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#4. ONE Championship lightweight bout against Sage Northcutt
ONE Championship originally booked this fight for ONE on TNT 4 back in April 2021. The fight was ultimately scrapped due to Sage Northcutt pulling out after feeling the adverse effects of contracting COVID-19.
Now that they're both well and healthy, it's time to finally lock horns. Northcutt was also announced to fight at ONE Championship: X, though his opponent is not yet determined. So, how about Aoki? Even though it's been more than two years since we last saw Northcutt in the cage, facing the streaking Japanese still makes sense. For one, the star power and marketability of this fight makes it absolute gold.
There's been some friction between the two on social media in the past after Northcutt's pull out. Revisiting this budding rivalry might be the best route for Aoki if he wants to get back in the title picture. Beating a highly recognizable former UFC fighter in ONE's biggest event would certainly make a good case for him.
Add an 'old versus new' narrative to the rivalry and this bout would generate a lot of hype for ONE: X.
#3. ONE Championship lightweight bout against Dagi Arslanaliev
Ranking-wise, this one makes the most sense. ONE Championship lightweight powerhouse Saygid Guseyn 'Dagi' Arslanaliev is no. 2 while Aoki is no. 3. With former champ Christian Lee still having unfinished business with current king Ok Rae Yoon, the next two fighters on the ladder should battle for the next challenger's spot.
Dagi's last performance was a Fight of the Year bout against the Russian berzerker Timofey Nastyukhin. The Dagestani former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion exemplified heart, determination and killer instinct like no other. The back-and-forth brawl saw near-fight ending blows that pushed both fighters to the brink, before Dagi stopped the Russian early in the third round.
Coming off a knockout win in the best fight of the year definitely makes Dagi a prime candidate for the next title shot. Aoki could face Dagi and steal his thunder and fight the winner of the possible Christian Lee vs. Ok Rae Yoon rematch.
