Shinya Aoki Possibly Fighting for StrikeForce in 2010

Published on: 6th November, 2009

Shinya Aoki Possibly Fighting for StrikeForce in 2010   | read this item

With the alliance between StrikeForce and DREAM emerging as a good partnership there is now a strong possibility that current DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki will be competing for the California based promotion in North America in the early parts of 2010.

StrikeForce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the news earlier today with Sherdog.com saying that Aoki could be making his MMA debut in US soil starting next year.

“He’s fought for Dream and we’re hoping he’s one of the guys that we can bring over to our stable in the first quarter,” said Coker.

Coker also added that Aoki will be in attendance for the StrikeForce “Fedor vs Rogers” card tomorrow night from the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois which is just outside the “Windy City” of Chicago.

Last month while meeting with DREAM officials in Japan, Coker has begun a negotiating process with DREAM in order to bring Aoki into the StrikeForce fold.

“It’s not so much you send me this guy and I’ll send you that guy,” said Coker of the arrangement. “It’s more of an open-door policy and we’ll certainly reciprocate.”

Aoki recently defeated former lightweight champion Joachim ‘Hellboy’ Hansen last month at DREAM 11 and could be expected to be competing in the year ending Dynamite card on New Year’s Eve, but like Takanori Gomi will it be Aoki’s send off fight in Japan for the last time?

Still, with all that said the plans for Aoki competing under the StrikeForce banner will more than likely put him in a title bout with the winner of the Josh Thomson vs Gilbert Melendez rematch which could possibly go down at next month’s StrikeForce “Evolution” fight card on Showtime, but adding Aoki to the StrikeForce stable will show that the promotion along with the help of DREAM is here to stay and compete with the UFC for years to come.

 Nelson Rodriguez AKA: Nelo2.0 is the Co - Owner of URDirt.com who is also an Editor and Author on the site. Read more from this author

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