AOKI says no to UFC

[Jesse Bell]

AOKI decided to stay with One FC over UFC. Is that how 10 do?

[Chris Herzog]

Whats that have to do with 10? There had to be a number of factors in his choice.

[Joachim Hoff]

I like One FC rules.
The level of competition varies a lot. A lot of fighters are pro-debuting in ONE FC. It's sometimes shitty technique.
On the other hand they have elites like Aoki. They are building a rival organization from the ground up, and what it offers the viewer is close to NHB rules, that forces fighters to utilize the entire spectrum of MMA techniques, and I like that very much!

It's an attempt to ressurect Pride, just like Dream was. "Pride, "Dream", "One," the names the refs, the announcer..
I think Aoki could end up dominating in the UFC, or he could be just another contender. He'd have to move to get rid of jetlag, and I don't know about the pay. Plenty of factors I reckon,. Maybe he loves asian MMA and want to help build it?

I sure hope One pulls it off. I dig the UFC, but I want other big orgs as well, not just one of them.

[David Rosado]

The rules are better and the judging doesn't suck. The ufc is all about wrestlebox USA. He could own a guy from guard for three rounds and lose the match. I don't know why he made his choice, but I can understand a few reasons he'd choose to stay at one fc.

[Martin.Harris]

Let's be honest, Aoki is a bad ass but he can't take the UFC's elite fighters down to the ground (see the Gil Melendez fight). So if realistically he cannot win the UFC title, it makes more sense for him to stay close to home, win all/most of his fights and make some good money.

[Brent Smith]

AOKI decided to stay with One FC over UFC. Is that how 10 do?

One FC puts on a good show. I like the ability to soccer kick. Good for him for trying to help build another organization. Japanese fighters don't do the best in the UFC anyways.

[George Katechis]

wtf does that have to do with 10?? aoki is the baddest mother fucker in japan, and super famous. His contract is probably also ridiculous. Why would he leave his belt, fame, and awesomeness for less pay at the ufc, where no one knows him? plus aoki is one of my alltime favs, but i donno if he would be able to hang here at lightweight at the highest level.

[Jesse Bell]

I realize now that its easy to misinterpret what I meant by "how 10 do", firstly it was a joke, secondly I meant it as Aoki is rebellious which I believe is a characteristic of our system. Saying no to the UFC is exactly how 10 do. We find our own way and don't jump on the bandwagons of whats mainstream. Anyway, I'm happy to see One FC grow, thats an organization I can respect at times like these.

[Joachim Hoff]

Ah, that's what you meant! :-)

Should do all of them! :-) All the orgs!

In all fairness, the UFC is more than just wrestlebox.. I love the UFC, great fighters, and they established the sport of MMA in the publics eye forever! Gotta be at least thankful for that. I'm just sad when Japanese orgs buckle, it's a totally different ballgame, the events have a different feel to them. Sometimes the UFC becomes a little bit Circus-ish, whereas Pride for example would remind me of the Olympics in some weird way. (Disregarding the freak-fights, haha)

but I've always felt that MMA mimics a life and death pugilistic self defense scenario, and the less rules, the more close it is to the real thing, the dynamics change, I even think the action becomes more fast paced.
Knees to the head from sprawl is one hell of an incentive to pull guard forexample.
-I'd even bring back the headbutt if it was up to me.
(Probably not a good idea tho, fighters faces would be looking liked carved up beef at the end of their careers) :-p

[BIBIANO]

seems like Eddie is always talking about the main event of the UFC PPV as the most important stage for BJJ (and apparently I have a preference for three letter acronyms).