Shinya Aoki will attempt to reach a historic milestone when he faces Hiroyuki Tetsuka in a lightweight MMA bout at ONE 173 in Tokyo, bringing their months-long social media rivalry into the ONE Championship Circle.
The 42-year-old submission specialist enters the November 16 showdown at Ariake Arena with 49 career victories, including 32 by submission across more than two decades of elite competition. A win over Tetsuka would mark the 50th victory of Aoki's legendary career while extending his current winning streak to three fights.
Aoki has demonstrated his grappling remains elite despite his age, submitting Eduard Folayang in just 53 seconds at ONE 172 in March after choking out John Lineker at ONE 165. Those performances showcased the suffocating submission game that has defined Aoki's career since he joined ONE Championship in 2012, where he has compiled 15 promotional victories with 13 finishes.
The Tokyo native's opponent has spent months building tension through verbal exchanges on social media and YouTube. Tetsuka appeared on Aoki's YouTube channel in March, questioning why Aoki had blocked him on social media in 2024. The back-and-forth escalated when Tetsuka posted his own video message calling out the legendary veteran.
"He's making fun of me. Don't run away," Tetsuka said.
Tetsuka will drop from welterweight to lightweight for the grudge match, seeking to halt a two-fight skid after losses to Isi Fitikefu and Zhang Lipeng ended his five-fight winning streak. The 35-year-old former Pancrase Welterweight Champion has earned six ONE Championship victories, with five coming by stoppage.
The Tochigi-based fighter from Yamada Dojo-TGFC has built his reputation as a dangerous finisher during his time with the promotion but faces a significant challenge against one of Japanese MMA's most decorated competitors. Aoki's 13 finishes in 15 ONE victories demonstrate the submission threat he presents, particularly to opponents willing to engage in grappling exchanges.
The personal animosity between the fighters has transformed what might have been a standard lightweight bout into one of the most anticipated all-Japan showdowns in recent memory. Both men represent different eras of Japanese martial arts excellence, with Aoki carrying the legacy of submission mastery built over decades while Tetsuka seeks to prove himself among his nation's elite.
