two have sort of disappointed fans who bet on UFC who have put money on them in their last couple of fights. Miller has in fact lost four of his last five matches – to Donald Cerrone, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chiesa, and Diego Sanchez. His most recent win came on July 25th, 2015 at UFC on Fox 16; a split decision victory over Danny Castillo. Not very reassuring for UFC betting fans.
As for Gomi, he has lost three of his last four bouts to Diego Sanchez, Myles Jury, and Joe Lauzon. His latest winning effort was a unanimous decision versus Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC 172 on April 26th, 2014. The good news is that both are due for a win and, barring a no contest, one is going to get it, so it should be entertaining for people who bet on UFC.