Shinya Aoki: Back on the Hunt for the Lightweight Title
After a whirlwind 18‑month journey through the world of martial arts, Japanese legend Shinya Aoki is finally turning his focus back to the ONE Lightweight World Title that slipped away from him in November 2016.
On the Road to Redemption
- New Opponent, New Battle: Aoki faces Russian grappling maestro Rasul Yakhyaev at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS in Singapore.
- Strategic Timing: A win over Yakhyaev would catapult Aoki straight into title contention again.
- Personal Aspiration: “My goal is to work back towards the lightweight title. This weight class is my natural weight, so it is good for me,” he says.
From Grappling to the Cage
Aoki’s post‑championship spells have been a mix of eclectic fights: grappling-only bouts, grappling super‑matches, and bold forays into full MMA rules.
- Grappling Super‑Matches: Lost to EBI champ Garry Tonon (May), but nailed a submission of former ONE Featherweight champ Marat Gafurov (January).
- “I’ve been grappling for a long time, and I really love it,” he claims, adding that those focused sessions sharpened his overall cage game.
- Training Philosophy: “Martial arts is about studying and learning. When you train for a competition and focus on something, you’ll definitely improve.”
Mixed Martial Arts Re‑emergence
Re‑entering the full MMA arena, Aoki is ready to crash the arena with a refreshed, all‑rules approach. He’s been working hard on striking, saying:
“I love mixed martial arts and love competing.”
His most recent bout saw a loss against Ben “Funky” Askren in the hunt for the ONE Welterweight title, but he’s back in his natural lightweight class – the sweet spot where size and power won’t hold him back.
The Big Test: Yakhyaev
Yakhyaev, a jiu‑jitsu and combat sambo icon, knocked out Thai superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai in December. Aoki’s victory over him will triple‑dial his chances of facing the current champion, Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen.
- Goal: Win to climb the rankings and set up a title challenge against Nguyen.
- Opportunity: ONE’s push into Japan offers a chance to fight on home turf – “It is great that ONE Championship is going to Japan,” Aoki enthuses.
Why Zen‑Japan Matters
Aoki is wagging his finger at the drama of fighting in front of a home crowd. He’s practically beckoning the fans: “I want to fight in Japan.” The small steps of each victory edge him closer to that ultimate belt he once had, and the crowd is eager to see the return of one of boxing’s most unforgettable names.
