Shinya Aoki reveals excitement to compete in Japan

SHINYA “Tobikan Judan” Aoki is a Japanese mixed martial arts legend – but behind that grappling wizardry of his is an athlete who carries a bag of emotions every time he competes.

As he prepares himself for his 54th professional match on Sunday, 13 October against Honorio “The Rock” Banario in the co-main event of ONE: CENTURY PART II, Aoki revealed nothing much has changed – and as always, he is ready to put on a show.

“I’m happy to be competing in Japan. It doesn’t matter who my opponent is,” the 36-year-old Evolve MMA representative said.

“It’s a little bit easier because I don’t have to go anywhere on an airplane, but I also like competing overseas. I don’t see [being in Tokyo] as an advantage. Whether it works as an advantage or a disadvantage is totally up to us as athletes.”

But analysts and fans know the former ONE Lightweight World Champion is near-unstoppable in “The Land of The Rising Sun.”

Aoki’s last defeat in Japan came in 2009, and a large chunk of his 43 career wins came in his hometown.

The most recent victory was against Banario’s teammate Eduard Folayang at ONE: A NEW ERA. The “Tobikan Judan” needed only less than three minutes to submit Folayang in front of his hometown fans.

Asked whether he could expect a similar showing from his adversary, he replied, “It doesn’t make any difference at all that they’re on the same team because they are different people.”

Despite the kind words and emotions running through his head, the Japanese warrior is keen to leave the iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan with a win. But first he has to settle what most athletes feel on event night – fear.

“[The fear] is sort of internal. I am battling against myself. I’m not scared of my opponent – it is scary to get in there and compete, to be judged.”

“This bout is scary, just like always. That doesn’t change against any opponent.”

ONE: CENTURY is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history as it brings multiple World Title bouts, a trio of World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches on one night.

Catch all the action of CENTURY PART I on Astro Arena at 8:00am Malaysia Time (MYT) on Sunday, 13 October. The main card starts at 11:00am MYT.

CENTURY PART II gets underway at 4:00pm Malaysia Time (MYT) on Astro Super Sports 2. All the main card action will continue on that channel, but RTM TV2 will cut-in to the live broadcast at 7:30pm MYT. Also, the show will air via special delay on Astro Arena at 11:30pm MYT.