User:JAStevens
Image: http://www.dreamofficial.com.
Image: Syohei Arai.
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Rich Clemente [sic] is gonna fight Aoki now | 
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—FEG USA President Mike Kogan | ||
News out of Tokyo points to Rich Clementi as Shinya Aoki's opponent at Sunday's Dream.17. With a string of pseudo-announcements preceding, FEG's Mike Kogan reports via Twitter that Clementi is Willamy Freire's final replacement.
Reports oscillated over the last week between (all recent UFC cast-offs) Jamie Varner, Antonio McKee and then Shane Nelson. While all were credible none passed the contract stages.
Lightweight submission dynamo Aoki comes off a terse victory over Lyle Beerbohm which followed an embarrassing and brutal defeat at the hands of "Jienotsu" Nagashima, after which Aoki considered retirement. Clementi, a former UFC mainstay, has seen mixed success after his dismissal from the league. He has gone 0.58 since his departure with notable matches against Reza Madadi (Superior Challenge lightweight championship) and Carey Vanier (Bellator lightweight tourney Qualifier).
Dream.17 takes place May 29th at Saitama Super Arena in suburban Tokyo. The focal point being an all-Japan Bantamweight tournament serving as the first leg of a larger contest to inaugurate the newly-christened division's champion.
- Mike Kogan. "@MikeKogan" — Twitter, 18 May 2011
- Tim Burke. "McKee Out, Rich Clementi in as Shinya Aoki's Dream Opponent [Updated]" — Bloody Elbow, 17 May 2011
- MMAjunkie.com Staff. "DREAM rep: Nelson out at DREAM.17, Clementi faces Aoki" — MMA Junkie, 18 May 2011