Shinya Aoki (青木 真也 Aoki Shin’ya?, born May 9, 1983) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee currently competing in ONE Championship’s and Rizin Fighting Federation’s[3][4] lightweight division. He is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion, ONE Lightweight Champion, former WAMMA Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Welterweight Champion.[5] Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. As of 2008, Aoki, along with DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari, and Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka have founded the “Nippon Top Team“ as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu championship, a Budo Open championship, and an ADCC Japan Championship.
vs.
Kazushi Sakuraba (桜庭 和志