Two longtime rivals will lastly settle their variations on March 26.
A matchup pitting Shinya Aoki towards Yoshihiro Akiyama has been finalized for ONE Championship’s upcoming ONE X occasion, MMA Combating’s Damon Martin confirmed Wednesday following an preliminary report by Ariel Helwani. The promotion billed the competition as a “Japanese MMA Legends Battle” which shall be contested at 170 kilos.
Aoki memorably known as out Akiyama with a dramatic promo this previous October following a grappling match at a Street to ONE occasion in Japan, which will be seen under.
Aoki (47-9, 1 NC) is a two-time ONE light-weight champion. The 38-year-old submission specialist has received 4 consecutive bouts, most not too long ago scoring a first-round armbar end over Eduard Folayang at ONE on TNT 4 in April 2021.
Affectionately nicknamed “Sexyama,” the 46-year-old Akiyama (15-7, 2 NC) has not competed since defeating Sherif Mohamed through first-round knockout in February 2020. A longtime MMA veteran, Akiyama is greatest recognized for a seven-fight UFC run that noticed him money three ‘Battle of the Evening’ bonuses and face off towards the likes of Michael Bisping, Vitor Belfort, and Chris Leben.
ONE X is scheduled to happen on the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. The occasion is headlined by an atomweight title conflict between Angela Lee and Stamp Fairtex, and in addition includes a particular guidelines between former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson and Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
