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If you have been following the world of Mixed Martial Arts for some time, you learn that many fighters’ names are commonplace in the vast field of terminology, for both good and bad reasons.  Names like Tito Ortiz, Georges St. Pierre and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson instill memories of history-making fights, wondrous highlights and even the occasional controversy.


One name that has not made the impact in America it should have is Shinya Aoki. With a record of 23-4-1, 14 of those victories coming by submission, black belts in Judo and BJJ, Aoki has had Japanese viewers on the edge of their seats through the PRIDE era and currently holds titles in DREAM, Shooto and is the WAMMA lightweight champion. Being considered the number 2 lightweight in the world, I take the time to watch as much of this submission master as I can, for when you watch him compete, you witness a man who earned said titles through precise technique and unrivalled emotion.


However, Aoki’s passion for the fight earned him some heat as of lately.  The event: Dynamite!! 2009. As one of Japan’s biggest events of the year, Dynamite pits champions of different organizations against each other; the best of the best for a night of incredible action. Aoki’s opponent was Mizuto Hirota, the lightweight champ from Sengoku. Within the first 15 seconds, Aoki shot for Hirota’s legs and sat him down fast. After a minute of positioning, Aoki had full mount and had sunk in a schoolyard hammerlock on the right arm of Hirota. Similar to Mir – Silvia, Hirota wouldn’t tap and Aoki had only one option, to force the match to end. What we witnessed next caused many pints of blood to boil as Aoki proceeded to break Hirota’s arm, stand up, and then flip off Hirota and his corner.


Anyone with a sense of sportsmanship can agree this was unnecessary. In a country such as Japan, honor and respect is so deeply laced into its culture, that such actions can affect not just your purse, but your home life. From what I understand, Aoki has been removed as a teacher at Paraestra Tokyo and has had to issue numerous apologies to Hirota and DREAM for his actions. Personally, I’m on Aoki’s side. I know that if I had someone in a hammerlock and the only option to collect the winning purse was to break my opponent’s arm, not only would I do it, but I would be livid that my foe didn’t have the respect for his body and career to say “when”. I do not condone foul sportsmanship, ever. I do, however, know how much adrenaline pumps through someone when they are faced with the prospect of getting punched in the jaw. As I said before, Aoki’s passion and pride is unmatched, and that with the rush of competing, a dash of personal rivalry, and the bliss of victory makes a deadly cocktail for anyone’s ego. Just look at Lesnar’s rematch with Mir!


In closing, I hope that people would just cut the man a break. It’s over with, Aoki did what he had to win, and he still remains one of the best submission artists we will ever see in the sport. I suggest everyone check Aoki out, and pray that Strikeforce or the UFC can bring him state-side in the near future.

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