Current ONE FC lightweight champion and Japanese standout Shinya Aoki will not be joining Evolve MMA teammate Leandro Issa in the UFC. According to Aoki's trainer and Evolve founder Chatri Sityodtong, the UFC's offer to Aoki wasn't enough to move the needle.
The rumors are true. UFC offered contracts to 3 fighters on the Evolve Fight Team: Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng, and Leandro Brodinho. After careful reflection, Shinya and Eddie have both decided to stay in ONE FC due to more favorable economics. Brodinho has not made a final decision yet and is currently thinking through everything.
Issa has since signed on, likely to compete at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore next January. Ng, who also opted to remain local for ONE FC, sounds as if money wasn't the only factor being weighed.
I consider myself a young fighter & believe that I'm not close to reaching my full potential. Do not misinterpret my decision regarding (1)
— Eddie Ng Magician (@Eddie_Magician) November 27, 2013
The UFC. Like many fighters, I want to fight for the UFC one day but when I do I want to make sure that I put my best foot forward. (2)
— Eddie Ng Magician (@Eddie_Magician) November 27, 2013
Aoki's decision, while disappointing to some fans, should come as no surprise to most. While Aoki's 11-2 record (34-6-1 overall) dating back to 2010 is impressive, those two losses were against top flight competition in the form of then Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and now Bellator 155-pound king Eddie Alvarez. Recently completing a move to featherweight with a decision win over Cody Stevens in October, Aoki seems content to break in his new division in the comfort of his own hemisphere. Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Ricardo Lamas, Frankie Edgar and a slew of others will all be waiting for him should he change his mind.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Machida Bros. Chinzo Machida credits his brother for his devastating flying knee knockout last weekend. "One week before the fight, Lyoto told me to work more on that. I trained it a little, but I didn't train the way it happened in the fight."
Everything to gain. Chuck Mindenhall explains why signing Rousimar Palhares lets WSOF create must-see action.
Number four? Gray Maynard says he'd move to featherweight for the chance to face Frankie Edgar again.
Momma's boy. Chael Sonnen's mother doesn't sound thrilled about her son spending any amount of time down in Brazil.
Punching Cyborg. A look at the warmer, less soul crushing side of Cris Cyborg.
MEDIA STEW
The 'Knockout Game' on Gracie Breakdown.
Nick The Tooth talks growing up with Dana White, wants you to buy his book.
GLORY 12 New York recap.
Headkicks, anyone?
Skip to 1:15.
Skip to 4:20.
New UFC signee Alp Ozkilic finishes Josh Robinson.
Great finish (skip to 1:00).
Charles Michael vs. Tales Alves at Premium Fight 3.
TWEETS
Dallas or Dublin?
Man I need a fight! Im pretty sure after nate and gray fight ill have a opponent. want @NateDiaz209 but it will prob be gray #nateknows
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 26, 2013
@DiegoSanchezUFC Only reason you haven't been cut 2 Bellator, with the other has-beens, is because you defend shots with your nose. 0-4 #CUT
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 27, 2013
@DiegoSanchezUFC My comeback fight will be Dublin next year. Its a done deal. McGregor Vs Sanchez. Ireland Vs Mexico. @danawhite Lets do it.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 27, 2013
@TheNotoriousMMA @danawhite see talks shit but when the challenge is laid out he crawls back into his little shell. #dallas #letsdoit
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 27, 2013
@DiegoSanchezUFC @danawhite You brain dead, stuttering fool. Read the fine print. And put your bib on so you don't drool on my tweets.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 27, 2013
Good room.
JJ practice with my friends and brothers of the ACTS very good I am so very happy JJ. Thank you brothers pic.twitter.com/Gv2G0X10yy
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) November 27, 2013
It's official.
I just signed a contract with the WSOF, one of the biggest MMA organizations in the world. pic.twitter.com/E4RVSoqeAc
— Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) November 26, 2013
As good as a call.
Dear @DanaWhite Please let me fight @bisping I hope you have a very nice day. Tim k
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 26, 2013
Most, impressive.
DB Drop to Box Jump . #Explosive https://t.co/qooIC6KJxN
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) November 26, 2013
I just wanna see more of this hoodie.
Signing my UFC Contract yesterday :) very excited can't wait to get in the cage! pic.twitter.com/xLRIdOYfkb
— Ben 'Manimal' Wall (@BenWallMMA) November 27, 2013
Although not as popular.
I would love to come across a group of these kids playing the #knockoutgame so I could introduce them to the curb stomp game!
— Trevor Smith (@trevorsmithmma) November 26, 2013
Oh, Rampage.
"@melilomariareal: @rampage4real in my Bday !!! http://t.co/HZj7ySA5xn" That's a great pic! Haha
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) November 26, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Nov. 26 2013)
Ryan Chiappe out, Ryan Dickson vs. Marcus Vinicius at WSOF 7
Cristiano Marcello vs. Joe Proctor slated for UFC Fight Night 36
Viscardi Andrade vs. Nicholas Musoke at UFC Fight Night 36
Yoel Romero vs. Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night 35
Vinc Pichel vs. Garett Whiteley at UFC Fight Night 35
John Moraga out, Alp Ozkilic vs. Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 9
Dustin Kimura vs. Jon Delos Reyes at UFC Fight Night 34
Mairbek Taisumov vs. Tae Hyun Bang at UFC Fight Night 34
Royston Wee vs. Dave Galera at UFC Fight Night 34
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via GRooveS_ARG.
A case for a Global MMA Commission
In the last couple of months the issue around judging and scoring has intensified in the MMA community due to recent controversial decisions. In the below post I detail what I believe is the solution to this complex issue. I'm not a writer, so you will see the impact of that. I'm an Operations and Systems Manager in a major US Corporation, where I believe a lot of the main concepts I use on a daily basis apply directly to the task at hand.
I've read countless articles from other writers (bloggers, reporters, etc) on how to solve this issue, but mostly read on solutions on how to minimize the symptoms, instead of how to treat the disease. Incompetent judges, over simplified rules, misuse of set guidelines are all symptoms to the cause that needs to be identified.
The question to cover is who is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the unified rules of MMA? Athletic Commissions, at least in the US, are at a state level. In other countries, are at a federal level. Still, there is a lot of decentralization having to deal with hundreds of entities to get a change through and applied globally providing an uneven quality of the product, and therefore opening the question of if a win in one place comparable with a place in the next? Is the result as legit if being overseen by a Commission versus a Promoter? Would the same fight have a different result under a different set of rules?
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.