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[Sakara=Excitement]

Aoki will be easy: Dream lightweight Antonio McKee interview exclusive with MMAmania.com - MMAmania.com

Antonio McKee is proving that it's never too late.

At 42 years old, he's preparing for the fight of his life against Japanese submission wizard Shinya Aoki at the upcoming end of the year blowout spectacular Dream 18 event in Tokyo which is being co-promoted with Glory.

The former MFC Lightweight champion and one-time UFC fighter has won three straight bouts since his release from the promotion including a unanimous decision victory over Chad Dietmeyer this past March.

Initially rumored to fight Aoki at the Dream 17 event in 2011, McKee was forced to back out with a training injury, but he's more than happy to take advantage of this opportunity at a second chance.

The smothering wrestler spoke to MMAmania.com during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission about his upcoming fight with Aoki, why he won't be submitted and what he'll do against Aoki that most fighters aren't capable of accomplishing in this exclusive interview.

Check it out:

Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This fight against Shinya Aoki has been quite a while in the making. It was originally supposed to happen in 2011 back at Dream 17 so do you feel like this is an opportunity to take care of some unfinished business?

Antonio McKee: Hey, you hit the nail right on the head. Finally finishing off some unfinished business. Nothing personal. I think it's gonna be an easy fight despite what everybody else thinks. What's gonna be tough about it? He's not a knockout specialist. He doesn't hit people to knock 'em out. He's a submission guy and I haven't been submitted in over 12 or 13 years. I've only been submitted once in my whole fight career as an amateur all the way up to being a pro. I'm not really worried about the submission. I've got a great training partner that really simulates him well, Jason Manly, who is more athletic than Aoki. This is like the Brian Cobb fight. I don't see a way around that Aoki can beat me. He can't take me down. He's not stronger than me. He's not faster than me. He's a real paced fighter. He's explosive when he attacks but if you shut down the attack, then what?

[mmawolverine]

i think he going to lose an arm but if he can beat aoki i would be very impressed, enough that he might deserve another chance with the ufc, nope maybe on second thought maybe bellator

[Qball1974]

Better hope Akoi didn't hear you say he'll be easy. You'll be taking your arm home in a suitcase!

[MIZjitsZOU]

Looking forward to the new years show. I don't watch a lot of K1 but I am looking forward to the one night tourney. Aoki will have a hard time if he can't get McKee down. McKee has good control. Should be a tough fight.

[joeodd2]

I think Mcgee is probably one of the best wrestlers in MMA. If Melendez could shut Aoki down, I think Mcgee could too. Aoki's game doesn't seem to really improve much...but who knows?

[ckauffman28]

he said the same thing about Jacob Volkmann

[mmafan111]

This article should be titled "Antonio McKee - Taking the P***"

He will most probably lose, he looked awful in the UFC, i hope Aoki breaks his arm and retires him.

Nothing but a blanket, hate that type of fighting, just boring to watch

I just checked the Dream card and seen Anderson Silva in the kickboxing bracket and almost choked on my beer before realising there is another Anderson Silva!!!

Dream 18 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[trustkill]

Originally Posted by MIZjitsZOU

Aoki will have a hard time if he can't get McKee down.

Besides takedowns, what else does McKee do on offense??? Aoki won't have to take him down, McKee will be looking to go there anyway, and when he does, he's getting his arm put on backwards or stepping out for a siesta.

Originally Posted by joeodd2

I think Mcgee is probably one of the best wrestlers in MMA. If Melendez could shut Aoki down, I think Mcgee could too. Aoki's game doesn't seem to really improve much...but who knows?

Melendez used boxing and footwork to avoid the ground game with Aoki, not wrestling. McKee is not even in the same universe as Gil in the stand-up. This match up is tailor-made for Aoki, especially if elbows are banned.

If McKee wants to survive this fight he should watch the Lyle Beerbohm vs Aoki fight and do the exact opposite of what Lyle did--avoid the clinch!!!!!

[Pasha K]

Looks like McKee has been learning from Sonnen.

[Sniggles]

Definitely looking forward to this. Always love watching Aoki compete.