During intermission at Tuesday’s DREAM.9 event, DREAM.10 participants Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Katsunori Kikuno and Shinya Aoki addressed the Yokohama audience, and a promo video was played which officially announced a handful bouts for the July 20th show at Saitama Super Arena.
The video revealed that fan favorite Melvin Manhoef will return to DREAM against former WEC middleweight champ Paulo Filho, whose visage on the big screen elicited “oohs” from the crowd. Also, the previously scheduled discussed lightweight title bout between Shinya Aoki and Joachim Hansen has apparently been scrapped; the Japanese submission ace will now take on Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro.
In the ring, “Mach” told fans that, as the only remaining Japanese fighter in the Welterweight Grand Prix, he’ll do his best to bring the title to Japan. “Please come to support, July 20th at the Saitama Super Arena. The power of everyone becomes my power!” Sakurai will first face Marius Zaromskis, and, should he advance, the winner of Andre Galvao vs. Jason High.
Kikuno, meanwhile, confirmed that his DREAM debut will come against K-1 Hero’s veteran Andre “Dida” Amade. The DEEP lightweight ace said that he has dreamt of this moment since he was a high school student. After his last few performances in DEEP, Kikuno certainly looks ready to test himself on the big stage.
DREAM.10
July 20, 2009
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan
DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal Bouts
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (35-8-2) vs. Marius Zaromskis (9-2)
Jason High (7-1) vs. Andre Galvao (3-0)
DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix Final Bout
Sakurai/Zaromskis vs. Jason High/Galvao
Lightweight Fight
Shinya Aoki (20-4) vs. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (20-2)
Middleweight Fight
Melvin Manhoef (23-5-1) vs. Paulo Filho (16-1)
Lightweight Fight
Katsunori Kikuno (11-1-1) vs. Andre “Dida” Amade (6-3-1)