Shinya Aoki in action in Japan: the Jiu-Jitsu star signed with Asua's biggest promotion. Photo: FEG publicity.

One FC is a world class event that has been shaking up the MMA market in Asia, of which Renato Babalu’s submission win there last Saturday is a case in point. Well the Singapore-based promotion has further bolstered its roster with another two big names with slick Jiu-Jitsu.

Three-time World Championship-winning black belt (2003/2005/2006) Bibiano Fernandes and lightweight Shinya Aoki were signed by the organization and already have a start date: August 31 in Manila, Philippines. Their opponents haven’t yet been announced.

“The Flash” from the Amazon holds a record of 11 wins in 14 fights, his last appearance coming at Japan’s now defunct Dream promotion, where on the Japanese New Year the Carlson Gracie Canada representative won the bantamweight GP, overcoming his countryman Rodolfo Marques by unanimous judges’ decision. Through to the final, and true to his moniker, he knocked out Antonio Banuelos 1:21 minutes into the fight.

Now Aoki, 29, has an extraordinary CV of his own. With 30 wins and just six losses—he has beaten beasts the likes of Joachim Hansen, Eddie Alvarez, Caol Uno and Gesias Cavalcante—the Japanese submission whiz is close to surpassing the iconic Rodrigo Minotauro’s finish record. Minotauro has 20 career submissions under his belt, while Aoki is at his coattails with 19, a record number of winning holds in world class MMA events.

In the following video unearthed by GRACIEMAG.com, Aoki demonstrates two of Jiu-Jitsu’s greatest qualities in practice—keeping calm and never giving up. The Japanese fighter labors away at positions and doesn’t despair when they escape him. Victory comes with patience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrpZukoOTIk

Shinya Aoki em ação no Japão: o astro do Jiu-Jitsu assinou com o maior evento da Ásia. Foto: FEG/Divulgação

O One FC é um evento de luxo que vem agitando o mercado do MMA na Ásia, vide a luta principal de Renato Babalu no último sábado, com vitória do astro brasileiro por finalização. Pois o show originário de Cingapura anunciou duas contratações de peso, donos de um Jiu-Jitsu afiado.

O magrinho Bibiano Fernandes, campeão mundial dos plumas de kimono (2003/05/06) e o peso leve Shinya Aoki foram contratados pela organização e já tem data para estrear. Será no evento do dia 31 de agosto, em Manilla, Filipinas. Eles ainda não têm oponentes definidos.

O amazonense “The Flash” está com um cartel de 11 vitórias em 14 combates, e sua última apresentação foi no Dream, no Japão. Na ocasião, durante o réveillon japonês, o representante da Carlson Gracie Canadá conquistou o GP dos galos, superando o compatriota Rodolfo Marques, por decisão unânime dos jurados. Na final, justificando o apelido, nocauteou Antonio Banuelos a 1min21s de combate.

Já Aoki, de 29 anos, possui um currículo fora-de-série. Com 30 triunfos e apenas seis derrotas – superou feras do naipe de Joachim Hansen, Eddie Alvarez, Caol Uno e Gesias Cavalcante – o japonês está perto de ultrapassar o icônico Rodrigo Minotauro no número de finalizações. Minota conta 20 finalizações, enquanto Aoki tem 19, um número recorde de chaves em eventos de MMA de elite.

No vídeo pescado pelo GRACIEMAG.com, você aprende com Aoki a colocar duas das principais qualidades do Jiu-Jitsu em prática, manter a calma e nunca desistir. O lutador nipônico trabalha as posições e não se desespera quando as perde. Com paciência, a vitória vem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrpZukoOTIk

Fredson em foto de Josh Hedges

Algumas feras da luta de chão estiveram em ação em lutas de Jiu-Jitsu sem kimono na UFC Fan Expo, que aconteceu paralelamente ao Ultimate 114, em Las Vegas. 

Entre os destaques, o tricampeão mundial Fredson Paixão, hoje no evento de MMA WEC, finalizou o japonês Caol Uno. Depois de abrir 4 a 2 no placar, o faixa-preta variou do omoplata para o armlock e definiu. 

Em outros combates, o lutador do WEC Shane Roller bateu o do UFC Takanori Gomi. Depois de dominar no chão e com quedas, Roller finalizou com um mata-leão. Já Jeff Glover derrotou o lutador do WEC Javer Velazquez por pontos.

Fredson in photo by Josh Hedges

Some grappling aces saw action in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu matches at the UFC Fan Expo this weekend in Las Vegas.

Among the standouts, three-time world champion Fredson Paixão, now a fighter for the WEC, submitted Japan’s Caol Uno. After notching 4 to 2 on the scorecards, the black belt transitioned from omoplata to armbar and brought the match to a close.

In other bouts, WEC fighter Shane Roller tapped out the UFC’s Takanori Gomi. After dominating the action on the ground and with takedowns, Roller finished up with a rear-naked choke. Now Jeff Glover overcame the WEC’s Javier Velazquez on points.

Hermes tira o kimono para lutar Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: East West Combat Club

Depois da aposentadoria no MMA, Hermes França disse ao GRACIEMAG.com que se dedicaria apenas ao Jiu-Jitsu (ver aqui). E é isso que o lutador tem feito.

Nosso GMA na East West Combat Club, Hermes estará em ação numa luta de Jiu-Jitsu sem kimono na UFC Fan Expo, que acontece nos dias 28 e 29 de maio, em Las Vegas, evento que é paralelo ao UFC 114. O faixa-preta terá Bill Cooper pela frente, aluno do nosso GMA Ricardo Miller, da Paragon BJJ.

E outras feras da luta de chão estarão em ação. O tricampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu Fredson Paixão, que se apresenta no WEC, enfrenta o japonês Caol Uno. Completando o card do desafio de chão, Shayna Baszler enfrenta a campeã do ADCC Penny Thomas e Jeff Glover encara Javier Vazquez.

Logo, Gomi não é mais o mesmo. E Kenny não morreu.

Nas 17 lutas de Kenny, 8 terminaram em mata-leão. Nessas, somente numa ele tomou o golpe, contra BJ Penn. Foto, do UFC 91, por Josh Hedges.

A luta principal do UFN 21, que levou o melhor do MMA à Carolina do Norte, foi entre o astro americano Kenny Florian e o ex-campeão japonês Takanori Gomi. O resultado foi o mais esperado, diante da falta de ritmo e constância do outrora temido Gomi.

Ambos haviam perdido de BJ Penn e isso poderia sinalizar que a luta era parelha. Mas MMA é momento. Kenny encaixou o mata-leão após ser melhor em pé, e Gomi bateu. Finalizado pela terceira vez na carreira.

Outro destaque da noite foi o potiguar Gleison Tibau, que confirmou a boa fase ao despachar o resistente Caol Uno.

Confira os resultados completos:

UFC Fight Night 21
31 de março de 2010
Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, Carolina do Norte, EUA

Charlie Brenneman venceu Jason High por decisão unânime dos jurados
Gerald Harris venceu Mario Miranda por nocaute técnico a 4min49s do 1R
Yushin Okami venceu Lucio Linhares por nocaute técnico a 2min47s do 2R
Gleison Tibau venceu Caol Uno por nocaute técnico aos 4min13s do 1R
Nik Lentz venceu Robert Emerson por decisão unânime
Jacob Volkmann venceu Ronys Torres na decisão dividida
André Winner venceu Rafaello Oliveira na decisão unânime
Ross Pearson venceu Dennis Siver na decisão unânime
Jorge Rivera venceu Nate Quarry por nocaute técnico a 29s do 2R
Roy Nelson venceu Stefan Struve a 39s de luta
Kenny Florian finalizou Takanori Gomi a 2min52s do 3R

Morango in UFC debut. Photo: Josh Hedges

Fabrício “Morango” Camões confirmed he will in fact be facing Kurt Pellegrino to GRACIEMAG.com. After drawing with Caol Uno in his UFC debut, in November of 2009, Morango relied on special help to not let victory slip through his fingers his next time around. On holiday in Rio de Janeiro, he took no rest and brushed up on his muay thai with Anderson Silva.

The fight with Pellegrino is set to take place March 27 at UFC 111 in New Jersey. Check out the interview with our GMA below, in which he addresses his adversary and, between the lines, he is yet another to confirm Anderson Silva’s April matchup.

Is your next opponent really Kurt Pellegrino?

That’s right. I just spoke with my manager and it’s all set. I’ll be back at UFC 111.

What do you think of this opponent?

What I tell everyone is that the best in the world are in the UFC. I went their to test myself against the best and again they gave me a big-name opponent. Kurt Pellegrino has had a lot of fights. But I don’t think there’s any mystery to him. I’m really well trained and I’m getting better in all aspects of fighting with every day, not just in Jiu-Jitsu, my mainstay.

Speaking of Jiu-Jitsu, Kurt is good on the ground. He’s gotten the finish in nine of his 14 wins. Will the fight play out on the ground?

I know he’s a grappler, that’s his strength. But, as I’m a Royler Gracie black belt, I think it would be really tough for him to surprise me on the ground. I have faith in my Jiu-Jitsu, I’m aware that’s the strong point in my game. But in there you have to look to define the fight and be ready to fight wherever the opponent is. For sure his having a lot of submissions indicates that we’ll likely work on the ground. It comes from the fighters’ tactics. Everyone wants the fight to go where they feel most comfortable. But I work at feeling comfortable everywhere.

What’s your analysis of the draw in your UFC debut against Caol Uno?

It wasn’t the result I expected. I returned home with a draw and I hope to take the win this time around. I threw an upkick that wasn’t allowed and I think the ref went a bit overboard. I’ve seen others do the same thing and they only had a warning. This time I’ll do whatever it takes to win, be it by submission or by knockout.

You spoke of getting the knockout. How is your standup game coming along?

I’ve been working on improving my standup. I’ve trained with Anderson Silva and the game at XGYM and we’ll work together when I get back to the States, too. I’m sharpening up my skills to fight everywhere. The thing is to improve and be a more complete athlete every time you get in there.

Are you still working with Royler?

I came back for the end-of-the-year holidays and to enjoy my family. This Sunday I’ll return to the United States, where I’ll carry on with training in San Diego. Royler should arrive at the end of January to work with us. As Anderson fights in April, I believe he’ll go the United States and we’ll intensify our training.

Ultimate 111 – At the same event the welterweight and heavyweight belts will be up for grabs (the heavyweight one being an interim belt) between Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy and Frank Mir versus Shane Carwin, respectively.

Check out the likely card:

UFC111
New Jersey, USA
March 27, 2010

Georges St. Pierre vs Dan Hardy
Shane Carwin vs Frank Mir
Thiago Alves vs Jon Fitch
Ricardo Almeida vs Matt Brown
Martin Kampmann vs Ben Saunders
Mark Bocek vs Jim Miller
Fabricio Camoes vs Kurt Pellegrino
Jared Hamman vs Rodney Wallace