An absolutely huge weekend for American MMA has overshadowed what looks to be a very solid card from Japan’s heavyweight organization, Dream. The love child of Dream Stage Entertainment and K-1’s Fighting and Entertainment Group, Dream’s efforts have steadily improved with each card. This offering should continue that trend, highlighted by an extremely exciting and relevant conclusion to the Light Weight Grand Prix.
The first semi-final fight pits rising Rubber Guard juggernaut Shinya Aoki with the poular Japanese veteran Caol Uno. Uno surprised the MMA world by defeating the relentless Mitsuhiro Ishida by rear naked choke in the quarter final round. He has an uphill battle, however, with the “Tobikan Judan” who will have a decided size advantage and owns a better grappling pedigree. Aoki enters the bout with victories over American Top Team star Gesias Cavalcante and Japanese wrestler Katsuhiko Nagata.
On the other side of the bracket, Philadephia’s Eddie Alvarez tangles with the “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri. Alvarez has made his mark on the Japanese MMA scene by defeating Andre Dida via KO and Joachim Hansen via decision in what many are calling the early Fight of the Year. Kawajiri has been as effective, if less flashy, in decision victories over Kultar Gill and Luiz Firmino. This fight draws parallels to the 2005 Pride Bushido tournament when a 26 year old Takanori Gomi, like Alvarez a dynamo southpaw with solid grappling credentials, defeated Kawajiri in Pride’s 2005 Fight of the Year. Expect to see fireworks in this one.
In other action, a match originally scheduled as Mirko Filipovic against Jerome LeBanner, then LeBanner and Mark Hunt, is now a fight between the New Zealand kickboxer and Dutch fighter Alistair Overeem.
Hideo Tokoro, billed OK to fight after a recent car accident, battles Shooto and DEEP veteran Takeshi Yamazaki.
GCM’s Motoki Miyazawa takes on UFC veteran Kuniyoshi Hironaka.
Grand Prix losers Joachim Hansen and Kultar Gill fight to determine who will be the alternate for the LWGP.
Finally, the card will open up with a contest between Daisuke Nakamura and Andy Ologun.
Check out all the fights leading up to the Grand Prix Final after the break.