Casparvdzouw
02-01-2009, 13:26
TOKYO -- Japanese submission expert Shinya Aoki made quick work of Eddie Alvarez on Wednesday in the co-main event of FEG’s “Dynamite 2008.” After the impressive showing, Aoki explained that the quickness of his victory was mostly due to his respect for Alvarez’s power.*
“The reason why I was able to get his leg was because I was really scared of his power. If he punched me, I thought he’d kill me,” said Aoki with a jovial laugh. “So instead, I thought I’d go straight to my finishing move.”*
Aoki was cagey when answering whether he and his peers at Nippon Top Team employ leg locks thanks to the notion that Western fighters aren’t proficient in defending them, yet his comments were telling given their evasiveness.*
“We are obsessive about developing the strongest grappling in MMA,” he said. “My finishing technique, the outside heel hook, is really difficult to finish in MMA. It’s not something I invented, but something that Masakazu Imanari has taught me. I think we are the best in researching the most effective submission techniques.”*
Aoki’s submission of Alvarez earned him the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts lightweight championship. Following his win, though, perhaps inadvertently Aoki drove the message home that even he still believed in the dominance of UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn.*
“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,” Aoki commented. “I respect the UFC because it’s a very high level organization -- a high summit in the sport.”*
The UFC lightweight king also figures into Aoki’s hopes for the as-yet uncertain future.*
Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com
After disposing of Eddie*
Alvarez, Shinya Aoki*
wants B.J. Penn.
“Personally, the most decisive fight in the world, the culmination, the pinnacle for me is B.J. Penn,” Aoki said on the eve of arguably his greatest victory. “Please do not misunderstand -- I really need this to be clearly expressed in the media: Shinya Aoki will not go to the UFC. 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.”*
Alvarez was unavailable for postfight comment because he was being held at a nearby hospital for observation, according to Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara. While there appeared to be no bone damage to the American bruiser, Sasahara stated that Alvarez suffered ligament damage and would likely require several months to recove
“The reason why I was able to get his leg was because I was really scared of his power. If he punched me, I thought he’d kill me,” said Aoki with a jovial laugh. “So instead, I thought I’d go straight to my finishing move.”*
Aoki was cagey when answering whether he and his peers at Nippon Top Team employ leg locks thanks to the notion that Western fighters aren’t proficient in defending them, yet his comments were telling given their evasiveness.*
“We are obsessive about developing the strongest grappling in MMA,” he said. “My finishing technique, the outside heel hook, is really difficult to finish in MMA. It’s not something I invented, but something that Masakazu Imanari has taught me. I think we are the best in researching the most effective submission techniques.”*
Aoki’s submission of Alvarez earned him the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts lightweight championship. Following his win, though, perhaps inadvertently Aoki drove the message home that even he still believed in the dominance of UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn.*
“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,” Aoki commented. “I respect the UFC because it’s a very high level organization -- a high summit in the sport.”*
The UFC lightweight king also figures into Aoki’s hopes for the as-yet uncertain future.*
Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com
After disposing of Eddie*
Alvarez, Shinya Aoki*
wants B.J. Penn.
“Personally, the most decisive fight in the world, the culmination, the pinnacle for me is B.J. Penn,” Aoki said on the eve of arguably his greatest victory. “Please do not misunderstand -- I really need this to be clearly expressed in the media: Shinya Aoki will not go to the UFC. 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.”*
Alvarez was unavailable for postfight comment because he was being held at a nearby hospital for observation, according to Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara. While there appeared to be no bone damage to the American bruiser, Sasahara stated that Alvarez suffered ligament damage and would likely require several months to recove