DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki will face one-time UFC fighter Antonio McKee, (not Jamie Varner) at DREAM 17 to complete the fight card for the “Fight for Japan” event on May 29 in Saitama, Japan.
Aoki (27-5) submitted Lyle Beerbohm in 93-seconds at Strikeforce in April for his fourth-straight win, while McKee (25-4-2) dropped his UFC debut to Jacob Volkmann in January to snap a 15-fight unbeaten streak.
DREAM 17 also includes a bantamweight grand prix, as well as Joachim Hansen vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida and Caol Uno vs. Akiyo “Wicky” Nishiura.
Update:
Veteran MMA fighter Antonio McKee has been forced off DREAM 17 with visa issues. According to MMAJunkie, there is no word on whether or not his opponent, Shinya Aoki, will remain on the card but DREAM does have a history of finding quick replacements.
McKee is the second opponent to have to pull out of the May 29 card due to visa issues, as Willamy Freire had to pull out of the card as well. Former WEC champion Jamie Varner had been a possible opponent for Aoki earlier in the month but Varner fought this past Friday at Xtreme Fighting Organization 39. While the fight was a quick submission victory for Varner, travel issues will likely keep off the former WEC champion off the card.
DREAM 17 “Fight for Japan” will be held May 29 at the Saitama Super Arena Hall in Saitama, Japan. The card will mark the start of DREAM’s bantamweight tournament and will be the promotion’s first fight card since before the March earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan.
Update #2:
The Ultimate Fighter 8′s Shane Nelson has replaced fellow UFC veteran Antonio McKee and will face DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at “DREAM 17: Fight for Japan” on May 29 in Saitama, Japan, MMAjunkie reports.
Nelson (13-5) was cut by the UFC after losses to Aaron Riley and Matt Wiman dropped him to 2-2 inside the Octagon, but bounced back over Jai Bradney in Australia in March.
Update #3:
UFC veteran Rich Clementi has agreed to face DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at “DREAM 17: Fight for Japan,” just hours after The Ultimate Fighter 8′s Shane Nelson had replaced Antonio McKee on the May 29 event in Saitama, Japan.
Clementi follows Nelson, McKee, former WEC champ Jamie Varner, and UFC vet Willamy Freire as rumored opponents for Aoki. Clementi (40-19-1) is 7-5 since his 5-5 UFC career ended in 2009.
