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Shinya Aoki
| Shinya Aoki | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 9, 1983 (1983-05-09) (age 27) Shizuoka City, Japan |
| Other names | Tobikan Judan, The Master Of Flying Submissions, The Baka Survivor |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Reach | 72.0 in (183 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Shooto. |
| Team | Nippon Top Team, Paraestra Tokyo |
| Trainer | Yuki Nakai |
| Rank | black belt in BJJ black belt in Judo A-Class Shootist Shooto |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| MMA record | |
| Total | 29 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 14 |
| By decision | 6 |
| By disqualification | 2 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Shinya Aoki (Japanese: é’木真也) (born May 9, 1983) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Lightweight Champion, DREAM Lightweight Champion, and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He was an instructor of the Paraestra Tokyo head-school when competing before his actions at Dynamite!! 2009 against fighter Mizuto Hirota caused him to be dismissed as an instructor. He is best known for his excellent flexibility, often taking opponents by surprise and earning him the nickname "Tobikan Judan," meaning "master of flying submissions." As of 2008, Aoki, along with Deep champion Masakazu Imanari, and Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka have founded the "Nippon Top Team" as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu championship, a Budo Open championship, and an ADCC Japan championship.
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MMA career
Pride
Aoki begun his Pride career following a 7–2–0 record from competing in DEEP and Shooto also defeating Akira Kikuchi to win the Shooto Middleweight Championship. In August 2006, Aoki made his Pride Fighting Championships debut at Pride Bushido 12, submitting American fighter Jason Black in under two minutes with a triangle choke. Following that win, Aoki was booked to face rising lightweight star Gilbert Melendez at the following Bushido card, Bushido 13. However, prior to the fight Melendez received an elbow injury (a burst bursa sac) in training and was forced to pull out of the fight. Aoki's opponent was changed to Clay French. Aoki submitted French in just under four minutes with a triangle choke. Afterwards, Melendez was shown in the crowd with a sling, and announced he would like to face Aoki at Pride Shockwave 2006 on New Year's Eve. Aoki agreed.
For unknown reasons, the proposed fight with Melendez did not take place. Instead, Aoki faced highly ranked lightweight fighter Joachim Hansen. Aoki submitted Hansen with a gogoplata—considered the first successful gogoplata in MMA competition.
After his win over Hansen, Aoki was set to rematch Kikuchi in Shooto, with Aoki's Shooto middleweight title (previously won from Kikuchi) on the line. Aoki successfully defended his title against Kikuchi, winning via split decision.
Following his victory, Aoki announced that he was to be the Shooto representative in the forthcoming Pride Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Aoki's next fight was at Pride 34, where he faced little known Dutch fighter Brian Lo-A-Njoe. At the event Aoki submitted Lo-A-Njoe in the first round with an armbar. Following the fight, Aoki once again confirmed his participation in the Lightweight Grand Prix. With the purchase of Pride by the majority owners of Zuffa LLC, the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix was cancelled.
On November 21, 2007, Aoki's participation on the New Year's Eve MMA card Yarennoka! was announced. Originally, his opponent was to be two-time K-1 Hero's Middleweight Grand Prix champion Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante. Rumors that Calvancante was injured surfaced only two weeks before the bout, though Calvancante denied them before eventually admitting the injury and withdrawing from the fight. Aoki defeated Korean Olympic Judo silver medalist Jung Bu-Kyung, Calvancante's replacement, via unanimous decision in what was Jung Bu-Kyung's mixed martial arts debut. Aoki had promised to use a never before seen submission in the match but was unable to finish the debut fighter.
DREAM
After the purchase of Pride by Zuffa LLC, most Japanese fighters signed to newly created mixed martial arts promotions with Aoki signing to Dream. Here Aoki finally faced Calvancante on March 15, 2008 at the opening round of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Early in the first round, the referee stopped the action when Calvancante apparently landed illegal elbow strikes to the back of Aoki's neck. The ringside doctor announced that Aoki was unable to continue due to the injury and Calvancante apologized for the incident. The fight resulted in a no contest. Elbow strikes to the neck and spine area are illegal under Dream rules. Aoki was later found to have sustained concussion of the cervical vertebra.
They had their rematch at Dream 2 on April 29, 2008. In that match, Aoki defeated Calvancante via unanimous decision, and shocked the Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world with his use of the De La Riva guard to deliver multiple heel kicks to Calvancate's Head. He sustained a severely bruised rib and tore cartilage in his costal area during the match. At Dream 4, Aoki defeated Katsuhiko Nagata via a mounted gogoplata (possibly the first ever in professional competition) submission to advance to the semi-finals of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix. At Dream 5, Aoki defeated Caol Uno by unanimous decision. Later that night, Eddie Alvarez was set to fight Aoki, but had to bow out due to injury from his previous match that evening. Joachim Hansen took his place and defeated Aoki by TKO (punches) at 4:19 round 1 to become the first Dream Lightweight Champion.
WAMMA Lightweight Championship
At Dynamite!! 2008 on New Year's Eve, Aoki finally squared off against American Eddie Alvarez. Aoki started quickly, securing Alvarez's back after catching a kick, before being thrown to the canvas by the stronger American. In a scramble, Aoki latched onto the foot of Alvarez and applied a heel hook. Alvarez fought the hold, but tapped out shortly after Aoki adjusted his grip. Alvarez also suffered ligament damage in his knee. With his victory over Alvarez, Aoki became the very first WAMMA Undisputed World Lightweight Champion.
Return to DREAM
Dream has signed Aoki to compete in two events. First, Aoki defeated David Gardner at the March 8, 2009 featherweight-grand-prix card at Dream 7 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan (this fight is remembered for Gardner waving to the crowd and saying "Hello, Japan!" seconds before being caught in an inevitable rear chokehold). Aoki, who is still recognized by Shooto as its middleweight (168 pounds (76 kg)) champion, also moved back to that weight to fight in Dream's welterweight grand prix at Dream 8 in 2009. His first match in the tournament was a rematch with Hayato Sakurai. Aoki lost the fight in twenty-seven seconds via TKO due to punches and knees following a Sakurai reversal from a takedown by Aoki. As a result of the match, Aoki did not advance in the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix.
Aoki met WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko during a five-minute "special exhibition" at an April 29 M-1 Challenge (presented by Affliction) event in Tokyo. Emelianenko made Aoki tap out from an Achilles lock just before the bell sounded to end the exhibition.
Aoki defeated Vitor Ribeiro at Dream 10 on July 20, 2009, which earned him a title fight against Joachim Hansen. Aoki faced Joachim Hansen in a rematch for the DREAM Lightweight Championship at Dream 11 on October 6, 2009. Last time they met, Aoki previously fought a tough match against Caol Uno on the same night which went on for both two rounds (15 minutes) when Hansen only fought for 2 minutes 35 seconds previously. Aoki ended up defeating Hansen in the second round for the title shot via submission (armbar) to become the new DREAM Lightweight Champion.
Dynamite!! 2009
On December 22, 2009, it was announced that Aoki would not be taking on fellow DREAM fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri, but would be fighting Sengoku Lightweight Champion, Mizuto Hirota. In his pre-fight interview Aoki stated that he felt insulted with the short notice changes as he was looking forward to battling it out with one of the world's other top lightweight competitors in Kawajiri. Aoki's opponent Hirota just came off a spectacular win over long time friend of Aoki's, Satoru Kitaoka to become the new Sengoku Lightweight champion. The fight between Aoki and Hirota was considered to be one of the main events of the night along with Satoshi Ishii vs. Hidehiko Yoshida and the K-1 bout Masato vs Andy Souwer. Aoki defeated Hirota with a brutal hammerlock submission he would later name the "Keichi Sasahara 2010" that broke Hirota's arm in the first round at 1:17. After the fight was stopped, Aoki gave the downed Hirota the finger which caused much controversy throughout many mixed martial arts publications and fans.
Aoki would later apologize for his behavior in his post-fight interview stating:
"When I had his arm behind his back, I could feel it popping, I thought, 'Well, this guy's pride just won't let him tap, will it?' So without hesitation, I broke it. I heard it break, and I thought, 'Ah, there, I just broke it.' I was stopped afterward, but even if I hadn't been, continuing to break it more would have been fine by me."
"After my fight, I was excited, and so I did something rude that I should apologize for. But that showed just how excited I was over that fight."
As a result of his actions following his win, Aoki was dismissed as an instructor at the Paraestra Tokyo gym.
Strikeforce
Aoki lost his US debut against current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez on April 17, 2010 at Strikeforce: Nashville. During the fight, broadcast live to a North American audience on CBS, Aoki went an unprecedented 0-for-18 in takedown attempts and spent the majority of the second half of the fight in a sitting posture.
Mixed Martial Arts Championships
Current DREAM Lightweight Champion
Former Shooto Middleweight Champion
Current World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight Champion
Grappling credentials
Rickson Gracie's Budo Challenge 2005 Middleweight Champion
ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships
ADCC 2005 66–76 kg: Quarter finals. Absolute: First round exit.
ADCC Japan 66–76 kg: 1st place
Record of opponents:
- Won: Marcos Avellan (pts)
- Lost: Marcelo Garcia (Rear Naked Choke), Roger Gracie (Toe Hold)
Misc. Rickson Gracie Invitational: 1st place Campeonato Japones 2004, brown belt 1st place Campeonato Japones 2005, black belt 1st place GI Grappling 05, 1st place Top five collegiate Judoka.
Mixed martial arts record
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Round (time) | Event | Weight | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | DREAM 15 | LW 70 kg (155 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02010-07-15 July 15, 2010 | |||||
| Loss | 23–5–0 (1) |  Gilbert Melendez |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 5 (5:00) | Strikeforce: Nashville | LW 70 kg (155 lb) | Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee, U.S. |
02010-04-17 April 17, 2010 | for Strikeforce Lightweight Championship |
| Win | 23–4–0 (1) | Mizuto Hirota |
Technical Submission (Hammerlock) | Round 1 (2:17) | Dynamite!! 2009 | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02009-12-31 December 31, 2009 | DREAM vs Sengoku, Champion vs Champion, Hirota was reigning Sengoku lightweight champion. Neither title was on the line. |
| Win | 22–4–0 (1) | Hansen  Joachim Hansen |
Submission (Armbar) | Round 2 (4:56) | DREAM.11 Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Yokohoma Yokohama, Japan |
02009-10-06 October 6, 2009 | Won DREAM lightweight championship. |
| Win | 21–4–0 (1) | Riberio  Vitor Ribeiro |
Decision (Unanimous | Round 2 (5:00) | DREAM.10 Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02009-07-20 July 20, 2009 | Returns to Lightweight |
| Loss | 20–4–0 (1) | Sakurai  Hayato Sakurai |
KO (knees/strikes) | Round 1 (0:27) | DREAM.8 Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 First Round | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Nagoya Nagoya, Japan |
02009-04-05 April 5, 2009 | DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
| Win | 20–3–0 (1) | Gardner  David Gardner |
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Round 1 (5:58) | DREAM.7 Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 First Round | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02009-03-08 March 8, 2009 | |
| Win | 19–3–0 (1) | Alvarez  Eddie Alvarez |
Submission (Heel Hook) | Round 1 (1:32) | Dynamite!! 2008 | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02008-12-31 December 31, 2008 | Won WAMMA Lightweight Championship |
| Win | 18–3–0 (1) | Moore  Todd Moore |
Submission (Neck Crank) | Round 1 (1:10) | DREAM.6 Middle Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02008-09-23 September 23, 2008 | |
| Loss | 17–3–0 (1) | Hansen  Joachim Hansen |
KO (Punches) | Round 1 (4:19) | DREAM.5 Light Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Osaka, Japan |
02008-07-21 July 21, 2008 | DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Final. For DREAM lightweight championship. |
| Win | 17–2–0 (1) | Uno  Caol Uno |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 2 (5:00) | DREAM.5 Light Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Osaka Osaka, Japan |
02008-07-21 July 21, 2008 | DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinal |
| Win | 16–2–0 (1) | Nagata  Katsuhiko Nagata |
Submission (Gogoplata from Mount) | Round 1 (5:12) | DREAM.4 Middle Weight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Yokohama Yokohama, Japan |
02008-06-15 June 15, 2008 | DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Ouarterfinal |
| Win | 15–2–0 (1) | Calvancante  Gesias Calvancante |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 2 (5:00) | DREAM.2 Middle Weight Grand Prix 2008 First Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02008-04-29 April 29, 2008 | Rematch |
| NC | 14–2–0 (1) | Calvancante  Gesias Calvancante |
No Contest | Round 1 (3:46) | DREAM.1 Light Weight Grand Prix 2008 First Round | LW 70 kg (150 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02008-03-15 March 15, 2008 | DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
| Win | 14–2–0 | Jung  Jung Bu-Kyung |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 3 (5:00) | Yarennoka! | ? | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02007-12-31 December 31, 2007 | |
| Win | 13–2–0 | Lo-A-Njoe  Brian Lo-A-Njoe |
Submission (Armbar) | Round 1 (1:33) | Pride 34 | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02007-04-08 April 8, 2007 | |
| Win | 12–2–0 | Kikuchi  Akira Kikuchi |
Decision (Split) | Round 3 (5:00) | Shooto - Back to Our Roots | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Yokohama Yokohama, Japan |
02007-02-17 February 17, 2007 | Defended Shooto Middleweight Championship |
| Win | 11–2–0 | Hansen  Joachim Hansen |
Submission (Gogoplata) | Round 1 (2:24) | Pride Shockwave 2006 | ? | Japan, Saitama Saitama, Japan |
02006-12-31 December 31, 2006 | |
| Win | 10–2–0 | French  Clay French |
Submission (Triangle Choke) | Round 1 (3:57) | Pride Bushido 13 | ? | Japan, Yokohama Yokohama, Japan |
02006-11-05 November 5, 2006 | |
| Win | 9–2–0 | Sotiropoulos  George Sotiropoulos |
DQ (Groin Strike) | Round 2 (0:05) | Shooto - Champion Carnival | ? | Japan, Yokohama Yokohama, Japan |
02006-10-14 October 14, 2006 | |
| Win | 8–2–0 | Black  Jason Black |
Submission (Triangle Choke) | Round 1 (1:58) | Pride Bushido 12 | ? | Japan, Nagoya Nagoya, Japan |
02006-08-26 August 26, 2006 | |
| Win | 7–2–0 | Kikuchi  Akira Kikuchi |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 3 (5:00) | Shooto - The Victory of the Truth | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02006-02-17 February 17, 2006 | Won Shooto Middleweight Championship |
| Win | 6–2–0 | Hironaka  Kuniyoshi Hironaka |
TKO (Cut) | Round 1 (2:10) | Shooto at Korakuen Hall | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02006-11-05 November 5, 2006 | |
| Loss | 5–2–0 | Sakurai  Hayato Sakurai |
Decision (Unanimous) | Round 3 (5:00) | Shooto - Alive Road 2005 | WW 76 kg (170 lb) | Japan, Yokohama Yokohama, Japan |
02005-08-20 August 20, 2005 | |
| Win | 5–1–0 | Iwase  Shigetoshi Iwase |
DQ (Low Blow) | Round 1 (0:35) | Shooto at Korakuen Hall | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02005-07-30 July 30, 2005 | |
| Win | 4–1–0 | Wisniewski  Keith Wisniewski |
Submission (Waki Gatame, Standing Armlock) | Round 1 (2:22) | Shooto at Korakuen Hall | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02005-01-29 January 29, 2005 | |
| Loss | 3–1–0 | Nakao  Jutaro Nakao |
KO (Punch) | Round 1 (4:29) | Deep - 16th Impact | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02004-08-30 August 30, 2004 | |
| Win | 3–0–0 | Ikemoto  Seichi Ikemoto |
Submission (Armbar) | Round 2 (0:52) | Deep - 15th Impact | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02004-07-03 July 3, 2004 | |
| Win | 2–0–0 | Ryu  Yasutoshi Ryu |
Submission (Armbar) | Round 1 (0:51) | DEEP - clubDEEP West Chofu | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02003-11-24 November 24, 2003 | |
| Win | 1–0–0 | Okimura  Dai Okimura |
Submission (Armbar) | Round 1 (3:14) | DEEP - clubDEEP West Chofu | ? | Japan, Tokyo Tokyo, Japan |
02003-11-24 November 24, 2003 |
See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
Footnotes
Sources
- Yu, Al (August 25, 2006). "Miletich's Jason Black to Face Shooto Champion". MMAWeekly.com. http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=2513&zoneid=13. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
- Yu, Al (December 29, 2006). "A Word from the Asian Sensation...". MMAWeekly.com. http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3190&zoneid=1. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
External links
- Pride profile
- Sherdog profile
| Preceded by Joachim Hansen |
2nd DREAM Lightweight Champion October 6, 2009 – present |
Current holder |
| New title | WAMMA Lightweight Champion December 31, 2008 – present |
Current holder |
| Preceded by Akira Kikuchi |
Shooto Middleweight Chanmpion February 17, 2006 – May 21, 2010 |
Vacant
Title last held by
Shinya Aoki |
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Marius Zaromskis
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