Jin Aoi (16-6-1) vs. Young Jae Song (9-1-1)
Jin Aoi
Pros:
-Good leg kicks
-Repetitive striking
-Explosive
-Credible counter striker
Cons:
-Lacks urgency/Low volume
-TDD needs some work
Jin Aoi gets another shot on Road to UFC after falling short last season, and while the decision makes sense—he went 2-0 afterward and defended his DEEP featherweight title—I’m not really sold on the idea of re-running him back in this setting. I felt that way last time, and I still feel it now: he just hasn’t shown much meaningful progression.
Stylistically, Aoi is fairly basic across the board. He’ll have brief flashes where it looks like he might turn the corner and land something impactful, but his game is largely built on feints and low output. His leg kicks are solid, but they’re often thrown in isolation without much setup or follow-up.
A bigger concern is his inability to consistently dictate range or pace. He spends a lot of time fighting off the back foot and can end up stuck with his back against the cage. Even though his feinting has improved, it rarely leads to anything significant—it’s more posture than production. The result is a fighter who looks active at a glance but doesn’t actually generate much meaningful offense.
Young Jae Song
Pros:
-Good clinchwork
-Smooth back take
-Utilizes trips takedowns well
-Durable
-Knockout power
-Good bodywork
-Good shot placement
Cons:
-Reckless
-TDD needs work
-Questionable fight IQ
Song gets another chance after appearing on Road to UFC in 2024, where he came up short against Kawana Masuto. That loss isn’t a great look on paper, but Masuto’s style was the bigger issue—he fought a suffocating, relentless pace that didn’t give Song much space to work.
Since then, Song has bounced back with a 3-0 run, finishing all three opponents. He’s also gained experience in RIZIN and defended his AFC title, which adds some credibility to his recent momentum. He’s very much an all-action fighter, and that shows in how every win has come inside the distance.
The tradeoff is that Song is willing to take damage to deliver it. That recklessness is part of what makes him effective. His power and shot placement are clear when he opens up—but it also makes him vulnerable. He attacks both the body and head and tends to be the one dictating violence, rather than absorbing it. So far, he’s been the hammer more often than the nail.
Prediction:
The style that beats Song is a constant grinding, high-pressure pace—exactly what Masuto showed in their fight. Aoi isn’t that type of fighter at all. If anything, he’s the kind of opponent who will let Song settle into his rhythm and dictate the fight, which is the last thing you want to do against him.
I can also see Song capitalizing on Aoi’s tendency to reset and circle off the back foot—catching him either as he rushes in or when he throws something naked, like a kick without proper setup. Song has shown he can get himself into trouble, but stylistically, this feels like a much better matchup for him.
I don’t see many paths for Aoi here unless Song has a major lapse. The pick is Song by TKO in round two.
