Shinya Aoki: “Akiyama has a double face”
Longtime fans of mixed martial arts fans, particularly Japanese MMA, are in for quite the treat this Saturday, March 26th at ONE X.
ONE Championship presents their 10-anniversary show, ONE X-with heated rivalry between two high-level competitors that have paved their claim to fame via Japanese MMA, becoming a polarizing figure at their craft in their respect.
Shinya Aoki who is currently 38-years of-age, started his illustrious career back in 2003. His high energy and fast-paced grappling game, on top of his brightly colored, full-legged spats-rash guard bottoms, made him unmistakable to recognize. Almost notching 50 fights, Aoki has become a staple in Japanese mixed martial arts, making a name for himself in organizations such as Pride, Dream, Rizen, Shooto, and more recently, ONE Championships.
Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama, the elder of his opponent, currently is 46 years old with less than half of the fights of his opponent, Aoki has compiled. Akiyama soared through competition early in his career in K1, and Dream before getting the call to fight overseas for the UFC. “Sexyama” would go 2-5 with the UFC before his release from the promotion, ultimately bouncing back in Asia’s ONE Championship. Along with fighting, Akiyama has filled several voids for the promotion, including commentating.
Following Aoki’s matchup at Road to One: “Sexyama Edition,” Aoki, visibly upset, took to the mic to slam Akiyama who was commentating at the time of his bout. Aoki was upset with “Sexyama” for refusing a potential matchup several months prior with Aoki.
“Why’d you decline the offer?” Shinya Aoki questioned. “Come on, say it! Don’t lie!” Aoki prodded Akiyama for an answer. Say something you *****,” Aoki followed, clearly agitated with Akiyama.
Akiyama assured Aoki that he would accept the matchup once he was recovered from an injury. While injuries happen all the time during training, Aoki didn’t seem to believe “Sexyama’s” excuse.
“I thought Akiyama could get the most attention from the Japanese fans,” Aoki says about the matchup. However, when it came time to book the matchup, Aoki visually showed his doubts. Emphasizing, “I didn’t trust him because I think Akiyama has a double face,” Aoki insists.
ONE X: Part II will broadcast live and free on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE’s YouTube channel, and ONE’s Facebook page at 5 p.m. SGT/5 a.m. ET.
Also, ONE X: Part I will broadcast live and free on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE’s YouTube channel, and ONE’s Facebook page at 1 p.m. SGT/1 a.m. ET.
ONE X
Saturday, 26 March 2022
GRAND FINALE
ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship
(C) Angela Lee vs. (1) Stamp Fairtex
Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Special Rules Super-Fight
Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Demetrious Johnson
Flyweight: 125 LBS – 135 LBS
ONE Flyweight World Championship
(C) Adriano Moraes vs. (2) Yuya Wakamatsu
Flyweight: 125 LBS – 135 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
(3) Shinya Aoki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
Muay Thai
Eduard Folayang vs. John Wayne Parr
Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship
(C) Superbon Singha Mawynn vs. (1) Marat Grigorian
Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
PART II
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship
(C) Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Felipe Lobo
Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship
(C) Capitan Petchyindee vs. (2) Hiroki Akimoto
Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
(3) Ham Seo Hee vs. (2) Denice Zamboanga
Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
Itsuki Hirata vs. Jihin Radzuan
Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
(1) Kim Jae Woong vs. (4) Tang Kai
Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
PART I
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship Final
(4) Chingiz Allazov vs. (3) Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong
Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
Submission Grappling
Reinier de Ridder vs. Andre Galvao
Middleweight: 185 LBS – 205 LBS
Muay Thai
Nieky Holzken vs. Sinsamut Klinmee
Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
(5) Lito Adiwang vs. Jeremy Miado
Strawweight: 115 LBS – 125 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
(3) Stephen Loman vs. Shoko Sato
Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
Amir Khan vs. Ryogo Takahashi
Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
Kang Ji Won vs. Paul Elliott
Heavyweight: 225 LBS – 265 LBS
Submission Grappling
Mei Yamaguchi vs. Danielle Kelly
Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts
Ryuto Sawada vs. Senzo Ikeda
Strawweight: 115 LBS – 125 LBS
