Shinya Aoki Sees Strikeforce Title Fight With Gilbert Melendez in Nationalistic Terms
by Kid Nate on Mar 18, 2010 1:07 PM EDT
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It's always time for nationalism with Shinya Aoki, per Michael David Smith:
"I believe that Japan is the No. 1 country in mixed martial arts, so I want to show that through this fight," Aoki said Wednesday, through a translator. "Being the champion of two promotions, Dream and Strikeforce, that has a special meaning to me, to show Japan as No. 1."
...
"I'm getting stronger every day," Aoki said. "I'm not No. 1 at the moment but I'm getting stronger every day. In the future I may have a fight with B.J. Penn."...
"My schedule is dependent on Dream so Dream will decide when I fight again," Aoki said. "The United States is the biggest market so it's important for me to attract fans here and make a good impression in the U.S. market, but if I win the Strikeforce belt I am doing it for Dream and for Japan."
MMA Weeklyraises some questions about the adaptations Aoki will need to make to fight in the U.S.:
A few questions have to be raised about Aoki's first appearance in Strikeforce, primarily how he adjusts to fighting in a cage. Some fighters have excelled or noticed no real difference, while others have struggled when leaving the confines of a ring.
"I will adjust my fighting strategy to the cage fighting," Aoki told MMAWeekly.com in an exclusive interview. "It's not a big difference of what (I) need to do."
The other question that begs to be asked is Aoki's attire. He typically wears spandex grappling pants in his fights. Aoki will not be allowed to wear those for his fight in the United States, but again he believes skill goes above and beyond clothing.
"During the fight, I'm focused on my fighting. It won't affect my fight," Aoki said about not wearing his usual fight gear.
Shinya Aoki is absolutely one of my favorite fighters to watch. I love his insanely aggressive submission game. But the guy is also a blatant jerk. When he's not breaking arms and then adding insult to injury, he's inevitably talking smack about other promotions or other countries.
Or crying. Win or lose, Aoki does a lot of crying.
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you will not be fighting bj penn, mr. aoki.
by cagefightonacid on Mar 18, 2010 12:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
+1
Or crying. Win or lose, Aoki does a lot of crying.
I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08
I lol’d.
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 Mar 18, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
please...
Unless Aoki has suddenly become a Kamikaze pilot I don’t like his chances on American soil.
And people tell me I’m imagining things when I say there’s a weird racial undertone to all the Aoki hating…
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
haha...
you’re right. But I think it’s in large part that he is constantly talking about “Japan vs. everyone”
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 18, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, In JAPAN, they must not have access to CURRENT
UFC fights…They probably onlly watch the old school matches.
That is the only way they would think that DREAM is #1, or even #2,#3, or #4…ah maybe #4.
He believes that Japan is #1. After he beats Melendez, he will prove that he is #1 by beating the American. Then he goes on to talk about how he might be blessed to fight BJ in the future…
A lot lost in translation, huh?
In Japan, they must have a different meaning for what #1 is.
Wow, I think people are reading way too much into these comments.
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah...
It’s pretty shocking to see people getting so upset about this. Really shining example of MMA FANDOM!!!!!
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 18, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember when Mayhem Miller fought for DREAM and in his promo video intro he said that if you’re number 1 in DREAM, that means you’re number 1 in the world.
by Polyhedron on Mar 18, 2010 2:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
being Japanese is like a religion from what i gather.
Japanese people take great pride in their country. I think the nationalism he displays is embraced by the Japanese people. Plus his lines sound like something a character from street fighter II would say,so I’m a fan.
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 1:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah.....
That’s why aoki is such a dick all the time. Look at the people he has to deal with all the time.
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 2:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
that is misuse of a cutie in a school girl outfit
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 2:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Naisu no Mori
AKA: Funky Forest. A pretty fun, if very strange film.
by Tony Loiseleur on Mar 18, 2010 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s because you are confusing RACE with COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
Sure glad Lesnar got his shit straightened out.
by judonerd on Mar 18, 2010 3:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
who said anything about race?
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 4:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It was in the comment judonerd was replying to.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Mar 18, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
got it.
Thought that was directed at me.
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 5:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
whats he smokin
this guy is crazy sayin japan is number one in mixed martial arts,me Id put Brazil or the U.S as number one
I thought he meant fighters rather than promotions.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Mar 18, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
well to answer your question....
Aoki does hang out with bravo when he is state side. So "they be jammin " if you know what I mean.
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Mar 18, 2010 5:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It’s obvious that Japan is not the number one, otherwise he would have nothing to prove.
I think Aoki will win this fight, either way.
Be water, my friend.
http://www.scramblestuff.com (Imported Japanese MMA goods!)
http://www.thegrapplingdummy.com (my Blog)
by Martial Farts on Mar 18, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
why doesnt dream put there titles on the line?
" Im surprised GSP can get his jeans on with all these people clinging to his nuts"- Dan Hardy
They are with the LHW GP
Right now they’re doing SF a favor by giving them legitimate contenders in Zaromskis and Aoki… or would you rather have watched Jay Hieron fight Nick Diaz and some no name LW challenge Melendez?
"It’s going to be like sex with a grizzly bear, you know, a lot of scratching and growling on both sides." - Don Frye
Yeah, I would rather see Jay Hieron against Nick Diaz...
Jay is better than Zaromskis!
If Pat the 'Dou**e' Militech gave up on WAMMA...
It is no longer relevant….
Note the sarcasm…
I’m sure Jadrig would have a retort for you, but he’s been banned for fighter bashing.
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
In the future I may have a fight with B.J. Penn."
Ohh what a dream this would be. Aoki would defiantly get a reality check if this fight ever happened. My dream would be for B.J. to pick him apart on the feet for 4 rounds then take him down in the 5 and submit him with ease.
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
i wasn’t implying Aoki could handle BJ for 5 rounds. i was implying i want BJ to beat the hell out of him for 4 and finish him in the 5. Basically what B.J. has been doing ever since he lost to GSP
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
Everything with this statement is correct. I do think he beat Melendez. I live in Nashville so I’ll probably get to hear his ACL explode live!
by Kyle Duquette on Mar 18, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
"I believe that Japan is the No. 1 country in mixed martial arts"
How did I end up on this bandwagon and why does everything say property of Chael Sonnen?
If he wins he will do this:
/´ /)
/¯ ..//
/… ./ /
/¯ ..//
/… ./ /
/´¯/’ …‘/´¯`•¸
/’/…/… ./… …./¨¯\
(‘(…´(… ……. ,~/’…‘)
\………. ….. ..\/…./
’’…\…. ….. . _.•´
\……. ….. ..(
\….. ….. …\
If he wins he may break Coker's arm.
He will undoubtedly grab the mic and talk about:
Japan being number 1
Japan being better than USA
Dream being better than Strikeforce
(He will have learned to say this all iin clear english)
Not to mention that he will cry and flip off the crowd…
by truck on Mar 18, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
When he wins
I doubt he’ll flip off the crowd, Melendez hasn’t been talking shit. Expect Aoki to call out Penn again.
Shit talking or not, his mission is to show the world that Aoki / Dream / Japan are on top.
He said the reason he snapped dudes arm at Dynamite was because Dream bosses told him to send a message. Sounds to me like he is on a similar mission right now.
He snapped his arm because Hirota didn’t tap. He went after him aggressively because Sasahara told him to him too. The flipping off was because Mizuto said, “Should I give him a strong strike?”, meaning he was gonna KO Aoki.
Step your game up :P
If by “Dream people” you mean Keichi Sasahara you’re wrong. Sasahara said to “take him out”. So in that way it is similar, because I’m sure he’ll be trying to win, but there’s no bad blood, yet, so the middle finger is unlikely.
the dream people
the dream people tell me to burn things!
Be water, my friend.
http://www.scramblestuff.com (Imported Japanese MMA goods!)
http://www.thegrapplingdummy.com (my Blog)
by Martial Farts on Mar 18, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
If he loses he do this:
/´ /)
/¯ ..//
/… ./ /
/¯ ..//
/… ./ /
/´¯/’ …‘/´¯`•¸
/’/…/… ./… …./¨¯\
(‘(…´(… ……. ,~/’…‘)
\………. ….. ..\/…./
’’…\…. ….. . _.•´
\……. ….. ..(
\….. ….. …\
Bring it, TOUGH GUY!!! USA! USA! USA!
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 Mar 18, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 9 recs
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
by pitbull187 on Mar 18, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yum.
Jack Bauer could get off the Lost island in 24 hours.
by timetosaygoodbye on Mar 18, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Aoki in the ufc.
Guy would get mangled. He’s good on the ground but that’s it, and the UFC won’t give him fights over bullshit.
"One should always be cold minded and remember that a ridiculous incident may occur any time."
by At Least On Paper on Mar 18, 2010 3:17 PM EDT reply actions
fights over bullshit?
I assume that’s some way of saying he isn’t fighting good competition. I’m far from a big Aoki fan…but come on…
Hirota, Hansen (x2), Ribeiro, Sakurai, Uno, Calvancante (x2)
That’s 8 very legitimate fights since 2008.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 18, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Forgot Alvarez. That’s 9…just since 2008
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by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 18, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
And he is 6-2 (1 NC) And the 2 losses were the Sakurai fight which was at 170 when Aoki is barely a 155 pounder and Hansen who he avenged the loss to.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 18, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I assumed he was talking about bullshit help from the refs.
Like giving him a no-contest because JZ hit him in the neck, or giving him a timeout after Hansen KO’d him with an upkick, or helping him take Hansen down by ripping out his base while Aoki had him up against the ropes.
giving him a timeout after Hansen KO’d him with an upkick
To be fair, that upkick was immediately preceded by a shot to Aoki’s groin. The other ones were fishy though.
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2010 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
It was a grazing shot to the groin that the ref missed ……. until Aoki got KO’ed and cried about it.
Seriously, watch the tape again, the ref made no move whatsoever to step in until after Aoki got kicked in the noggin. He didn’t even realize Aoki had taken a shot to the pills until Shinya told him, then he took his word for it. I can’t think of any other fight where a ref took a fighter’s word over what he saw with his own eyes. Usually, they just say “I didn’t see it. Keep fighting”.
Just for the record if he beats Melendez. Aoki will be the:
StrikeForce LW Champion
DREAM LW Champion
Sengoku LW Champion (Lineal)
Shooto WW Champion (Can’t recall if they made him relinquish)
He also holds a win over the Bellator LW Champion.
Ridiculously enough, Aoki does still hold the Shooto 167-pound title, despite not having fought there in at least 3 years.
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2010 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
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