Uma das tantas finalizações de Aoki. Foto: Susumu Nagao

Além de ser o grande ídolo do MMA japonês na atualidade, Shinya Aoki é um dos lutadores que melhor usa o Jiu-Jitsu nos ringues e cages. Das 24 vitórias, 15 foram por finalização.

Na última edição do Dream, neste sábado, o faixa-preta não fez diferente. Contra Tatsuya Kawajiri, tratou de encaixar o pé, de onde apertou até o adversário desistir, a 1min53s de luta.

Confira a finalização do campeão de leves do Dream:

One of Aoki's many submissions, in photo by Susumo Nagao

Besides being the biggest Japanese MMA star around these days, Shinya Aoki is one of the fighters to best apply Jiu-Jitsu in the rings and cages. Of his 24 wins, 15 have come by way of submission.

At the last installment of the Dream promotion, last Saturday, the black belt did no different. Against Tatsuya Kawajiri, he secured a hold on his opponent’s foot, and squeezed for the tapout at 1:52 min.

Check out the Dream lightweight champion’s submission hold:

Gesias in photo by Carlos Ozório

Gesias Cavalcante won the K-1 Hero’s Lightweight GP on two occasions, a feat that secured him a place ranked among the best in the world in the division. However, a string of injuries brought on the worst phase in the fighter’s career, when he suffered back-to-back losses and went over a year without stepping into the ring. This Saturday JZ, as he is known, had a hard fought battle against Katsunori Kikumo at Dream 15, which he won by split decision.

“First I’d like to thank God for all the lessons I learned during this time I was not fighting. It was a period of hard work, injuries, and a return to fighting… I’m really happy to be back against a great fighter. Kikuno is a great athlete. It was a pleasure, but I’m aching for more,” said the American Top Team representative.

At the press-conference, JZ, who may now also appear at the Strikeforce promotion, spoke of rival Shinya Aoki, who submitted Tatsuya Kawajiri on the same evening.

“Aoki’s dangerous, especially early on. If he sees the opportunity, he seizes it. He’s clever, doesn’t miss positions. Congratulations to him. He lost at Strikeforce and it’s good to see him back.”

Asked about the kicks he suffered at the hands of Kikuno, Gesias said playfully:

Gesias em foto de Carlos Ozório

Gesias Cavalcante venceu duas vezes o GP de Leves do K-1 Hero’s, feito que o garantiu entre os melhores do mundo na categoria. Entretanto, uma série de lesões trouxe a pior fase da carreira do lutador, quando acumulou duas derrotas seguidas e acabou afastado dos ringues por mais de um ano. Neste sábado, JZ, como é chamado, travou dura batalha contra Katsunori Kikuno no Dream 15, vencida por decisão dividida dos jurados.   

“Agradeço primeiro a Deus por todas as lições que aprendi neste tempo que fiquei fora. Foi muito tempo de trabalho duro, contusões, e voltar a lutar… Estou muito feliz por estar de volta contra um grande lutador. O Kikuno é um grande atleta. Foi um prazer, mas estou aqui com fome para mais”, disse o representante da American Top Team. 

Na coletiva de imprensa, JZ , que também deve se apresentar agora pelo Strikeforce, falou do rival Shinya Aoki, que finalizou Tatsuya Kawajiri na mesma noite. 

“O Aoki é perigoso, ainda mais no início. Se tiver uma oportunidade, ele pega. Ele é esperto, não perde as posições. Parabéns para ele. Ele vinha de derrota no Strikeforce e é bom vê-lo de volta.” 

Perguntado sobre os chutes que sofreu de kikuno, Gesias brincou: 

“Olhe só!”, disse rindo, enquanto levantava a camisa e contraía o abdome. 

Confira tudo na íntegra no vídeo abaixo: 

Aoki after winning by submission. Photo: Feg

Dream FC’s 15^th installment took place at the Saitama Super Arena this Saturday, in Japan.

In the evening’s main event, Japanese idol Shinya Aoki once again used his solid Jiu-Jitsu game to effect to win by submission. He overcame Tatsuya Kawajiri with a heelhook just 1:53 min into the bout.

In another much-awaited fight, Gesias Cavalcante made his return to the ring after a little over a year. The two-time K-1 Hero’s GP champion didn’t have it easy aganst Katsunori Kikuno and won by split judges’ decision.

Gesias celebrates. Photo: Feg

Another big winner was former Strikeforce champion Gerard Mousasi, who beat Jake O’Brien. The surprise of the night was Tatsuya Mizuno’s win over Melvin Manhoef, who once again showed his fragility on the ground and succumbed to a kimura lock.

Check out the complete results:

Kazuhiro Nakamura defeated Karl Amoussou via unanimous decision

Mitsuhiro Ishida defeated Daiki Hata via unanimous decision

Michihiro Omigawa submitted Young Sam Jung via guillotine at 7:31 min of R1

Tatsuya Mizuno submitted Melvin Manhoef via kimura at 7:38 min of R1

Gegard Mousasi submitted Jake O Brien via guillotine at 0:31 min of R1

Gesias Cavalcante defeated Katsunori Kikuno via split decision

Shinya Aoki submitted Tatsuya Kawajiri via heelhook at 1:53 min of R1

Rorion’s son will be the fifth family member to face the 40-year old Japanese star, who beat Royler, Renzo, Royce and now-departed Ryan, and lost to Royce in their last outing.

Saku against Royce in California, in a photo by Susumu Nagao. Now his fight is with the nephew, another hard-nosed fighter

A novelty in this affair is that the fight will be held in a cage, and not the ring where the classic showdowns with the Gracie family were held.

Sakuraba (26w, 12l, 1d, 2 NC) remarked on the matchup to take place in the Saitama Super Arena: “To me there isn’t much difference between a ring and a cage,” explained the fighter, who debuted in Dream’s cage in his last appearance. Before that, he had already fought in a cage at Ultimate Japan, in 1996.

“I never used the cage itself in my fight career, so I don’t know if I’m suited for the cage or not. But when I train here at my gym, people push me against the walls a lot, and that reminds me of fighting in a cage. We’ll see; my last fight took place entirely in the middle of the ring. Let’s see how I do now,” he said without further commentary, as reported by Tony Loiseleur, of Sherdog.com.

The Japanese fighter is riding a two-fight win streak, the last coming by way of kneebar on Zelg Galesic on October 9, at Dream 12, already in the cage. Now Ralek, 25, has two fights and two wins under his belt, both by armbar in the first round.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69oZ8lVu-x8

At Dream 14, veteran featherweights Yoshiro Maeda and Kenji Osawa will face off as well.

What about you, do you believe young Ralek can be the first to submit Sakuraba since his debut fight against Kimo Leopoldo in 1996?