DREAM 10: Vitor "Shaolin" Eyes Return to the Top of the Lightweight Division Against Shinya Aoki
by Leland Roling on Jul 15, 2009 12:05 PM EDT
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One of the more perplexing stories in the Lightweight division in the past couple of years has been the success and abrupt hiatus of Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro's career in MMA. Vitor was considered a top three lightweight in the world during Takanori Gomi's reign as PRIDE champion back in 2006. His massive laundry list of Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials had transitioned to MMA easily. He was one of the dominating Lightweights in the world from 2001 to 2006 with wins over Mitsuhiro Ishida, Joachim Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Eiji Mitsuoka, and Jean Silva.
Unfortunately for fans seeking the ultimate strategist on the ground, Ribeiro had some bad luck in 2007. He took on rising Lightweight fighter Gesias "JZ" Calvancante in the K-1 HERO's Middleweight Tournament in mid-September as a major step-up in competition from his last two fights. In only 0:35, "JZ" was able to devastate Ribeiro, win the Middleweight crown, and endanger the career of one of MMA's best lightweight fighters.
Following the surprising loss to "JZ" Calvancante, Ribeiro had to undergo surgery in order to repair a career-threatening eye injury sustained during the fight. Unlike many injuries involving appendages, ligaments, and muscles, Ribeiro's eye injury required extensive recovery. For a little over a year, there was much mystery as to what had happened to Vitor Ribeiro, and there was a lot of talk regarding Vitor never returning to the sport of MMA again.
Fast forward to the end of 2008, a couple of interviews with Ribeiro surfaced that he was going to be making a return to the sport of MMA. His eye had fully healed, and he had opened his own academy, Modern Martial Arts in New York City, during his recovery. All signs pointed toward a successful return, and Vitor was fortunate enough to be able to train his jiu-jitsuover the course of his recovery with his new academy.
Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro made his official return to MMA on April 5th, 2009 at DREAM 8 against 2000 Olympic Silver-Medalist Greco-Roman wrestler Katsuhiko Nagata. Ribeiro won the match at 7:58 in the first round via TKO. While the bout wasn't a solid indication that Vitor had the chops to hang with the best in the world just yet, it was a progressive step into returning Ribeiro to form.
Instead of giving "Shaolin" some more easier fights to shake off the ring rust, DREAM has decided to push Ribeiro into a match with WAMMA Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki that could potentially vault him into top five status quickly. Aoki currently sits in the #3 or #4 spot on most MMA rankings (#4 on our USA Today/SB Nation Consensus Rankings), and it would likely give Ribeiro an incredible push from out of the top 25 into relevance in the top five in one fight.
Interestingly enough, Ribeiro and Aoki have never met in the ring. Both fighters are outstanding grapplers in their own right with Aoki being a powerful presence when it comes to BJJ for MMA techniques. Ribeiro has a laundry list of credentials with 1st place finishes in tournaments ranging from 1996-2000 and a few ADCC placings.
Ribeiro also has one distinct advantage in that he's training with one of the premier MMA camps in the world, albeit one that has remained relatively unknown to fans. Nova Uniao houses fighters like UFC veteran Thales Leites, WEC Featherweight contenders Jose Aldo and Wagnney Fabiano, and Sengoku fighter Marlon Sandro. Aoki will primarily look for training at his camp, Nippon Top Team, with teammates Masakazu Imanari and Satoru Kitaoka.
Stylistically, get ready for a chess match on the ground as both fighters will be looking for the submission. I'm hoping that Ribeiro's training at Nova Uniao will bring out some better striking in the veteran that we haven't seen in the past, but it's fairly tough to avoid Aoki's flying guard for most of a fight.
I'm a bit hesitant to believe Ribeiro can pull off the upset on the ground. Ribeiro has always been much more methodical of a BJJ practitioner than you'd like to see in a MMA fight. The time he takes to put his submissions into place can be disadvantageous if his opponent suddenly gains position and puts him in trouble. Aoki has very quick transitions while Ribeiro hasn't always been the quickest in making a transition and putting a submission hold on quickly. Ribeiro does, however, have top notch defensive jiu-jitsu that could frustrate Aoki, so this will be an interesting fight to watch as it goes on. Anything is possible.
For all the hardcore fans who truly love the technical aspects of MMA on the ground without all that "lay n' pray" we've seen in the past, tune in for Shinya Aoki vs. Vitor Ribeiro. While Ribeiro might not actually be past the ring rust at this point, it'll be a sure-fire test as to whether he can return to old form quickly. We may actually witness the decline of Aoki from the top ranks of the Lightweight division this weekend, and a return of Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro.
According to HDNet's Schedule, DREAM 10 will air LIVE at 3 AM EST on Monday, July 20th.
Check out the rest of our DREAM.10 coverage
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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This is the kind of fight where it pays to not be one-dimensional. I expect Shaolin to take this via decision, although I’d surely rather see Aoki pull off a slick sub. Regardless, I’ll be happy if this fight is half as exciting as Aoki/Uno.
I didn’t realize this card was so close to happening. Better make sure I’m stocked up on coffee.
I’m interested to see if Shaolin banks on striking a bit more for this fight to point on Aoki. He has the defensive chops to avoid being submitted, but I’m hesistant to believe he has the transition skills to defeat Aoki on the ground. It’s a very interesting match-up in my opinion. I’m looking forward to it.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jul 15, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I see what you mean about both things. The thing is that Vitor has more control over where the fight takes place, although of course Aoki can always pull guard or get a decent throw into a good top position. Shaolin will probably try to do a little boxing but I believe his reach is significantly shorter than Aoki’s and if that’s the case his striking might not be much of a factor. And I don’t know if I agree about the transition skills; I would say Ribeiro has the advantage on the ground as he knows fully all of the tricks Aoki will employ. I expect to see Aoki defending from half-guard much of the fight.
Shaolin pull off the upset on the ground?
It is the other way around. I do hope Aoki wins though so people will finally give the man the respect he deserves
And how in the world did Kenny get to #2? He hasn’t beat a ranked fighter. And how did Eddie jump Aoki? I know it’s comprise by averages of ranking but who the hell are ranking these people?
Eddie got props for winning Bellator
and Aoki’s temporary move to welterweight hurt him (as did his loss once there) because some sites rank you in the division last fought. That will kill a fighter’s ranking since you’re not just dropped, you’re removed from the top 25.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
The problem is that there isn’t a bridge between the two continents in terms of fights. Someone ranking Kenny at #2 doesn’t upset me really because we have no real comparison.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jul 15, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Shaolin is the man. I’m a complete BJJ novice and have started training at his NYC dojo a few weeks ago…he gives great personalized attention and breaks down technique and BJJ philosophy like no other. His passion is great too: when we’re rolling and someone has the setup for some cool sweep or submission, he starts yelling and clapping wildly. Dude just reeks with good vibes…
This should be a great fight. Neither fighter has really fought a similar level grappler in MMA before. Aoki’s fluid transitions and unorthodox submissions could catch him, but Shaolin’s top game is very, very tight. If Aoki pulls guard, I can see Shaolin maintaining top position for the majority of the fight. While that wouldn’t be decisive in a BJJ competition, this is MMA and the fighter on top will take the fight. I think Riberio by UD is the most likely outcome and Aoki by submission is the second most likely.
Shaolin interview
Yes, another shameless plug:
Ribeiro: Stay in the place you feel good
Sergio Non,
MMA writer, USA TODAY
http://mma.usatoday.com
The only major problem I forsee is that Ribeiro’s BJJ is much more methodical in MMA than it is in competition. It isn’t a myth at all, and you can watch most of his fights to see how he does.
Methodical is a tough way to practice BJJ in the ring, IMO. Quick transitioning is the way to go, and Aoki has the advantage there. On the flip side of that argument is the fact that Aoki will still need to go to the ground to do that. Big problem is that Ribeiro’s BJJ defense is phenomenal, and in that arena… he could reverse Aoki and put him into massive danger. THIS is where I think this match-up is unbelievable on paper.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Ribeiro himself seems to think it's the opposite
If you believe him (see the interview I posted above), he says he’s got the quick transition and Aoki has the methodical approach. I suppose I can see his point — sometimes Aoki does take his time (see the Nagata fight and arguably the 2nd one with JZ), but Aoki does seem much more likely to pull out a quick sub.
Sergio Non,
MMA writer, USA TODAY
http://mma.usatoday.com
Well, then Ribeiro has to prove he’s re-invented his ground game. Against better competition, it always takes him a lot of time to set up his submissions unlike some of the guys today like Daisake Nakamura, Fedor, even Aoki. They transition quickly, and to be perfectly honest, that’s what separates some of the best fighters in the world from everyone else when it comes to ground tactics. That and just positional smarts.
Aoki’s second fight with JZ was more of Aoki trying not to get “Ribeiro’d” as I like to call it. If Aoki loses position at all against JZ, he gets his head caved in ala Hansen style pretty quickly. I think there are some fights where methodical works, but this might not be one of them unless he truly has the better BJJ techniques on the floor… which could be possible.
I can see Ribeiro reversing Aoki and subbing him, but that’ll be stemming from better defensive BJJ skills.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jul 16, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
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