Shinya Aoki turns down UFC offer, teammate Leandro Brodinho signs

Former Dream champion, Shinya Aoki (34-6 MMA), has reportedly turned down a contract offer from the UFC.

According to ‘Evolve MMA’ founder, Chatri Sityodtong, the UFC offered contracts to 3 fighters on the Evolve Fight Team including Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng and Leandro Brodinho.

Here is what the Evolve MMA chairman had to say via his official Facebook account:

The rumors are true. UFC offered contracts to 3 fighters on the Evolve Fight Team: Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng and Leandro Brodinho. After careful reflection, Shinya and Eddie have both decided to stay in ONE FC due to more favorable economics. Brodinho has not made a final decision yet and is currently thinking through everything.

Eight hours later, Chatri Sityodtong once again took to his facebook to announce the following news:

It’s official!!! My bro Leandro Brodinho is fighting in the UFC 🙂

Leandro “Brodinho” Issa fights in the bantamweight division and sports a professional record of 11-3 in MMA. Brodinho’s last bout came at April’s ‘ONE FC 8- Kings and Champions’ event, where he scored a unanimous decision victory over his opponent Yuji Shimada. Leandro has gone 8-1 over his past nine contests and will hope to continue his success inside the UFC’s octagon.

Brodinho also shared the news on his official Facebook page:

I am now a UFC fighter! Thank you to everybody who helped me to live my dream. Thank you to Victor Cui and ONE FC for giving me permission to let me compete in UFC. For sure the best MMA shows in the world are UFC and ONE FC. Thank you to Chatri Sityodtong and my Evolve family for changing my life.

It is expected that Leandro “Brodinho” Issa will make his octagon debut when the UFC heads to Singapore for “UFC Fight Night 34” on January 4, 2014.