Shinya Aoki says “there is nothing” for Akiyama to do if he retires from MMA
There is an eight-year age difference between two opposing Japanese MMA legends in Shinya Aoki and Yoshihiro Akiyama, but what is age really, aside from a number?
At ONE Championship‘s 10-year-anniversary card “ONE: X” on Saturday, the 38-year-old Aoki will meet 46-year-old Akiyama in a matchup that has fans across the globe excited for the pairing.
Aoki has near 50 pro fights as opposed to his elder, Akiyama, who has 22. Add to the fact that has just one win since 2015 and it would appear on paper that Shinya Aoki is the favorite to win on March 26.
“Yeah, he doesn’t [have much time left],” Aoki said about Akiyama in advance of this weekend’s contest. “I don’t think Akiyama should retire after this fight because there is nothing [for him] to do after his MMA career. So, I don’t encourage him to retire.”
Aoki was the one who called Akiyama out for the fight, and while there may be some bad blood ahead of the contest, it also seems that he cares about his opponent’s future.
ONE X: Part II will broadcast live and free on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE’s YouTube channel, and ONE’s Facebook page at 5 p.m. SGT/5 a.m. ET.
Also, ONE X: Part I will broadcast live and free on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE’s YouTube channel, and ONE’s Facebook page at 1 p.m. SGT/1 a.m. ET.
ONE X Saturday, 26 March 2022
GRAND FINALE
ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship (C) Angela Lee vs. (1) Stamp Fairtex Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Special Rules Super-Fight Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Demetrious Johnson Flyweight: 125 LBS – 135 LBS
ONE Flyweight World Championship (C) Adriano Moraes vs. (2) Yuya Wakamatsu Flyweight: 125 LBS – 135 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts (3) Shinya Aoki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
Muay Thai Eduard Folayang vs. John Wayne Parr Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship (C) Superbon Singha Mawynn vs. (1) Marat Grigorian Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
PART II
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship (C) Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Felipe Lobo Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship (C) Capitan Petchyindee vs. (2) Hiroki Akimoto Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts (3) Ham Seo Hee vs. (2) Denice Zamboanga Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts Itsuki Hirata vs. Jihin Radzuan Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts (1) Kim Jae Woong vs. (4) Tang Kai Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
PART I
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship Final (4) Chingiz Allazov vs. (3) Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
Submission Grappling Reinier de Ridder vs. Andre Galvao Middleweight: 185 LBS – 205 LBS
Muay Thai Nieky Holzken vs. Sinsamut Klinmee Lightweight: 155 LBS – 170 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts (5) Lito Adiwang vs. Jeremy Miado Strawweight: 115 LBS – 125 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts (3) Stephen Loman vs. Shoko Sato Bantamweight: 135 LBS – 145 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts Amir Khan vs. Ryogo Takahashi Featherweight: 145 LBS – 155 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts Kang Ji Won vs. Paul Elliott Heavyweight: 225 LBS – 265 LBS
Submission Grappling Mei Yamaguchi vs. Danielle Kelly Atomweight: 105 LBS – 115 LBS
Mixed Martial Arts Ryuto Sawada vs. Senzo Ikeda Strawweight: 115 LBS – 125 LBS
