Sherdog.com is reporting that former WEC Lightweight champion Jamie Varner is in talks to face Dream Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at Dream 17.
Aoki was set to face Brazilian fighter Williamy Freire, but visa problems are preventing the 23-year-old from fighting on the card.
The Dream champion is riding a four-fight win streak, with his latest victory coming via a first-round neck crank submission against Lyle Beerbohm. That was Aoki’s first victory under the Strikeforce banner and his first win in the United States.
Varner has been on a bit of a skid as of late, having been dropped from the Zuffa organization after going 0-3-1 in his last four fights—his latest defeats include a title loss to Ben Henderson at WEC 46 and a submission loss to Shane Roller at the WEC’s last event before the merger with the UFC last December.
The former WEC champion is set to face Tyler Combs at XFO 39 next Friday, only a few weeks before the proposed bout with Aoki.
MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee was in discussions to replace Freire, but the 41-year-old appears to be off the card.
Dream 17 is scheduled for May 29th and includes the promotion’s first ever tournament at bantamweight. This is also the first event after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country only a few months ago.
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