The latest addition to DREAM’s “white cage” show was announced today during a press conference at DEEP Official Gym in Tokyo, and it features two fighters well acquainted with DREAM’s new fighting surface of choice. One time WEC title contender Yoshiro Maeda (25-7-2) will meet former bantamweight champion Chase Beebe (12-4) in a 139-pound scrap at Osaka Castle Hall on October 25th. Both men will be looking to get back in the swing of things after being eliminated from DREAM’s Featherweight Grand Prix earlier in the year.
Beebe hasn’t fought since his March opening round loss at the hands of debuting thunderstorm Joe Warren – a match which Beebe notoriously (allegedly) chose over a previously contracted bout with Mike Easton for the DC-area Ultimate Warrior Challenge promotion. Before making his DREAM return, Beebe will face Easton after all, tomorrow night at UWC 7.
Following a hard fought FWGP quarterfinal loss to Hiroyuki Takaya in May, Yoshiro Maeda returned in the main event of DEEP’s “Osaka Impact” show on August 30th. Maeda took home a win against BJJ player Kleber Koike, though not in the way he would’ve hoped – Koike was disqualified following multiple accidental groin strikes in the opening frame. Maeda trains and resides in Osaka, and appealed to DREAM officials at ringside after that bout to put him on the DREAM.12 card. Now he’s got his wish, and at today’s presser, he said he hopes for a spot on “Dynamite!!” with a win over Beebe. With fighters like this, who needs matchmakers?
DREAM.12
October 25, 2009
Osaka Castle Hall
Osaka, Japan
Confirmed Bouts
Lightweight: Katsunori Kikuno (12-1-1) vs. Eddie Alvarez (18-2)
Lightweight: Kuniyoshi Hironaka (15-6) vs. Won Sik “Parky” Park (7-1-1)
Featherweight: Yoshiro Maeda (25-7-2) vs. Chase Beebe (12-4)
Participants
Alistair Overeem (29-11, 1 NC)
Paulo Filho (18-1)
Murilo “Ninja” Rua (17-10-1)
Myeon Ho Bae (8-4)
Marius Zaromskis (12-3)
Andrews Nakahara (2-1)
Kiyoshi Tamura (33-13-2)