Assuming this translation is accurate, Shinya Aoki sends quite the message to Dana White and the UFC in the video above. I love Japanese MMA, but Aoki might want to check out these ratings, and realize Japan is no longer the mecca of mixed martial arts.
Aoki also proclaimed following his victory over Eddie Alvarez that he wants to fight BJ Penn. Don’t get your hopes up though, because he’s not willing to come to the UFC to do it.
“Personally, the most decisive fight in the world, the culmination, the pinnacle for me is B.J. Penn. Please do not misunderstand — I really need this to be clearly expressed in the media: Shinya Aoki will not go to the UFC. I just want to fight B.J. Penn. This is my selfish wish. I know that everyone says they want Penn, but I think I’m the number one Japanese fighter to be saying this.”
CR: Bloody Elbow
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Aoki is currently one of the most underrated fighters in MMA. There is no way he’ll get to fight Penn in the next two years. Penn is huge for the UFC and he wont be sent over any time soon and Aoki is huge for Japan. Theoretically a match-up with Penn could go either way, its very close.
here,was that micheal jackson at the very end lol
Hey Aoki, you want BJ…all you have to do is sign a contract. Why won’t you go to the UFC…afraid of the cage and elbows on the ground? Until you sign with the UFC, you’re going to be seen as a 2nd tier fighter who’s afraid to mix it up with the big dogs. Can you really beat a 2 division champion who already beat Gomi, the lightweight god of mma for years over in Japan?
I respect Aoki for all he’s accomplished but he needs to mix it up with Lightweights in the UFC if he wants to prove himself as the best lightweight in the world. Sherk, Gomi, Kenflo, Edgar amongst others would be intriguing match ups but no racial disrespect but until he comes down to the UFC…there’s a huge yellow streak down his back ie he’s afraid