Antonio McKee Out of Fight Against Shinya Aoki in Dream

[Cookie Monster]

Posted on May 16, 2011 by MMAWeekly.com Staff
Antonio McKee - UFC 125


And just like that, Shinya Aoki is without an opponent once again.

Less than two days after Dream announced that former UFC and MFC fighter Antonio McKee had signed to face Aoki at Dream 17, he’s out.

Andrew Simon of HDNet Fights first announced the change via Twitter, and McKee’s manager also confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Monday that his fighter would not be fighting in Japan.

According to sources, McKee was unable to secure a visa in time to travel and fight in Japan.

McKee was one in a long line of fighters that Dream had contacted to face Aoki on the May 29 fight card. Former WEC champion Jamie Varner, as well as former WEC fighter Willamy Frieire, had also been contacted to take the fight, but it now appears all three are off the table.

There’s been no word if Aoki will remain on the card or not, but Dream has been known to pull in opponents, literally, with just hours remaining before a fight.

[AJ Camacho]

Damn, that would have been an interesting match up.

[Ryan Cotton]

Fear of the Rubber Guard perhaps???

[Andrew Maxwell]

Posted on MMAjunkie on May 16, 2011 at 7:15 pm ET

A DREAM representative told MMAjunkie.com he isn't buying the fighter's excuse.

"There's a travel agent in L.A. since this morning ready to get all the paperwork processed and have his visa processed by Thursday," said DREAM rep Mike Kogan. "He would have had plenty of time. So if it's a visa issue, he can get it done. If it's not, then his people need to come up with a better excuse."