DREAM lightweight champ Shinya Aoki (27-5, 1NC) has confirmed with MMA-Japan.com that a bout with former WEC champ Jamie Varner has been scrapped. Aoki did not provide them with any information on a new opponent.
The DREAM champ is scheduled to fight on the upcoming DREAM: Fight for Japan event set to take place at the end of this month on May 29 at the Saitama Super Arena Hall in Saitama, Japan. The event features the quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds, of a Japan Bantamweight Grand Prix Tournament. Bouts for the final and third place will take place in July, with the top three fighters advancing to the DREAM World Bantamweight Tournament set for sometime this fall.
DREAM had been in talks with Varner, who is scheduled to fight on a XFO card this coming weekend, and had also been in talks with former MFC champ Antonio McKee. Brazilian Willamy Freire had been scheduled as Aoki’s original opponent, but Visa issues forced him out of the fight. This issue may be the catalyst preventing DREAM from securing either Varner or McKee as an opponent.
Aoki has four three straight mma bouts since his loss to Gilbert Melendez last year for the Strikeforce title. Since then Aoki has earned victories over Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.15, Marcus Aurelio at DREAM.16, Yokthai Sithoar at a DEEP: 50 event, and earned his first victory on U.S. soil by submitting Lyle Beerbohm at the Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley event.