Shinya Aoki to America: "Top of MMA is JAPAN!"
(Props: MMA Scraps)
We didn't pick up on Shinya Aoki's post-fight speech at Dynamite!! 2008 because we don't speak Japanese and we didn't actually watch the event, but apparently the Tobikan Judan had some strong words for Dana White, the UFC, and our country as a whole. You can check it out above, helpfully translated into broken English.
Later, in a chat with Sherdog, Aoki was a bit more humble:
“I think there’s no doubt that B.J. Penn is still the best at 155 pounds. He’s most likely the best fighter in the world. I don’t ignore the UFC. I respect the UFC because it’s a very high level organization — a high summit in the sport.”
“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. [Ed. note: :'-( ] 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.”
Yes, Shinya. Out of all the fighters who publicly call out BJ Penn but have no intention of signing with the organization that would make a fight with him a legitimate possibility, you are definitely the top Japanese one.
DIGG THIS
Comments
Jeff Says:
Shinya Aoki is a total tool. I've hated him since the first time he fought JZ.
Ife Hearted Says:
hope he fights Akiyama
Bootylam! Says:
Why do those Japanese guys think they can hang in the UFC? Have any? Ever? Oh wait, THEY CAN'T, that's why they talk, get beat, then go back home. B.J. would smash this fool.
Payday Says:
I saw Michael Jackson at the :50 mark of the video.
Xamot Says:
Yeah, because none of the old Pride guys did well in the UFC (sarcasm). Half of top guys in the UFC are from the japanese organization you idiot. Aoki didn't mean "japanese people", he meant that Japan is the center of the fighting world. Still an arrogant statement but he wasn't being racist like you currently are.
crookshark Says:
Its too bad that Aoki won't fight in the UFC, because I'd be really excited to see how he'd fair. The UFC and its fighters are becoming too focused on the striking game, and avoiding submissions and grappling because they're not as popular with the teenage boy demographic. The submission game is harder to follow and takes more knowledge to understand the strategies, but for me its often way more exciting. Just look at ufc 92, not even one submission win. Even fighters who are Jujitsu experts are staying on their feet. I think its disappointing for the sport if it becomes more about entertaining the hordes, and less about the most effective way to win a fight. I really think this hurts the longevity and integrity of the sport.
RaginAsian Says:
BJ has nothing to prove. Aoki does. Sign with the UFC or STFU.
RaginAsian Says:
You're mixing and matching. He specified Japanese fighters, not Pride fighters. Obviously none of which have done well in the cage. In my opinion, Aoki needs to beat Hansen before he can start running his mouth, and even then I wish he'd keep it shut until he's ready to put pen to paper.
Anonymous Says:
Hey UFC "bring back the tournament" for light heavyweight championship and middle weight belt. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease
quit rewarding the big lug for being a big kug. hope mir submits lesnar again and lesnar gets chopped down by kongo
Alex Says:
How's taste my pee-pee-pee for the new year?
Ronnie Dobbs Says:
crookshark: I completely agree. "Sub of the night goes tooooo........Massenzio?"
RaginAsian: Did the gogo submission not count as a win?
CP: You haven't watched the event? Oh.
Xamot Says:
Sorry RaginAgin, but you are the one that is mixing and matching. His statement in the ring and outside were two seperate statements. In the ring it's a shitty translation of him saying that Japan is the center of the fighting world.. the equivalent of "Cleveland Ohio Rocks!"...
Outside the ring he is making statement about him being the best of the Japanese fighters.
Everybody is being way too sensitive about this and taking that shit ass translation too literally.
Anonymous Says:
Crookshark:
I think the natural progression of the sport will favor strikers. Nothing to do with entertainment, it's just an easier way to finish the fight.
More fighters are developing their standup games and there aren't many one-dimensional grapplers who can compete at the top level in the UFC.
I agree that UFC fans are generally ignorant when it comes to grappling though. And Japan's fans are way more respectful of the competitiors.
Imbecile Says:
I don't really care what Aoki says, because he is reasonably irrelevant to worldwide MMA. The only reason Japanese MMA even matters anymore is because of absurd LW rankings that no longer hold water.
Aoki is good, but he still has a lot to prove, and it sounds like he is refusing to do so. Most every notable fighter he has beaten has had an inflated ranking, thus boosting Aoki's inflated ranking. The remnants of the Pride LW class have enjoyed far too high a ranking, and the UFC's lightweights have been far underrated in rankings to the point where it is just silly. A good portion of the UFC's upper-tier LW fighters would destroy most of those Japanese/ex-Pride fighters still considered the top ten. I would pit guys like Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk, and Joe Stevenson to win against guys like Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mistuhiro Ishida, Joachim Hansen, and Eddie Alvarez every time.
Eddie Alvarez looks promising, but I have seen him ranked as high as #1 or #2 in the world until he lost to Aoki. The reality is that Alvarez, while he looks good, isn't any better than someone like Roger Huerta, if he is even at that level. That anyone would ever rank him above someone like Sean Sherk is a joke! (And don't start on how Sherk's doesn't have enough fights at LW to move up the rankings, since BJ has enjoyed a rankings status for years based on performing at various other weight classes, and so have many others).
Sorry to go on so long, but in short, Aoki can stick his flexible foot up his flexible ass and then bend over and kiss the back of his rainbow tights covering his ass. If he wants to say he is the best, he should challenge himself against the best.
Bootylam! Says:
There was no racism at all in my comment. I said Japanese because he is Japanese, and they do talk about showing the rest of the world what fighting is about, then proceed to lose. Also, I said Japanese, not Pride fighters, although the statement would still hold up if I did. Don't try to put the racist tag on me Xamot, you can be more mature than that. [I'm assuming you're of a certain age since your name is an old, obscure G.I. Joe c-list character.] RaginAsian got what I was saying.
Knowitall Says:
Yah sorry Aoki, but unless you sign with the UFC you arent going to have the opporunity to get destroyed by BJ Penn. Simply put, MMA is a worldwide sport now, and while it has its roots in Japan, it has expanded now. Get with the times mother fucker. You still dont see me rocking my Giant Sony Walkman and yelling out fuck MP3's and Steve Jobs and his bullshit Ipod.
gesus Says:
I can really see why Aoki would stay in japan than go over to Dana White, but it would be awesome to see him fight some UFC fighters now. Aoki's submission skills can definitly stand up to many of the American fighters.
johnnynormal Says:
"[I'm assuming you're of a certain age since your name is an old, obscure G.I. Joe c-list character.]"
Harsh, Bottylam! ... how can you call the Crimson Twins C-list. Is it just because they are each others weakness? I don't like, no sir, not one bit.
portlandmma Says:
I think Aoki is a stud, and he is a definite top 3 light weight, but i dont think he has a chance in hell to beat BJ Penn. Aoki has some of the smoothest moves on the ground i've ever seen but his striking isn't even close to top notch. BJ has an amazing ground game and amazing striking, Aoki has no chance of tapping BJ and no chance in hell of out striking him. However, i was impressed with the stalking butt scoot he did to Alvarez.
Scrambled Eggs Says:
@ gesus:
I can agree that there are obvious reasons Aoki wouldn't sign with the UFC, but since that is the case, why is he calling it out? He's only asking for all the "put up or shut up" comments that he will get!
Anonymous Says:
portlandmma says: "I think Aoki is a stud... has some of the smoothest moves on the ground i've ever seen... i was impressed with the stalking butt scoot he did."
Whoa, whoa, whoa... we're just talkin' about fights here, buddy.
Richard Tucker Says:
"Personally, the hottest bitch in the world, the culmination, the pinnacle for me is Jessica Biel. Please do not misunderstand — I really need this to be clearly expressed in the media: Shinya Aoki will masturbate into a Kleenex tonight with pants around ankles, crying. I just want to fuck Jessica Biel. This is my selfish wish.”
RaginAsian Says:
Xamot: I don't know what he's trying to say. Is he saying the best fighters are in Japan? Dumb. Is he saying the best fighters are Japanese? Also erroneous. Maybe that the best fighters started in Japan? Holds a little water but not much. Someone needs to translate this clearly so I know which area I'm supposed to call Aoki a dumbass in.
Maybe it's meant to be calling out Ishii for being a traitor?
Ronnie Dobbs: Sure it does. But that fight was two years ago, whereas he got his teeth punched in by the same guy a few months ago. He should close that book before he starts opening new ones.
PaddyCakes Says:
Haha it said "Tnank You" at the end...
crookshark Says:
"I think the natural progression of the sport will favor strikers. Nothing to do with entertainment, it's just an easier way to finish the fight."
Well, I think that striking is the easier way to finish a fight if your opponent is also striking. Every energy can be used against you, just look at how Rashad neutralized Forrest's kicks. He caught one and dragged him down to the ground. Strikes are useless if you can catch a fist or a kick and use the force against your opponent. Good mma is not about 'easy', but about effective solutions. Strikes are terrible ways to win a real fight against a good wrestler, he will drag you down. Strikes are frankly the most bloody and the most obviously violent way to win a fight, but not the most effective. If you are facing a good striker in a fight, the best way to win is to turn their strikes into a handicap. I find Aoki interesting because he turns his opponents strikes into weaknesses. Every time you throw a punch, or a kick, he might grab your limb and break it. Striking might seem like an easy way to win a fight, but that is only true against someone who doesn't understand judo or wrestling or jujitsu.
The striking game is for the teenagers. Grappling is for the adults.
Steelcityslicker Says:
Crookshark you are an idiot who obviously does not understand a whole lot, outside of watching the UFC while masturbating to Rogan's voice........
When was the last time you saw a BJJ guy "catch a punch" besides using their face to do so? This isn't "Kung-Fu the LEgend continues", it's a real life combat sport.
Get your sorry fat ass to the gym and start learning about what you are preaching........
"Agreeing with Crookshank is for pre-pubescent boys, the rest of cagepotato is for men......"
rex quan dow Says:
crookshark that is so fucking stupid you need to come bye my dojo to see if you can catch yr teeth in mid air forget about it.this is the ufc look up what it stands for plus i would like to see evans catch a anderson silva head kick.if what you say is true why did chuck beat tito ass twice and randy twice randleman dominate the division only time he is beaten is on the feet.if you come to the ufc as just a wrestler with a jitz game yr ass is gona get knocked out i like how you base yr point on one fight and forrest looks shit on the ground forget about it.i could say matt huges vs thiago alves
rex quan dow Says:
and would u say to corry hiil that striking is the easiest way to finish a fight.i would rather be arm barred than kicked the shit out off not that anyone could do that to me forget about it .crook shark sounds like john mutua and what happend to that spacker forget about it.you best not fly solo anymore crook forget about it
crookshark Says:
thank you steelcityslicker and rex quan dow for proving my point precisely. steelcityslicker chooses to make his point with gay masturbation jokes, and rex quan dow wants to come 'bye' his dojo and fight him. definitely, you are both grown up adult men, and not teenage pock marked semi literate morons. thank you for illustrating my argument.
Steelcityslicker Says:
Crookshark, why the fuck do you bother watching MIXED martial arts if you are only interested in grappling? Anybody who has ever competed in an MMA match knows that they need to be versed in all aspects of martial arts because any discipline can end a fight.
You are sitting here talking about the "most effective way to win a fight....." You are in idiot. You win a fight if you win a fight. The guy can tap or be ktfo......there is no such thing as an "effective way to win a fight." If you had any expereince at all in combat sports, you would realize that. I will continue to make gay masturbation jokes based on the fact that is how your life started..gay masturbation gone wrong.....
Look back recently at Dream 5, Aoki sure did exploit Hansen by catching all of those punches.........wth his face. I guess that he must have forgot to catch the punch in midair.....you fucking douchebag.
Anderson Silva, GSP, Lidell, Jackson, All great strikers and are the top of their weight classes, all amazing strikers who end fights the same way.
Get your bf's cock out of your ears and listen up. I am not disputing the fact that grappling/wrestling/jiujitsu is important in a MIXED MARTIAL ARTS MATCH. But it is by no means the most effective way to end a fight. you do what gets the job done you fucking pap smear...........
Hey, I hear Tapout is having a half off sale......gotta go!
Steelcityslicker Says:
PS - Your original argument had nothing to do with either myself or Rex being "teenage pock marked semi literate morons."
It's not nice to call someone names cockgobbler. Sorry if I hurt your feelings while making my point you fat bitch.
Suck it up nancy boy!!
rex quan dow Says:
steelcitysliker and rex quan dow 1 crook shark 0 tell yr mum to get a fucking shave too you windowlicker picture me doing a round house with my gsp pants on forget about it.
crookshark Says:
jeez mr steel, you sure have gone and gotten yourself all worked into a tizzy. let me clarify, my semi literate comment was directed at rex quan dow. the poor child can barely string two sentences together, i think he's gotten beat about the head a few too many times. i hope he has good health care. you, on the other hand, are a moron. i say that because you are a complete homophobe, and its pathetic. people like you will sound like the racist segregationists of the past in the very near future, and you bring shame to the entire sport of mma.
Steelcityslicker Says:
Clarify?? You fucknut........You clearly called me a "teenage pock marked semi literate moron." Lay off, I have feelings too you shaftsmoker. That wasn't very nice you know.
Am I worked into a "tizzy?" Nope.........won't happen. I enjoy calling out BS'ers like yourself.........You sit behind your moniter, all pasty-faced from lack of sunlight, the juice from your double stuffed burrito dripping down your chin acting like you know it all on an MMA website trying to make yourself into something you are not...........You think that by remaining calm and attempting to appear mature you can hide your lack of knowledge. Argue the points you quiff.
Next you will be telling me that you are a Dr. and make tonnes of $$, drive expensive cars, are 6'6" and bench press 500lbs.....yeah I know you, and your type. The reality of it though is that you are probably having a hissy fit in your parent’s basement because someone called you on your BS remarks. ***You still have not defended your position BTW.....***
You are nothing but a failed abortion. Your mom should have used a metal coat hanger to scrape out her insides instead of one of the plastic ones when you were in-utero. That way you would have been born stillborn, like you were supposed to, instead of being born half retarded like you are now......
And to clarify, no I am not a homophobe, I love Lesbians - they are the greatest invention EVER!! But thanks! Seriously, I am the farthest thing away from a Homophobe, so don't bother trying to push your hate on me.
How about arguing your point nuthugger?
Anonymous Says:
I think "Steelcityslicker" plays with himself to much!
Dana White Says:
Let him fight Nick Diaz first then we can talk BJ .
Steelcityslicker Says:
Yeah so far I am the only one that I have found that can please me the way I want to be pleased!
"Anonymous" (aka crookshark) you want to see if you can meet all my desires? Email me and lets hook up ok?
wink wink
rex quan dow Says:
i still say we should kill him forget about it.and yea everyone i carnt spell good but at least i no my mma not like peter pan over here who thinks fighters can do a van damme and catch punches.next they should be coming out with cheesy one liners when they do it like you forgot to take yr medication ha ha ha or remember my brother.crook shark we dont like love piss drinkers so fucking do one you mupet go suck yr boyfriends cock while you watch kickboxer for the 789th time.before i anti up and burn yr house down and patrick smith yr ass on yr lawn when you come running out with flames on yr back.you fucking meff
Steelcityslicker Says:
Yeah I take it Crookshank has no intention of trying to justify his comments. It's ok though, he has been exposed for what he is.
Mertz Pertz Says:
I don't speak Japanese but i do understand Korea. The lady that was speaking over was translating in Korean. She never mentioned about Dana White or Japan MMA is the best. He said number one MMA in America i have been there and I will be top in Japan.
Lost in translation.
Lovely Says:
I've been around the sport of wrestling for a long time. Not big into MMA but whatever. I will say that I can recognize and appreciate high talent when I see it. You can say whatever you want. When I watch the likes of Gomi and Aoki, I see incredible talent and these guys don't lose very often. They make the best of them let out public squeals of pain for the whole world to see...Alvarez, hansen and the rest. Again, you can say what you want, until America becomes un-pucified we wont defeat these guys who have been competing since they were 9. We used to have powerfully strong wrestling programs that put out grapplers that would destroy these guys. I.E. Brands brothers, Steiners, schultz, etc. etc. Sadly those days are gone for now. Does the U.S. still have it? I don't think so.
Lovely,
Out
Douchebaggery Says:
Aoki is a fucking faggot.