The previously announced Aoki vs. Freire bout has been cancelled, as sources close to the situation have indicated that Freire was having visa issues and is unable to travel to Japan to face off with the Dream champ this May.
As a search for a new opponent is underway, the man at the top of the list appears to be none other than one-time UFC fighter Antonio McKee.
You guys should easily remember McKee as the brash MFC champion riding a 15 fight unbeaten streak. He was bold enough to call out BJ Penn for years and anyone who may step between him and his aspirations for a UFC title. It was upon his UFC debut that he was out-pointed by Jacob Volkmann and immediately released by the UFC.
It appears as if now he will get another chance at proving he is one of the division’s top fighters against Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki.
We last saw Shinya Aoki in a one sided domination over Strikeforce lightweight Lyle Beerbohm. Aoki has won his last four MMA matches consecutively including a quick submission victory over Tatsuya Kawajiri in 2010.
Dream 17: Fight For Japan takes place from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and will air live in North America on HDNet. The event is set to raise funds for the April earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan
