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Best Shinya Aoki Fights
Super RIZIN 5 gives us another reason to revisit MMA’s strangest great grappler.
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Shinya Aoki vs. Joachim Hansen III — DREAM 11
Aoki avenged an earlier knockout loss by taking Hansen down, advancing methodically and finishing with an armbar. The win completed DREAM’s lightweight grand-prix story.
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2.
Shinya Aoki vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri — DREAM 15
Kawajiri entered as a feared wrestler and was submitted with an Achilles lock in under two minutes. Aoki made an elite opponent’s strongest area look unsafe.
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3.
Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez I — Dynamite!! 2008
Alvarez brought speed and knockout power, but Aoki dragged the fight into a leg-lock exchange and finished quickly. The upset established him internationally.
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4.
Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka — DREAM New Year 2011
Kitaoka understood every grappling threat and still spent five rounds defending Aoki’s control. The patient decision showed championship craft beyond highlight submissions.
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5.
Shinya Aoki vs. Eduard Folayang II — ONE 92
Folayang had knocked Aoki out in their first meeting, but the rematch ended with immediate grappling pressure and an arm-triangle. Revenge arrived without unnecessary drama.
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6.
Shinya Aoki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba — RIZIN 2015
Two Japanese legends met on New Year’s Eve, and Aoki attacked Sakuraba’s damaged legs before a corner stoppage. The fight was uncomfortable, memorable and historically significant.
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7.
Shinya Aoki vs. John Lineker — ONE 165
Lineker’s power demanded caution, yet Aoki reached the clinch, took the back and submitted him. Age had not removed the basic danger of one clean grappling sequence.
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8.
Shinya Aoki vs. Akira Kikuchi I — Shooto
Kikuchi’s disciplined defense forced Aoki into a close tactical fight early in his career. The loss and later rematch help explain his development as a complete competitor.
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9.
Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias Cavalcante II — DREAM 2
After an illegal elbow ended their first meeting, Aoki controlled the rematch through grappling and positional pressure. The decision restored clarity to an unresolved rivalry.
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10.
Shinya Aoki vs. Kotetsu Boku — ONE 8
Boku hurt Aoki early, then surrendered his back during the scramble. The rear-naked choke delivered Aoki’s first ONE lightweight championship.
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▲ Ranked by community votes19 total votes