Snapshot of the Day: Fedor vs. Aoki
by Chris Nelson on Apr 28, 2009 10:14 AM EDT
in MMA News
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Affliction and M-1 held a press conference today in advance of tomorrow's DEEP/M-1 Challenge show. Fedor Emelianenko and Shinya Aoki shared the same space for the first time since their Sambo exhibition match was announced; Tom Atencio was also in attendance. I'll add more photos and notes from the presser in the extended entry as they become available.
photo via DREAM Official
- When asked about his next fight, Fedor passed the microphone to Finkelstein, who said they are in negotiations for a fight in July/August, possibly to be held in Japan. They are currently negotiating with the Japanese side.
- DEEP boss Shigeru Saeki said that Japanese fans have not been interested in M-1 Challenge in the past, partly because the Japanese teams have not fared well, but he thinks that the match between Fedor and Aoki will change that.
Aoki said some pretty funny stuff as well, but I'll wait for good translations so as not to step on his punchlines.
via Sportsnavi
Update from Nightmare of Battle:
DREAM EP Sasahara, who was present at the press conference, said that while there are many hurdles to cross he would like to negotiate for Fedor to fight in DREAM on July or August and also on NYE. Since the Affliction staff is also in Japan he feels that this is an opportunity to negotiate.
. . .
It seems that Aoki didn’t get much attention. He was sitting at the side with a frozen expression. The rules of the fight are still not set.
. . .
Fedor said that he has seen some of Aoki’s fights and he thinks that Aoki is one of the strongest fighters. Receiving this praise, Aoki said that he’s happy and also embarrassed. When Aoki saw Affliction’s Tom Atencio (who was present at the press conference) he jokingly said: “If you give me an Affliction t-shirt I will fight with all of my might”.
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I do believe it is, so I’m going to caption it just to spite him. haha
“At least in Japan I can’t understand what they’re saying behind my back.”
by Kaleb Kelchner on Apr 28, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m a bit interested in this one. Fedor usually wants you on top of him in order to pull out the transition, and Aoki won’t be doing that, so I’m curious as to how Fedor is going to work top control. I’d imagine he could overpower Aoki and keylock/kimura him, but this should at least be interesting from a grappling standpoint.
I still say Fedor mops him.
Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com
Lettuce just all pray that Aoki does not tap Fedor or else DREAM will make an MMA fight between the two. Or just a kickboxing bout.
i actually will be rooting hard for Aoki to win..
it would actually prove that robots can have bugs and glitches too.. :)
by Anton Tabuena on Apr 28, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
They’re actually about the same height. Fedor might have an inch on him.
by Chris Nelson on Apr 28, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I meant “bulk.” That bottom picture of them both standing makes Aoki look thicker than Fedor and his head looks bigger … he looks like the bigger dude under all those sweatshirts.
by Kierkegaard on Apr 28, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
That's what I was thinking.
Except Shinya IS listed at 5’11, and Fedor is 6’0 flat. Look at them with their shirts off, and you’ll see the obvious difference in size.
Aoki is a skinny little s.o.b., and Fedor has a pretty big frame.
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 28, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, like I said, I was noting that those photos and angles actually make Aoki look just as bulky and big, if not bigger, than Fedor. I realize that they are not the same size and that Aoki is much smaller and thinner, etc. — that was the point of my comment, that these photos make it look like he’s as big or bigger than Fedor, and not just in height.
Nice skittles, by the way.
by Kierkegaard on Apr 29, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Can't wait....
…to see Fedor take on Lesnar or simply go to the UFC period. He has no one left to fight in Affliction or outside of the UFC, basically.
I’ve heard rumors that Dana White is trying to get Fedor. Sure, he has called him ‘over rated’, but that is just to protect his product, I’m sure. He is certainly not going to say ‘yeah, Fedor is the best, I wish we had him’.
The UFC is the only place in the world with Heavyweights left to fight him. If he goes in and kicks everyones ass well then there will be no dispute. He will be the best ever. Until he beats Lesnar, Mir, and the others, that claim is only a claim and not a fact.
Dana White isn’t going after Fedor. He’ll listen to him in regards to stepping into the UFC, but I think he’s done chasing. It’s up to Fedor and his ridiculous management.
Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com
by Leland Roling on Apr 28, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
UFC should sign him to a 3 fight deal with a clause that allows him to do these type of outside of MMA fights. As long as he isn’t fighting another heavyweight in an MMA match somewhere else whats the big deal?
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Apr 28, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Injuries
Fedor already has glass hands from over-smashing people’s faces in. Why risk him getting injured anywhere else? Isn’t MMA dangerous enough? If they’re gonna invest millions in marketing him, he better fucking be available till the day his contract expires.
Fedor could totally rock a lead roll in a movie as a cold blooded killer like in No Country for Old Men.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
We’ll get to see how the magic Aoki pants work on Fedor!
"Negative, negative. I gotta stay lean and lightning and ready to fight." Capt. H.M. Murdock
Unfortunately, I don't think Aoki will be rocking the magic pants.
The Japanese press had been reporting for the past few days that it would be a Sambo match, but now Sasahara says the rules still haven’t been decided. From what I could understand, they’re considering doing one round with them both wearing the Sambo kurtkas and one round without.
by Chris Nelson on Apr 28, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I suck
but can somebody explain the rules of Sambo for me. I realize it isn’t MMA but why is a lightweight fighting a heavyweight. I don’t see how this proves anything, if its just for entertainment then they should just go all out and give them over-sized boxing gloves and those big sumo outfits and let them have at it, at least that would be funny. I believe Fedor to be the best in the world, but this is the shit Dana White is talking about him not fighting top competition.
by despisedIcon856 on Apr 28, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
You don't suck.
Lots of people have overreacted to this without really knowing what’s up. (Lots will just take any opportunity to diss Fedor.) This is just an exhibition, something fun for the fans during the big Golden Week holiday in Japan. It’s a way to sell tickets, keep Fedor’s name in the press (he hasn’t been in Japan in a while) and stir some interest in the Affliction/M-1 Challenge concept.
The rules still haven’t been set in stone (that’s how informal this is) but if this is Sambo, it will probably be something like this:
Sport Sambo (Russian: Борьбa Самбо,Bor’ba Sambo) is stylistically similar to amateur wrestling or judo. The competition is similar to judo, but with some differences in rules, protocol, and uniform. For example, in contrast with judo, Sambo allows all types of leg locks, while not allowing chokeholds and focuses on throwing, ground work and submissions.
by Chris Nelson on Apr 28, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
ok so I take there won’t be any strikes, cleared it up nicely.
by despisedIcon856 on Apr 28, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions
Holy crap I did a spit take! Nice! LMFAO!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Apr 28, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
AWESOME
When Aoki saw Affliction’s Tom Atencio (who was present at the press conference) he jokingly said: "If you give me an Affliction t-shirt I will fight with all of my might".
Best quote evah!
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