![[WATCH] Shinya Aoki Scores Fast (53s) Armbar Victory At ONE 172](https://www.bjjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Shinya-Aoki-Armbar-at-ONE-172.jpg)
Shinya Aoki reminded everyone why he’s one of Japan’s most iconic figures in MMA and submission grappling – with a lightning-fast victory at ONE 172, against longtime rival Eduard Folayang!
The history between the two was already rich going into this fight.
Folayang had earned a TKO win back in 2016, but Aoki returned the favor with two submission finishes in 2019 and 2021.
This fourth encounter was not only a chance to further tip the series in his favor – it was also a rare MMA appearance for Aoki, who had only fought once in the past three years, scoring a slick submission over John Lineker at ONE 165.
When the action began, there was a brief exchange of positioning before Aoki went to work.
Skipping strikes entirely, he dove straight for a takedown. Folayang managed to sprawl and stuff the attempt, returning Aoki to his feet and delivering a few knees to the body in the clinch.
But Aoki then pulled guard and immediately trapped one of Folayang’s arms with a tight overhook.
He brought his leg over Folayang’s head, underhooked the leg, and as Folayang tried to escape by standing, Aoki flipped belly-down and bridged hard into a textbook Armbar finish.
The tap came just 53 seconds into the first round.
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Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
