Shinya Aoki is now the newly minted Dream lightweight champion. After he defeated Joachim Hansen for the title, he once again called out the consensus #1 lightweight in the world, BJ Penn. My only comment can be, what?!
Never mind the fact that Aoki does not like fighting outside of the land of the rising sun and he has no interest in going to the UFC, but his chances against BJ Penn are about as likely as North Korea disarming themselves of nuclear weapons. As in not likely.
On the feet, Penn can be argued as the best boxer in the division. His ability to get in and out and slip and strike is unparalleled. Mix in his uncanny power and Aoki has about as good a chance staying upright of his own free will as the aformention nuclear disarmament. The stand up is not a friend to our resident Japanese human pretzel maker.
The wrestling is also a contest that favors Penn. While he isn't Kurt Angle, Penn is a severely underrated wrestler. His ability to avoid the takedown and put the fight where he wants is exceptional. See the Kenny Florian fight for how the takedown battle would play out against Aoki.
And finally, the jiu jitsu. The most evenly matched portion of the fight, and mostly a wash as either guy would likely cancel out the other. Although Aoki's defense on the ground is not spectacular, so there is a chance Penn would just pound him out on the ground. Overall, not a great night for the newly crowned Dream champion.
Any argument for Dream's light weight division being better than the UFC's is a farce. As good as guys like Calvancante, Hansen, Ishida and Aoki are, none of these men would beat a Sean Sherk, Frank Edgar, Kenny Florian or a BJ Penn. Natch.
Never mind the fact that Aoki does not like fighting outside of the land of the rising sun and he has no interest in going to the UFC, but his chances against BJ Penn are about as likely as North Korea disarming themselves of nuclear weapons. As in not likely.
On the feet, Penn can be argued as the best boxer in the division. His ability to get in and out and slip and strike is unparalleled. Mix in his uncanny power and Aoki has about as good a chance staying upright of his own free will as the aformention nuclear disarmament. The stand up is not a friend to our resident Japanese human pretzel maker.
The wrestling is also a contest that favors Penn. While he isn't Kurt Angle, Penn is a severely underrated wrestler. His ability to avoid the takedown and put the fight where he wants is exceptional. See the Kenny Florian fight for how the takedown battle would play out against Aoki.
And finally, the jiu jitsu. The most evenly matched portion of the fight, and mostly a wash as either guy would likely cancel out the other. Although Aoki's defense on the ground is not spectacular, so there is a chance Penn would just pound him out on the ground. Overall, not a great night for the newly crowned Dream champion.
Any argument for Dream's light weight division being better than the UFC's is a farce. As good as guys like Calvancante, Hansen, Ishida and Aoki are, none of these men would beat a Sean Sherk, Frank Edgar, Kenny Florian or a BJ Penn. Natch.
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Hi, I came across your site and wasn’t able to get an email address to contact you. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back and I would be happy to give you our link.
Thanks!
Frank
frank641w@gmail.com
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