Shinya Aoki ready to make transition from Ring to Cage

(Whether ring or cage Aoki will deliver a submission)

Shinya Aoki, current DREAM lightweight champion and Consensus #2 ranked lightweight, will make his U.S. debut this April and the Japanese fighter will have to make several adjustments from eastern MMA to western MMA.

For instance, Aoki won't be able to wear his technicolor grappling pants though he will be able to wear shorts, spandex shorts, knee and ankle sleeves. So basically, pants that don't cover the shins.

But there are other differences, like ring girls vs. cage girls. Speaking of cages and rings, Shinya will be fighting in a cage for the first time, which, according to Aoki, is no big deal.

"This is my first time fighting in a cage, but I've watched more cage matches than any fight fan out there," Aoki said. "I think I'll be able to put the pressure on. There's actually no difference to me. ... One difference is that in Dream since you're surrounded by five ropes, you're not allowed to stick your leg or anything out. But when you're in a cage, you won't be able to stick anything out anyway so there's probably not much difference."

It should be noted that Strikeforce doesn't allow elbows on the ground. Too bad they don't allow 'knee stomps' either...

Win or lose Aoki will probably fight Tatsuya Kawajiri in DREAM next but if Shinya wins the Strikeforce title it will be up to the Japanese promotion to decide when Aoki would return stateside to defend the belt.