Shinya Aoki Will Simply Do What He Does Best In Bangkok

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki (41-8, 1 NC) is on the verge of reclaiming his coveted title.

However, in order for the Japanese superstar to obtain that title shot, he must defeat one of the most talented competitors in ONE Championship’s bustling lightweight division.

This coming Saturday, 6 October, he will square off against Ev “E.T.” Ting (15-4) at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES, which is set for the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

As a grappling wizard with a slew of mesmerizing submission victories under his belt, Aoki is no stranger to success.

In fact, 2018 has been one of the most fruitful years of the Japanese legend’s storied career, as he demonstrated supreme dominance.

The Tokyo, Japan-based legend ran through his recent opponents the best way he knows how – taking the bouts to the canvas and utilizing his unparalleled grappling.

That led to him submitting Yakhyaev via triangle choke in May, and then using his devastating ground and pound to beat Wiratchai via TKO in July.

“I really didn’t do anything special in preparation for those fights,” the 35-year-old deadpans.

“There is an element of luck in these things, certainly. You cannot excel in your job unless luck is on your side, but I am simply doing what I do best.”

Whatever the veteran submission specialist attributes the incredible run to, he is certainly in a league of his own as a martial artist.

Aoki is one of the most cerebral athletes in the sport, and his hyper-focused offensive finesse has been masterfully displayed in his three victories this year, including a Grappling Super-Match win over former featherweight king Marat Gafurov in January.

The same fire from within the Japanese legend will now be directed towards “E.T.”

Ting, a crisp and dynamic striker with potent grappling, is on a three-bout win streak.

The 29-year-old Malaysia-born Kiwi has used a high-volume striking attack to knock out former welterweight titleholder Nobutatsu Suzuki in August 2017, before defeating top contenders Ariel Sexton and Koji Ando by decision.

Facing a formidable stand-up practitioner in Ting, Aoki is cagey in divulging an assessment of his foe.

“I do not see any value in talking about the strengths and weaknesses of my opponent, and how I plan on fighting him,” states Aoki.

Aoki will keep his strategy to himself, but there is no doubt he will attempt to bring a riveting end to the match, just like he has done in his previous bouts this year.

The Japanese legend has competed against many elite-level mixed martial artists throughout his 15-year career, and has defeated premier lightweights for numerous belts.

Now in the thick of World Title contention, along with a new generation of talent in ONE Championship, “Tobikan Judan” does not fret over who his adversary is on any given night.

Whether it is challenging for the vacant ONE Lightweight World Title, facing Ting in a title eliminator, or testing his skills against other tough warriors, he is driven simply by his love for competition.

“Fighting,” he says, “is how I express myself.”