Online clashes are becoming a reality inside the ring as individual ego meets professional challenge. Following months of intense exchanges that intrigued Japanese fans, Shinya Aoki will finally answer Hiroyuki Tetsuka.
On Sunday, November 16, at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, the renowned submission artist will face the powerful former Pancrase Welterweight Champion in lightweight MMA action. This all-Japanese face-off is more than just another bout on a packed schedule. The two have been trading words on different platforms, cultivating genuine hostility that will surely result in an explosive encounter once the cage is sealed.
When Tetsuka appeared on Aoki’s YouTube channel last March, their rivalry began to intensify. They talked about various subjects, including their prior public challenges to one another. However, when Tetsuka questioned the legend about blocking him on social media in 2024, something that clearly troubled the younger fighter, things took a different route.
When Tetsuka released his own YouTube attack, their verbal conflict grew even more intense. He addressed Aoki directly in front of thousands of viewers, casting doubt on the veteran’s desire to fight him. The Tochigi native expressed his views on what he saw as avoidance from one of Japan’s most accomplished martial artists with utmost clarity.
Now, inside the Circle, they will settle everything with personal honor and national pride at stake. Aoki is going to bring his oppressive grappling skills and submission expertise into hostile territory against a dangerous finisher who is fearless.
“He’s mocking me. Don’t evade,” Tetsuka stated.
Against Tetsuka, Shinya Aoki strives for a historic 50th career triumph
Shinya Aoki enters this grudge match with a surge of momentum that would discourage the majority of rivals. The 42-year-old Tokyo native has an impressive 49-11 record that he has amassed over the course of two decades competing against the best athletes across the globe.
His submission wizardry speaks for itself, with nearly 50 victories and 32 tapout finishes. Since joining ONE Championship in 2012, Aoki has consistently overpowered opponents with amazing efficiency, securing 15 promotional victories with 13 of them ending in stoppages. The figures paint a picture of a fighter who hardly ever needs judges.
Perhaps his most remarkable performance is part of his current two-fight winning streak. At ONE 172 this past March, Aoki submitted Eduard Folayang in a mere 53 seconds. Following his rear-naked choke victory over John Lineker at ONE 165, this lightning-fast finish demonstrates that age has not diminished his deadly grappling prowess.
The legendary grappler faces a very different challenge in Tetsuka. The 35-year-old Yamada Dojo-TGFC product is reducing to lightweight specifically for this grudge match after having competed at welterweight for the duration of his ONE Championship career. He has six victories under his belt in the promotion, with five of them showcasing his knockout ability.
The former Pancrase Champion encountered hardship after experiencing a five-fight winning run. Back-to-back defeats against Isi Fitikefu and Zhang Lipeng put a halt to his momentum, but the tenacious Japanese star is returning more driven than ever. He sees this fight as a chance to silence a legend while establishing his position among Japan’s MMA elite.
