By: Shawn W. Smith
The term mixed martial arts has evolved in ways few could imagine over the past 15 years. The sport has continued to branch out, expand and grow into new martial arts and areas of the world. In its current form, MMA is not as much about a combat of style against style, but developing a skillset that envelops something from each kind of martial art. Every elite fighter, no matter their base, has a well-rounded set of skills.
Purists would call MMA the “mutt” of martial arts, with its disregard for the respect and purity that are such an important part of what they are. Others would call it the new generation, with the mixing of styles to create some of the greatest human fighting machines to ever step on the planet.
One fighter, more so than any other, cares little for our new generation. Shinya Aoki is an enigma in the world of MMA. No matter how hard he works his striking, he will always be a submission fighter. His base is judo and submission fighting and that is not going to change. In a world where game plans and fight IQ are so scrutinized, Aoki is completely straight forward. He wants to take you down and submit you, and if he cannot take you down he will probably try a flying submission.
Now fighting for ONE FC, Aoki is the face of the company. He is 3-0 under their banner with two submissions and holds their world lightweight championship. He is unquestionably the most popular fighter currently competing in Asia, selling out arenas across the continent.
An only child, Aoki was born in Japan to two factory workers in Shizuoka City, two hours southwest of Tokyo. At only 5’11, few could have predicted he would become one of the greatest Japanese fighters of his generation. He took up judo at a young age before seeing the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba and B.J. Penn on television and turning to MMA at 20. He was a policeman in his early adulthood, but “didn’t really enjoy it.”
“My passion was to be a mixed martial artist and to be a world champion,” he explained.
He made a name for himself with his dazzling displays of submission wizardry early in his career. Standing armlocks, flying triangle chokes and gogoplatas are just some of the submissions that fill out his early resume. It was a style most thought would not transfer to the higher level. Since wrestlers had begun to figure out how to defend submissions, those with a base in submissions had begun to struggle. No longer was it a surprise when the little guy knew how to grapple, Royce Gracie ruined all of that.
However, Aoki continued to thrive. Wins over Joachim Hansen and Gesias Cavalcante raised interest, and a submission victory over the thriving Eddie Alvarez solidified Aoki as an elite level lightweight.
What continues to separate Aoki from other submission fighters is his aggression. With the exception of maybe Frank Mir, no one has ruined more limbs than Aoki. He has a mean streak that runs deep and a desire to devour competition as quickly and violently as possible. Whoever called jiu-jitsu ‘the gentle art’ forgot to tell Aoki.
Never was it on display more prominently than in his bout against Mizuto Hirota at Dynamite 2009. The two had exchanged heated words throughout the lead up to the fight, but no one was sure how enraged they had become. Japanese pro wrestling and MMA have a close relationship and often rivalries cross over and seem fabricated.
There was nothing fake about Aoki’s performance that night. He took little time to bring his unique brand of violence to the ring. Within a minute, he had Hirota on his back in a hammer lock position. Aoki did not wait for the tap as he cranked on Hirota’s arm until it finally broke. In one of the most stunning displays of violence, even in this violent sport, the sound of Hirota’s arm snapping came across clearly throughout the arena and television. Seemingly in a trance, Aoki rose to his feet and waved his middle finger at anyone and everyone.
There’s no denying Aoki is a man of controversy. He’s shown little distain for journalists throughout his career and often seems to not care what fans are media alike think of him. Through failed attempts to conquer American MMA (dismal efforts in bouts with Gilbert Melendez and a rematch with Eddie Alvarez), many have pegged him a one trick pony.
“There are many factors that play into a fight that people don’t realise,” explained Aoki. “In the (United) States, it is a different rule set. The traveling time and jetlag is also a huge factor that US fighters don’t experience. There’s a huge obstacle to overcome on fight week when you have to think about the weight cut and the fight to worry about things like jetlag, diet, travelling time etc.”
As dominate as Aoki has been throughout his career, losses to unheralded MMA fighters like Yuichiro Nagashima and an aging Hayato “Mach” Sakurai left questions about whether or not Aoki could take a punch or adapt to the new generation.
His days of questionable losses seem to be behind him now. The previously mentioned Alvarez and Melendez are both top five ranked fighters in the world and account for Aoki’s only losses since 2009. Fighting for ONE FC while training at EVOLVE in Singapore, we’ve seen a maturity from Aoki. Having won 12 of his last 13 bouts, Aoki’s consistency is finally where it should be for an elite level fighter.
“I’m constantly improving with each bout and getting better,” said Aoki. “At Evolve MMA we believe that we have to improve ourselves at least 1% (sic) everyday, the learning process never stops.”
If his ranking as a world class fighter is slipping due to lack of competition, his popularity is not. He is ONE FC’s most prominent fighter. North American fans continue to clamour for him to join the UFC, but with healthy pay checks and booming popularity, he sees no reason.
“ONE FC rules Asia, and if I join any other organization, I will likely have to travel extensively overseas and I will prefer to compete in Asia,” he said. “I am already fighting in front of 12,000 fans in Singapore, what more can I ask for?”
Aoki does not have to prove he is an elite level fighter to North American fans or media. Making a comfortable living while fighting close to home is something all fighters could aspire to. At only 30 years of age, he could fight for a few more years and then do seminars for the rest of his life. He has little desire or urgency to try his skills in North America again, and few can blame him.
If he decides to never fight outside of Asia again, there’s still a very good possibility he could become Asia’s greatest fighter. Japanese exports such as Takanori Gomi and Yushin Okami have come to North America and done well for themselves, but struggled at the top level. If Aoki can make a comfortable living while fighting whoever ONE FC puts in front of him, why would he leave?
There are still challenges for the ONE world lightweight champion to face. Although he would not say it outright, an opportunity at the world featherweight champion Honorio Banario would be great for all parties involved. The fight would certainly be big business for ONE FC, and further establish their top star as an elite level fighter.
If Aoki is happy in ONE FC, fighting in front of major audiences and making more money than he would in the UFC, how can we fault him? Perhaps Aoki should be applauded for not giving into the pressures of fighting for the UFC. The Asian crowds are respectful of his talent and ONE FC treat him well, both of which seem to be rarities in North America.
Aoki did it his way and will leave behind a legacy of violence. What else can a fighter really ask for?
