Shinya Aoki
Competes in: ONE Championship, Rizin Federation
Is there any fighter based in Asia, who is better than Shinya Aoki? Nicknamed the “Tobikan Judan” or the ‘grandmaster of flying submissions,’ Aoki forces opponents to either tap or to get their limbs broken if they don’t. He’s considered one of the best — if not the best — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purists in MMA today, rivalling the talent of even one Demian Maia.
Roger Gracie of the Gracie fighting family grapples with Aoki at Evolve MMA on a regular basis and one time joked that he would either have Shinya change his list name to Gracie, or he’ll change his to Aoki. Gracie isn’t exaggerating either, once Aoki has an opponent on the ground, they’re pretty much done. The guys is just so crafty on the mats, he comes off as a grappling genius.
Aoki is the ONE Championship featherweight world champion, and he’s expected to make a defense of his title soon after not having competed for the promotion since last May when he defeated compatriot Koji Ando.
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