Aoki to Grapple with Akira at "DEEP-X" Event

[Grabaka]

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Friday, June 15, 2007
by Stephen Martinez ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

DEEP president Shigeru Saeki announced at a Tokyo press conference the participation of grappling ace Shinya Aoki (Pictures) in the main event of Saeki's new offshoot "DEEP-X," versus Pedro Akira on June 17.

DEEP-X will operate under similar rules used in jiu-jitsu tournaments: four points awarded for mount position or back-control; three points for passing guard; and two points for takedowns and sweeps. Rounds will consist of a four-minute first and second period, followed by a two-minute final phase.

Aoki, who was present at the press engagement, told the media that he wished to perform well at Sunday's event in light of the postponement of the Bushido Grand Prix. Aoki also stated that he would like to display his technique in the Ultimate Fighting Championship while representing the PRIDE organization, whose parent company Dream Stage Entertainment ceded operations to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta in March.

DEEP-X
June 17 at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan

80kg
Hidehiko Hasegawa (Pictures) vs. Max Fernandez

77kg
Shinya Aoki (Pictures) vs. Pedro Akira

68kg
Bruno Frazzato vs. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures)
Mauricio Souza vs. Hiroyuki Abe (Hiroyuki Abe' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures)
Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) vs. Takeshi Yamazaki (Pictures)
Atsuko Emoto (Pictures) vs. Yosuke Yamaki

58kg
Takuya Kitade vs. Ryota
Sotaro Yamada (Pictures) vs. Marcos Souza

49.5kg (Female match)
Sachi vs. Aiko Usizuka

[Uber]

Looks pretty good. DEEP is putting on a lot of shows. MMA, grappling, and DEEP Glove for kickboxing. Wow.

[Grabaka]

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NOTES FROM THE RISING SUN

Aoki-Akira Match Headlines DEEP X

By Gino Mongelli

DEEP aimed for a Marcelo Garcia-Shinya Aoki main event at DEEP X Sunday, but with Garcia now under K-1’s wing, Pedro Akira has been selected to face the dangerous submission wizard Aoki.

Aoki and Akira met before in the 2005 Campeonato Japones, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in which Aoki won via reverse biceps choke a little less than two minutes into the match. This time their bout will be conducted under MMA rules, and Akira will seek to avenge his loss to the Shooto and PRIDE veteran.

AOKI TO UFC?

Sports Navi reports that Shinya Aoki has been contacted by the UFC about participating in future events for the promotion. Aoki has stated that if he participates in the UFC he would like to do so as a representative of PRIDE.

Aoki started his professional MMA career in DEEP, where he won his first bout by armbar in 52 seconds. He then moved to Shooto and finally to PRIDE, where he won his last match over Brian Lo-A-Njoe in April.

“I want to shatter the idea of PRIDE as something bad or inferior,” Aoki said. “PRIDE is the greatest of events. I love PRIDE. If there is the opportunity to enter the UFC, I want to go as PRIDE’s Shinya Aoki.”

K-1 SEARCHES ABROAD FOR NEW TALENT

K-1 started a tryout program in China June 12 in an attempt to find hidden gems among the nation’s 1.3 billion people. There are reports that a total of 600 people have tried out so far. K-1 is hoping to see at least 1,000 men in their search for the next big thing.

From there, K-1 plans to pick the top five from Chinese, Korean and Japanese tryouts and have them compete, along with five seasoned K-1 fighters, in a “Tryout Survival” promotion in August.

POSTED -- 06/15/07

[Uber]

So the fight is MMA now?

[Grabaka]

So the fight is MMA now?

I'm confused as well. I don't know if the person that wrote the article thinks that because it's a match in DEEP that means it's MMA. DEEP-X is DEEP's new grappling event, which you know already.

I was more excited about the fact that the UFC has contacted Aoki.

[Uber]

I'm confused as well. I don't know if the person that wrote the article thinks that because it's a match in DEEP that means it's MMA. DEEP-X is DEEP's new grappling event, which you know already.

I was more excited about the fact that the UFC has contacted Aoki.

I'm very confused about this. But Aoki in UFC would be pretty cool. I think he could do quite well.