The Japanese-based DREAM mixed martial arts promotion recently announced the semifinal bouts for the final two rounds of its lightweight grand prix tournament slated for the Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan on July 21.
The remaining fights are Shinya Aoki (16-2) vs. Caol Uno (25-10-4) and Eddie Alvarez (14-1) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-4-2).
Like grand prix’s of the past, the semifinal winners will compete in the finals the very same night, creating a sense of urgency in the opening round which (unlike domestic organizations) runs an exhausting ten minutes.
An early stoppage can leave a fighter fresh and fluid for a second battle. Yet a hard fought decision victory can leave that same fighter gassed before the finals even begin. Fortunately this is a lightweight contest and lightweight fighters traditionally have a better chance of maintaining their endurance.
Aside from the grand prix, Palace Fighting Championship (PFC) competitor Joseph Benavidez (7-0) will try and upset featherweight wrecking machine Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (17-1).
The up-and-coming Benavidez last competed on May 8 at PFC 8 where he submitted the 3-8 Maurice Eazel via submission in the first round. Yamamoto on the other hand has been obliterating the competition since 2001 in both Shooto and K-1, with his lone loss coming from a cut he suffered against Stephen Palling back in 2002.
Also on the card, UFC and EliteXC headliner Nick Diaz (16-7) will fight PRIDE veteran Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (32-8-2) for the first-ever DREAM welterweight title – assuming Diaz doesn’t end up in jail after street fighting with bitter rival KJ Noons prior to that.
DREAM 5 is also set to showcase the overdue rematch between Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (23-6-2) and K-1 superstar Jerome LeBanner (3-1-1). Cro Cop pulled out of his DREAM 4 grappling match against Ralek Gracie after suffering a minor knee injury so that he could devote 100% of himself to this bout.
Also scheduled to compete are Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1) and Denis Kang (29-10-1), both against opponents yet to be named.
We’ll have more on this developing card as it comes together.
25 Comments »
Aoki goes all the way
I hope Cro cop will be back to his old self and ko this guy
Diaz vs Sakurai could be a really great fight!
The finals will be Aoki vs. My (Philly brother) Eddie Alvarez!
Diaz will fight his toughest fight in a long time. If the old Diaz doesnt show up, he is going to loose to Sakurai!
Anyone know who Kid yammamoto’s only loss is against?
Stephan Palling, back in 2002 in shooto, because of a cut.
*Stephen Palling
Thanks!
Crocop is a croflop anywhere in the world, except china.
its japan, not china… but you’re right… thats what happens when PRIDE lets people take roids
diaz that fool is going down
Those are four guys right there I’d like to see compete in the UFC: Mach, Aoki, Denis Kang, and Kid Yamamoto (WEC most likely).
Not that these guys would run supreme and destroy the UFC competition. I just want to see these guys fight in the states and put on a competitive show.
I don’t know why everyone says every good fighter should be in the UFC. Competition is good for mma and DREAM has a deep lw division capable of putting on good fights, so why does it matter? If there was just the UFC, fighters would get paid peanuts and we would only see one fight-card a month.
Eddie Alvarez would make an impact at 155 lbs in the UFC, believe that!
I would LOVE to see Alvarez fight in the UFC…He could definitely stand a good chance agianst the likes of’
Sean Sherk
Roger Huerta
Ken Florian
Clay Guida
Nate Diaz
Joe Lauzon
Kurt Pellegrino
Matt Wiman
Tyson Griffin
‘at 155lbs..
He could even do well at WW aswell…But he would definitely stir things up at LW……
Why would they fight in the states when the best LW’s are all outside of the states?(Except for one)
Anyways gogo Aoki!!!
wow that sounds familiar… hmm where have i heard it.. I think ppl were saying the same thing when Dream was called… what was it again? hmm.. PRIDE
I don’t care who wins just as long as the finals are Aoki Vs. Alvarez. Should make for an awesome fight, speaking of awesome fights Sakurai Vs. Diaz is gonna be off the chain.
I LOVE Japanese MMa promotions!..Cant wait for the next Dream..
Japanese fans are totally different..Watching PrideFC or Dream have a different feel to it..I would love to go see one live…
Dream is doing things almost exactly the same way as they held their PrideFC events…….The fighters right down to the pimpin’ announcer!….The Grandprix’s right down to the amazing production!!…Pure honor and respect!….
As long as they get rid of the annoying chick announcer that introduce’s the fighters, her voice had to be the most annoying sound since Gilbert Godfrey’s..
Ive really been enjoying the Dream shows this year.
Kinda fills that empty feeling I got after Pride dissolved.
There has been some awesome fights so far and I always look forward to every card with great anticipation.
For those who can’t see past the UFC is not a fan of MMA and for everyone who thinks that all the best fighters are only in the UFC have a lot to learn.
Its sad really as you are the only ones losing out!
Ca$z: I could not agree more. Well put, they are the ones missing out! Every Dream event has been better then the one befopre, its cards are only getting better. By next year they will be back to putting out MOnster fight cards.
Keep in mind, Historically, Pride’s fight cards where about 2 times as stacked as the most stacked UFC cards!
Great card.
War Alvarez/Aoki!
Aoki vs. Alvarez will be a very good match for the finals, u hope cro cop crocoping lebanner and fight of the night will be mach vs. nick. This will be the best event in short dream history i hope diaz win via gogo and alvarez win the LW GP!!!
DREAM has being doing an AWESOME job. I am loving this org so far.
My only big complaint so far was the shitty matchup between Saku and Manhoef. Talk about sacrificial lamb… That was disgusting.
Well then u have no problems with Dream because they did not make that match up, they let the fans vote for the match ups!
Oops, my bad. But as soon as I saw that matchup, I knew it was going to be ugly. lol
Sacrificial lamb? Manhoef easily could have been caught in heel hook or sub and the fight would have been very different. That’s what I thought made it such a interesting matchup, aging grappler vs. peak condition striker.
Anyways, GO Alverez, I didn’t know who he was before this LW GP but he’s a real bad-ass.