Look Ma, No Tights: Shinya Aoki loses spandex for Strikeforce title fight
DREAM lightweight title holder Shinya Aoki has become synonymous with two things during his time spent in mixed martial arts: Jaw dropping submissions and flashy spandex. And while the eye dazzling submission specialist is free to throw up as many submission attempts as he sees fit when he clashes with Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce lightweight title in April, the trademark tights will have to remain in his closet in Japan.
Aoki revealed that he would not be allowed to use the spandex tights that he normally dons under Strikeforce rules during a recent DREAM press conference.
Not only will Aoki be leaving his tights that many argue increase his submission percentage out of the equation, but the April Strikeforce showdown with Melendez will also be The Tobikan Judan’s first appearance inside of a cage.
Melendez and Aoki will be fighting for only the Strikeforce portion of the lightweight crown, and not Shinya’s DREAM title.
The pair of champions will square off on April 17 during “Strikeforce: Shields vs. Henderson” on CBS.
Cory Brady is the managing editor of FiveOuncesOfPain.com, along with being a regular feature writer with Ultimate MMA Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/corybrady
| All posts by Cory Brady
What about knee braces and ankle braces like those that Satiropoulus used against Joe Stevenson? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aoki wearing something like them for the obvious reasons.
Well-Done.
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I guess this answers our question from yesterday ReceRock.
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Use the cage Gilbert…the cage.
Well-Done.
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fanoftna33,
Indeed. And I was surprised to find out it is his first time in a cage.
Well-Done.
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Get ready to be exposed Dream boy!!! Go Gilbert! I hope Aoki gets crushed.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Is it just me or in some pics does Shinya Aoki look like he brushes his teeth with sticks of butter?
While he’s over in the US maybe he should get a cleaning. : )
Hot debate. What do you think?
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HAHAHA!
Finally Aoki will be exposed
and hopefully people will start recognizing EL NINO’s talent
and put him in the top 5 LW at least
i still cant understand why Eddie Alvarez is ranked higher the Melendez
it makes no sense. Alvarez is good, tough, and a prospect but WAY overrated
Hot debate. What do you think?
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AHA AH AHA HAHAHA HAHA AHAH AAH AH!!!!!! your nick name is “extreme machine”!!! Sorry bud, couldn’t help myself… Totally got an image of macho man “Randy Savage” doing a slim-jim commercial!!
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Looks like all the Dream and Aoki haters have been…EXPOSED!.
Can’t see the cage making a big impact unless Melendez choses to do the Randy smother against it. I can’t see that happening and Melendez won’t be using it to take Aoki down to the too often either.
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I still say that Aoki better demand that El nino be toweled off & inspecte
at least Aoki doesn’t bathe in butter before he fights…
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That’s not butter it’s Soul Glow…
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Looking forward to seeing Aoki get smashed in this one.
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Why everyone thinks Aoki will get smashed is a mystery. I wont say that Aoki will win but he is by no means out classed here. I think many of you will be surprised.
Aoki by sub rd 2 or Melendez by hard fought dec. No smashing or Aoki being exposed at all.
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