Michihiro Omigawa Offered WEC 53 Bout, Wants Shinya Aoki
by Chris Nelson on Oct 17, 2010 8:14 AM EDT
in Asian MMA News
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After much speculation and calling-for from fans, it seems Japanese featherweight Michihiro Omigawa could soon be fighting under the Zuffa banner once more.
Earlier this week, Omigawa wrote on Twitter that he'd just returned home from Las Vegas, though he didn't divulge what the trip was about.
Today, the resurgent Yoshida Dojo product tells Nikkan Sports that he was offered a bout against an unnamed opponent at WEC 53 on Dec. 16 in Arizona -- but it sounds like he's got another fight in mind for the end of the year.
Per Gryphon:
Big news!! next target of OMIGAWA is...AOKI shinya!! He hiope [sic] NY eve Dynamite!! fight,and..he confirm the offer from WEC!!
Omigawa vs. Shinya Aoki would certainly be an interesting scrap. We've seen Omigawa falter at lightweight in the UFC previously, but his relentless style and cracking power could test the Dream champ's chin. Likewise, his judo game and strong submission defense run counter to Aoki's strongest suits.
At the same time, Omigawa still has a few interesting bouts left at featherweight in Japan, such as rematches with Marlon Sandro, Hatsu Hioki or Masanori Kanehara. Those seem less likely to happen, though, after the falling out between Sengoku and Omigawa's management company, J-Rock.
In WEC, one obvious fight to make would be a rematch between Omigawa and "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung. The pair met in Deep back in 2008, with Jung taking a win on points in Omigawa's featherweight debut. "Michi" recently made comments explaining why he felt he lost the match, prompting Jung to call him a "coward" and hope for a rematch in WEC.
Either way, at 34, Omigawa's no spring chicken, so here's hoping he can settle into a permanent home and keep up the torrid pace -- 10 fights in 20 months, with a record of 8-1-1 -- that he's been on the last two years.
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I think there are also
some featherweights in DREAM that would be fun matchups for Omigawa — including Ishida and Miyata. I’d like to see him shut down those wrestlers.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Oct 17, 2010 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, both of those would be interesting. From what I heard before the Cole Escovedo fight, though, it doesn’t sound like Omigawa’s too interested in sticking around in Dream.
by Chris Nelson on Oct 17, 2010 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Can you elaborate on why he wouldn’t want to stick around in DREAM? Is it money or management related?
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by Matthew Roth on Oct 17, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
is he one of those greedheads
that want to get paid?
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by Nate Wilcox on Oct 17, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I hate those kinda people
They aren’t partners trying to grow the sport.
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by Matthew Roth on Oct 17, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Are you saying there will be no Puji money?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
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by Derek Suboticki on Oct 17, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d like to see a four man tournament on NYE featuring Takaya, Omigawa, Ishida and Miyata. Have Bibiano vs. Warren II, if they can get him.
that would be hot
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by Nate Wilcox on Oct 17, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
i think u forgot...
Marlon Sandro and Hatsu Hioki.
If those match ups happen then WEC’s creditial as the most prestigious league might be in a potential danger.
*great idead btw
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Oct 18, 2010 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Omigawa is a taking a huge risk in going after Aoki.
That WEC offer would likely be pulled off the table if he loses to Shinya (which IMO is highly likely). Of course, the flip side is, having a win over Aoki in his back pocket would greatly increase his bargaining position both at home and abroad.
That Aoki fight would probably be worth more than multiple WEC fights for Omigawa. I get the impression their offer to him was less than impressive.
That Aoki fight would probably be worth more than multiple WEC fights for Omigawa
Assuming he gets paid.
by Steve4192 on Oct 17, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Smoogy
Aoki is the highest paid fighter in dream at 80k a fight *number given to me by both Dave Walsh and Zach Arnold. I wouldn’t really be surprised if his WEC offer was better than anything FEG offered him. Especially with delayed payment from DREAM instead of immediate payment from ZUFFA, he probably will end up in the WEC by 2011 summer at the latest.
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by Matthew Roth on Oct 17, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Who is? Ishii?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Oct 17, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Mayhem?
"I say after someone throws a punch isn't everything else the rest of the night a counter?.......Kinda?"
Mike Goldberg
UnintelligentDefense.blogspot.com
by Earl Montclair on Oct 18, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
the Dream champ’s notoriously unstable chin
Aoki has a notoriously unstable chin?? 3 (t)KO losses in 30 fights? From some of the shots I have seen Aoki take, Id say Aoki’s chin is better than average. Getting KO’s by brutal knees from Sakurai doesnt mean you’ve got a weak chin.
I’ll fix my wording, but I don’t think there’s any denying that Aoki’s chin is his Achilles heel. He only has three losses by TKO, but he’s also been virtually unconscious in some fights and allowed to continue.
Mind you, I’m a fan of Aoki (as a fighter, if not as a person), so I’m not trying to bust on the guy, but he’s knockout-able.
by Chris Nelson on Oct 17, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Everybody is ?
Omigawa should turn down this match. Too dangerous. He destroys Jung at WEC 53 then take on Aldo, that’s all I’m waiting for if he signs with them.
Don’t you mean you should turn down this match?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Oct 17, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry buddy. Hate being that guy that nit picks one tiny point in a good post!!!! People ripping Aoki for having a weak chin has been a pet peeve of mine…..I can never seem to let it slide!!!!
But thanks for the post! I didnt know this fight was in the works so I appreciate you bringing the news.
The thing that I love about heavy handed dudes coming up against Aoki is that nobody has rocked Aoki on the feet before…..although I confess to never actually seeing his very first KO loss. So to those hoping to (t)KO the baka survivor, it must be a pretty daunting prospect knowing that statistically, your best chance of ending the fight is to actually go to the ground with him!!!!
OHHHHHH SHIT
finally. man i know they probably offered michi crappy money but we all know he belongs in the WEC and they need him more than he needs them.
Why would Omigawa need to go to Las Vegas to get a contract offer? Doesn’t the UFC have an office in Japan? Zuffa definitely needs to bolster both their roster of Japanese fighters and their list of potential Featherweight Contenders (after Josh Grispi, there won’t be a top 10 fighter under contract to Zuffa that Aldo won’t have already beaten), so I can definitely believe they offered him a contract, but chances are it was no more than $12k + $12k. He probably could get a better offer from Dream (not that they’d necessarily pay on time). I definitely think he would come to the WEC if the money is right, but I’m wondering if he’s not just trying to bolster his leverage here with Dream.
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