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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Though it was reported over the weekend that a bout between Jamie Varner and Shinya Aoki was all but finalized for DREAM 17 later this month, MMAWeekly.com now reports that the fight is looking more and more unlikely.
Per Varner's management at KO Reps, Varner has not signed a contract for the fight, and it's looking less likely that one will be signed for the fight. Varner has a scheduled fight this weekend at an XFO event in Illinois that he'll be taking regardless of whether he signs on for this one or not.
Antonio McKee has also been contacted about the fight, but has not signed on himself, leaving Aoki without an opponent at this time with Willamy Freire being unable to get a visa to take the fight in Japan.
Penick's Analysis: It's unfortunate that they haven't been able to lock a fight up for Aoki for the card, as this bout with Varner would have been a good one. Perhaps they'll still get it together, and it's not quite dead in the water yet, but this might end up with Aoki fighting someone even further down the ladder, if anyone at all, if they can't get this together.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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