Shinya Aoki UFC material yet?

[Steveston]

He definitely could be in the UFC but he prefers to fight closer to home I think he would be in the top ten in the UFC.

 

[Renzo Gracie NH]

If he wants to fight in the UFC I would bet they would sign him in a heartbeat. I would love to see it.

 

[Plissken]

He was gung-ho to go to the UFC before he went to pride (after the second Kikuchi fight), but now he's pretty content to stay in Asia.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Yet? He was UFC caliber for years. The question now is whether he STILL is.

 

[RubberGuard5]

No I'm just the type of guy that can tell with his eyes that Aoki would never make it anywhere near the top 5 in the UFC.

How embarrassing for him

 

[lockjaw211]

I'm pretty sure he gets paid way more at home then what the UFC will give him.

 

[PrideRelic]

Yet? He was UFC caliber for years. The question now is whether he STILL is.

Idk, let's give him the Kimbo treatment, if Aoki can make it out of the Tuf house ....then maybe...just maybe ....we'll give him a shot on the undercard of a fx card.

 

[OneManGang]

He is a threat to anyone in his weight division in UFC. However, for reasons unknown, he choses to remain outside.

 

[samoajoe]

How embarrassing for him

He looked pretty embarrassed sitting in the ring crying after most of his loses.

 

[Donny White]

One of the best FW-LW grapplers, so duh.

 

[peralez**]

with a fairy dust chin? NEVER

 

[mkt]

I never said that.

What I meant was he only lost a decision(better than being finished) to Gil, who had a razor close fight with Benson and another TS this year. I was implying Aokis losses are not shameful what so ever.

Yeah, but what other top 10 guys has he fought in the last 2-3 years? He was dominated by Gil and finished in the first round by Eddie. That's all we know about how he fares against elite competition...and it's not promising. But sure he's "UFC material," as in Jim Miller type UFC competition.

 

[RubberGuard5]

He looked pretty embarrassed sitting in the ring crying after most of his loses.

Different cultures have a different way of expressing emotions. Japanese fighters cry all the time, i guess it's normal to them.

Here's Aoki embarrassed for winning a shooto title.

Either way, the fact he FELT embarrassed doesn't make those losses embarrassing, cause he fought legends of the sport, not some scrubs.

 

[BostonMike]

He's been "UFC material" for years; Though I think he gets obliterated by the majority of the UFC's top 10.

 

[xP]

I love to watch Aoki fight. He would have mixed results in the UFC but he has the skills to have some huge moments. I used to make it a point to tune into his fights live. Now he's just crushing guys and not really testing himself. I just catch his fights later on all at once now. Still great to watch but it leaves a lot to be desired.

No... Anyone with a sprawl could beat him as shown by Gil and Alvarez.

If only Eddie knew the mighty sprawl in 2008

 

[Literally Bricked]

I doubt he'd be fighting at 155 in the UFC. He would drop to 145 for sure.

 

[VolkHan]

He always was "UFC Level" if that means to be better than Vinc Pichel or Akira Corassani or a lot of others UFC fighters in LW/FW divisions.

He's ok fighting in East Asia near his family and for a decent amount of money.

 

[ThatBJJGuy]

UFC level nowadays doesnt mean much with their turn around of events twice a week.

I wanna see Aoki fight someone good at 145. He's a legit guy in this division. He doesn't belong at 155.

 

[Farbeyondthesun]

You guys are nuts.... Aoki is the goods. On any given night he could beat any LW in the world, at the same time he could get knocked out by almost anyone in the top 20-30. He's a big draw in Asia, and giving him a nice contract would only benefit them in the long run. Win or lose he wouldn't ever be in a bad fight.

 

[RubberGuard5]

I wanna see Aoki fight someone good at 145. He's a legit guy in this division. He doesn't belong at 155.

What makes you say that?