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"I believe that Japan is the No. 1 country in mixed martial arts, so I want to show that through this fight. Being the champion of two promotions, Dream and Strikeforce, that has a special meaning to me, to show Japan as No. 1... I'm training in a cage so I'll be ready for that. [Gilbert Melendez is] strong in every element. It's very difficult to find a weakness... My schedule is dependent on Dream so Dream will decide when I fight again. The United States is the biggest market so it's important for me to attract fans here and make a good impression in the U.S. market, but if I win the Strikeforce belt I am doing it for Dream and for Japan."
-DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki talks to Michael David Smith at MMAFighting.com about his April 17th bout with Gilbert Melendez and wanting to win to claim Japan's superiority.
Penick's Analysis: These are comments similar to those Aoki's made before about this bout, and again I have to say that he'll simply prove his superiority over Gilbert Melendez, and thus over Strikeforce's lightweights, should he win this fight. That's it. He's not fighting any of the top lightweights in the UFC, and until he does he's not taking on the best in the U.S. at 155 lbs. To truly establish himself as the best he needs to fight B.J. Penn, but until he enters the UFC and steps into the Octagon with B.J. that chance isn't going to happen.
FYI: In 15 stoppage victories for Aoki, all but one have come by way of submission.
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