One of the world’s best grapplers has turned down the chance to fight in the UFC.
According to Evolve MMA founder, Chatri Sityodtong, Shinya Aoki was offered a contract along with two of his teammates.
However, the Japanese star decided to continue to fight for big pay days in Asia rather than make the switch to the world’s premier MMA organisation.
Sityodtong clarified the situation on Facebook:
“The rumors are true. UFC offered contracts to 3 fighters on the Evolve Fight Team: Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng, and Leandro Brodinho. After careful reflection, Shinya and Eddie have both decided to stay in ONE FC due to more favorable economics. Brodinho has not made a final decision yet and is currently thinking through everything.
Aoki is one of the few elite fighters of his generation who has never fought in the UFC.
After breaking out in PRIDE he fought in DREAM and became its lightweight champion, showing off some of the best jiu-jitsu in the sport.
He made a move to fight in Strikeforce in 2010, but was soundly beaten by Gilbert Melendez over 25 minutes.
After building a seven-fight win streak he returned to elite competition Stateside but fell short again against Eddie Alvarez.
Since then 30-year-old has won the ONE FC lightweight belt and dropped to featherweight, renewing interest about how he would fare against Zuffa’s finest.
There is no-one in the UFC’s lighter weight classes with the same kind of suffocating grappling game and although he is not as highly touted as he once was, there would surely be a great deal of anticipation if Aoki was matched up with the likes of Mendes, Lamas, Jung or Swanson.
Aoki’s teammate, Leandro Issa, has since signed with the UFC and is expected to make his debut at UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore on January 4.
