Shinya Aoki Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Strikeforce

By FCF Staff

As expected would be the case, decorated vet and ONE FC lightweight champ Shinya Aoki, is dropping down to featherweight and will fight Cody Stevens at the promotion’s October 18th card in Singapore. Since the fight will be contested at 145 pounds it is a non-title affair.

The 30 year-old Aoki, who submitted Kotetsu Boku in April to become the ONE FC champion, was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion:

“I am dropping down to Featherweight for the first time in my career in this fight. I feel stronger and faster at this weight and I have my sights set on competing against all the top Featherweights and Lightweights that ONE FC puts in front of me. The weight cut will not be a problem for me and I am definitely ready for this challenge!”

The feared grappler and former DREAM champ is 9-1 in his last 10 fights, with his only loss during that stretch coming against former Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez.

Stevens (11-5-1) is coming off a UD win over Dustin Neace in August, and is 3-1-1 in his last five fights. The only competitor to defeat him during that stretch is current UFC featherweight Wilson Reis.

ONE FC has also announced that “Total Domination” will see Mitch Chilson take on featherweight Shannon Wiratchai, and flyweight Rene Catalan battle Khim Dima. The event, which will be hosted by Singapore Indoor Stadium, will be headlined by a bantamweight title unification fight between Bibiano Fernandes and Soo Chul Kim.