Tag: Aoki Shinya

DREAM 17: Shinya Aoki Pulls out of Match with Shane Nelson to face Rich Clementi

As reported on BJPENN.com, Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has pulled out of his scheduled bout with Ultimate Fighter Alum Shane Nelson on May 29th at DREAM 17. Nelson, who just accepted the fight, was coming off a victory over Jai Bradney …

As reported on BJPENN.com, Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has pulled out of his scheduled bout with Ultimate Fighter Alum Shane Nelson on May 29th at DREAM 17. Nelson, who just accepted the fight, was coming off a victory over Jai Bradney at Nitro 2 on March 20th. 

Aoki, who is coming off his quick disposal of Lyle Beerboh at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley on April 9th, did not give a reason for the withdrawal. Instead of Nelson, he will face UFC veteran, Rich Clementi. Clementi is coming off a loss to Reza Madadi at Superior Challenge 7 on April 30th, and has lost 3 of his last 5 fights overall.

This is not the first change of opponents for Aoki on the DREAM 17 card. He was first scheduled to face Antonio McKee, who was also coming off a loss at UFC 125. McKee said he had Visa issues that forced him to pull out of the fight.

So, for now, it’s Aoki – Clementi at DREAM 17: Fight For Japan.

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Shinya Aoki vs. Jamie Varner Targeted for Dream 17

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-…

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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