'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former ONE lightweight MMA world champion Shinya Aoki will welcome teenage Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard Cole Abarte to the ONE Championship roster at ONE Fight Night 26.
Their single-round lightweight submission grappling contest will be part of the promotion's final Prime Video card inside the Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, December 6. ONE took to Instagram to make it official yesterday.
Trending
'Tobikan Judan's BJJ prowess has helped me to 31 submission wins across his legendary MMA career. But over the years, the Japanese icon has tested himself under the promotion's submission-only ruleset against fellow ground game technicians.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Though he's only won one out of four — via rear-naked choke against Marat Gafurov at ONE: Kings of Courage in January 2018 — he made Garry Tonon, Kade Ruotolo, and Mikey Musumeci work extra hard for their victories.
Most recently, the 41-year-old returned to his MMA roots at ONE 165 in January, where he submitted John Lineker at the three-minute mark of the opening canto.
Cole Abate will be no walkover for Shinya Aoki
While Shinya Aoki's experience over the past two decades will give him some breeding ground, the Japanese martial arts icon can expect to be up against a stern test in Abate.
Still only 19 years old, the Texas native is out to prove why he has long been regarded as the submission grappling's next big thing.
The Art of Jiu-Jitsu product has collected gold medals for fun throughout every major tournament at various belts, which earned him the coveted BJJ black belt from legend and mentor Guilherme Mendes in July last year.
The teenage phenom is blessed with an eye for a finish, and he rarely misses the mark when an opportunity presents itself.
As such, submission grappling fans can expect a proper slugfest between him and Shinya Aoki when they lock horns at ONE Fight Night 26 on December 6.
North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can catch the entire card live in U.S. primetime for free.
