Vet Shinya Aoki headed to featherweight, meets Cody Stevens at ONE FC 11

After an already-decorated career at lightweight, MMA notable Shinya Aoki is apparently aiming for a dual-division run as he enters his 30s.

Officials today announced Aoki (33-6), ONE FC’s lightweight champion, will drop to featherweight to fight Cody Stevens (11-5-1) in a non-title bout at “ONE FC 11: Total Domination.”

The event takes place Oct. 18 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Aoki and Stevens co-headline the event, which streams via online pay-per-view.

“I am dropping down to featherweight for the first time in my career in this fight,” Aoki stated. “I feel stronger and faster at this weight, and I have my sights set on competing against all the top featherweights and lightweights that ONE FC puts in front of me. The weight cut will not be a problem for me, and I am definitely ready for this challenge.”

Aoki, a former DREAM and Shooto champion, recently claimed the ONE FC belt with an April submission victory over Kotetsu Boku. The 30-year-old Japanese veteran, who’s posted 22 submissions in 33 career wins, is now 10-1 in his past 11 fights, and the lone defeat came to Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 66.

Stevens, who turned pro in 2008 after a lengthy amateur career, has won two straight on the regional circuit. Most recently, the 31-year-old wrestler, who was born in Ohio and now trains out of Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand, scored a submission victory over former UFC fighter Dustin Neace in August.

Also announced for the ONE FC 11 card were featherweights Mitch Chilson (4-1) vs. Shannon Wiratchai (2-1) and flyweights Rene Catalan (0-1) vs. Khim Dima (0-0).

The latest “ONE FC 11: Total Domination” lineup now includes:

• Soo Chul Kim vs. Bibiano Fernandes – bantamweight title-unification bout
• Shinya Aoki vs. Cody Stevens
• Peter Davis vs. Eddie Ng
• Sherilyn Lim vs. Ann Osman
• Juan Wen Jie vs. Alex Lim
• Stephen Langdown vs. Mark Marcellinus
• Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Rafael Silva
• Mitch Chilson vs. Shannon Wiratchai
• Rene Catalan vs. Khim Dima

For more on ONE FC 11, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Shinya Aoki)