Shinya Aoki interested in a fight with Joe Stevenson
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- July
- 21
Fresh of a unanimous decision win over Vitor Ribiero at Dream 10, Shinya Aoki discussed challenges issued by Tatsuya Kawajiri and Katsunori Kikuno. He also spoke about who he would like to fight, if he had the choice.
In article from Sherdog.com, Aoki quotes:
“Well, it sounds good. So long as it’s an MMA bout, I’m fine with [Kawajiri or Kikuno], or even someone from the UFC,” Aoki said. “It doesn’t have to be a top-level fighter. Even a mid-level fighter would do, like Joe Stevenson. I actually wanted him to lose [against Nate Diaz], so he’d be cut and he could come to Dream and I could fight him. Life doesn’t always work out the way you want, but anyway, there are a lot of fighters I’d like to fight in the US.”
That would be an interesting fight. Joe Stevenson would pose a lot of problems for Aoki, mostly his strong wrestling base and power. Aoki is a long, lean fighter and would be easily susceptible to the take down. In a US style MMA match, I would give Stevenson the advantage, being that elbows to the face of a downed opponent are legal. In a Japanese style MMA match the advantage would go to Aoki, whose submission prowess is some of the best in the game.
I’d like to see Aoki in the UFC, but, like most Japanese converts, I do not think he would do well; at least not in the UFC’s lightweight division. The fighters are too strong and the wrestling is too good. His stand up also leaves a lot to be desired. A move to WEC’s 145 pound weight class might suit him better.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 1:11 pm by Larry Vollmer.
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I’d love to see how Aoki would fare in the UFC. There would be tons of amazing match-ups for him. He wouldn’t be able to wear his tights, though, and I realize that sounds funny but as you know that helps with his submission game. How much would that take away from him?
Some other great match-ups for Aoki:
BJ Penn (Though I have a feeling in Japan and US, Penn would win)
Kenny Florian (but again what you said applies – ELBOWS – this would be a better, more even match-up in Japan)
Diego Sanchez
Clay Guida
You know who I’d love to see go to Japan? Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. How crazy would that be? He’d be an instant fetch there, with the whole “cowboy” thing, and the crowds there would EAT IT UP.
Not only that, but if the WEC’s lightweight division gets folded into the UFC, many question how well Cowboy would fare in the UFC. Going to Japan for a year or so could really hone him for the UFC. That’s my feeling, anyway. There are guys in the UFC that he’d match up well with but he would not do well against any top guys like BJ, Diego, KenFlo… Guida would probably beat him, but that would be a better match-up than the others I think.
yeah, I’m a fan of Cowboy, dude’s a warrior, after I saw his fight here in San Diego at the Sports Arena, I became a fan for life. Even though he lost that decision after the stoppage, in the hearts of most fans, he was the victor because he took MORE punishment than Varner did, and then finally in that 5th round was on the verge of stopping Varner, when, in my opinion, Verner flat-out gave up and it had nothing to do with his “vision” from that glancing knee, which he dropped back down to receive. Smart move but really, what a way to bitch out of a fight.
Cowboy was robbed of a finish, in my opinion.
Jesus I got off topic!
Yes elbows are the X-factor, and they are a big one.
Cerrone has a bright future ahead of him, especially with the tutelage of Greg Jackson as his coach.