Hiroyuki Takaya def. Bibiano Fernandes (c) via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Let it be known that I thought Takaya did enough to win their first scrap to crown the inaugural Dream Featherweight Champion. Therefore, in this fight I predicted Takaya would do it again and get awarded the belt this time.
What Happened: Exactly that. The bout was about as close as it gets in the first two rounds, with Takaya edging out the first, and the second being a draw (slight edge to Fernandes) on my cards. The third round was pivotal, and Fernandes' decision to pull guard to work his BJJ proved to be his undoing, as Takaya refused to be submitted; he pounded and controlled Fernandes until the final bell, effectively stealing the round and the fight.
Thoughts: The president of FEG claimed this fight did more to drive away fans than bring them in, and that he was very disappointed by it. That may be true for the casual fan, but for me the fight had a nice amount of tension and back-and-forth battling despite its deliberate pace. Takaya slightly got the better of the standup exchanges, and perhaps sensing he needed to do something major, Fernandes pulled guard expecting his BJJ to take the match. Takaya then showed that he is more well-rounded than previously thought, as he fearlessly dove into Fernandes' dangerous guard and roughed him up as if he was untouchable. Despite what Sherdog says, I think this fight earned Takaya a slot in the Featherweight Top 10.
Next for Takaya: It's hard to say who's next in line for a shot at the title. Kazuyuki Miyata could be primed for a shot, as could Yoshiro Maeda and Mitsuhiro Ishida, who are both on 2 fight win streaks. My pick here is Miyata.
Next for Fernandes: There is no shame in losing the title in such a close fight, and he should be right back in the mix following the loss. Perhaps a match against Mitsuhiro Ishida to give his BJJ a workout is in the works for him.
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Josh Thomson via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: This was the hardest fight on the card for me to call. I pretty much considered it a toss-up and decided to just enjoy the fight and see what happens, as I am fans of both guys.
What Happened: Thomson showed lots of toughness, heart, aggressiveness, and great cardio, but in the end was dominated by Kawajiri's smothering wrestling and top control. In the brief portions of the fight that took place that were on the feet Thomson was clearly the better striker and landed some good shots, but he just couldn't stop Kawajiri from dragging him to the ground.
Thoughts: Thomson didn't disappoint too much in defeat, but Kawajiri was a beast that night. Thomson's potent kickboxing was in full display, but his usually solid wrestling was virtually non-existent against the bulldozing power of Kawajiri. Kawajiri even managed to lock in two tight arm triangles, but Thomson's savvy and composure got him through; Kawajiri, sensing the submissions weren't coming, jumped back to mount on both occasions. I'd say that he is in line for a trip to the U.S.
Next for Kawajiri: His next opponent should be in Strikeforce. In fact, I think he should be the next challenger to Gilbert Melendez's lightweight strap. I know, he hasn't exactly earned it, but since when is that a prerequisite in Strikeforce? Hell, Melendez won the interim belt in his very next fight after losing to Thomson for the belt.
Next for Thomson: Tough to determine where to put him in the lightweight picture. Maybe a fight with KJ Noons in a title eliminator would suffice. Like I said, it's Strikeforce; no one earns anything.
Jason High def. Hayato Sakurai via Decision (split), Rd 3
Prediction: High would do pretty well with his wrestling, but Sakurai (though definitely past his prime) would do enough to score a late stoppage win.
What Happened: In a fairly uneventful fight, Sakurai proved a bit gun shy in the early rounds, but still kept the fight very close. After two difficult to score rounds, Sakurai came alive late in the 3rd, dropping High with strikes but giving up a takedown has High instinctually shot in. It proved not to be enough, as High took the decision on two judge's cards.
Thoughts: Sakurai is still competitive, but this fight made it clear he is really over the hill. Despite having a definite skill advantage on the feet he refused to let it all out during the exchanges until it was too late. He also looked a bit out of shape and slow from the start. He either needs to start training seriously or hang 'em up. I won't take anything away from High though, he did perform well, but really needs to improve his standup. As evidenced by his lone UFC fight (and loss) against Charlie Brenneman, he pretty much runs out of offense once he can't impose his will through wrestling.
Next for High: Hell if I know, Dream's welterweight division sucks. Maybe a title rematch against Zaromskis.
Next for Sakurai: Same as above, though with his recent skid anyone will do.
Marius Zaromskis def. Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (HOLY CRAP HIS EAR FELL OFF! I mean doctor stoppage), Rd 1
Prediction: Sakuraba is one knockout away from death. I hoped to God Zaromskis would win by something other than knockout, but either way he wins.
What Happened: He won by something other than knockout. Damn near ripping Sakuraba's ear clean off his head with a glancing punch. I was actually relieved; they can sew his ear back on, but Saku doesn't need anymore trauma to the head.
Thoughts: Zaromskis finally got a win in 2010, even though you could attribute the win more to Sakuraba falling apart than to Zaromskis' actual skill. Hard to know where Zaromskis actually is as a welterweight, but Sakuraba's drop to 170 was way too little, way too late. The man seriously needs to retire, and he's needed to for a while now. I'm seriously concerned for his health, and I'm practically cringing the entire time he fights now in anticipation that his career will be forcefully ended.
Next for Zaromskis: Like I said, unless I'm missing someone, the Dream welterweight division is barren. Maybe Jason High, like I mentioned earlier.
Next for Sakuraba: Retirement. Seriously.
Satoshi Ishii def. Jerome Le Banner via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Ishii has become a lay-n-pray specialist. Le Banner is a K-1 kickboxer who has proven more effective than most pure kickboxers when it comes to not getting subbed. Doesn't take a rocket scientist. Ishii by unanimous decision.
What Happened: Le Banner did a pretty admirable job on the ground, but all that muscle expectedly did a number on his cardio, which left him too tired to capitalize on his advantages. Ishii by unanimous decision.
Thoughts: Le Banner is wildly popular in Japan, and Dream has been trying their damnedest to push Ishii and make him a big draw. The problem is he lacks finishing ability and is content to just hold down his opponents and pepper them with strikes. Not a very fan-friendly style. His uneventful win over Le Banner was met with a cascade of boos from the normally docile Japanese crowd. If he is to gain the support of the fans, he has three options: 1) Fix those holes in his game and take some risks to finish his opponents, 2) Develop an exciting style, or 3) Take a page out of pro wrestling and develop an over-the-top personality. For his sake, he should choose number 1.
Next for Ishii: He needs a legitimate opponent in order for fans to care about him, but he also needs to work on his overall game. But hell, he'll probably fight James Thompson or something.
Next for Le Banner: Well seeing as how this isn't his sport, I assume he'll return to K-1.
Alistair Overeem def. Todd Duffee via KO (punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Duffee would be in way over his head as he's a decent boxer who's relatively green facing a really good striker with a wealth of experience. Duffee might hold his own at spots, but it wouldn't stop Overeem from notching a (T)KO.
What Happened: For some reason Duffee decided to run in swinging like a madman, and one hard knee to the body, a left, and a right hook, and Duffee's out cold. We all knew it would happen, but thought it'd take longer than 19 seconds.
Thoughts: Duffee took a big risk accepting a fight with Overeem coming off a deflating knockout loss and being released from the UFC; it didn't pay off. At least he got a nice payday for getting knocked out so quickly; he reportedly earned $60,000 for the bout. Turns out this one was for the Dream interim Heavyweight Title, which gives Overeem his 3rd belt in a combat sport (he is the Strikeforce champion, and recently won the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2010). Best part about the fight was Overeem's girlfriend at the end. Usually not my type but I gotta admit that is an attractive woman.
Next for Overeem: Thankfully, we can now confirm that Overeem will finally be taking on Fabricio Werdum in the first round of an 8 man heavyweight tournament in Strikeforce. This also may mean that Overeem will have a 2011 full of good competition, provided he gets past Werdum.
Next for Duffee: That's a tough one. Dream probably won't bring him back, so he'll have to hit up one of the less orgs like Shark Fights. I think Strikeforce should sign him; they have some good up-and-comers for him like Daniel Cormier and Shane Del Rosario. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the final reserve entrant.
Sergei Kharitonov def. Tatsuya Mizuno via KO (knee and punches), Rd 1
Prediction: Mizuno has mad considerable strides in his game as of late, but still wouldn't be ready for someone of Kharitonov's abilities. Kharitonov by (T)KO.
What Happened: See above....brutally.
Thoughts: Mizuno, God bless him, tries really hard out there and has improved a lot over time, but I'm not sure he'll ever be able to do well against any good heavyweight. He just doesn't have the skill or the athleticism. It's definitely commendable that he's dedicated to the sport but he should stick to lower level guys, especially if he wants to gain confidence in the ring. Melvin Manhoef will probably be the biggest win of his career, not that it wasn't impressive.
Next for Kharitonov: Andrei Arlovski, as a part of the Strikeforce tournament.
next for Mizuno: Maybe he should call it quits and go back to being a police officer. I felt bad watching his wife crying as he lay unconscious. If he continues, I think he should stay at 205. He's displayed some decent skills and could actually do well against lower-end 205ers.
Mixed Rules Bout: Yuichiro Nagashima def. Shinya Aoki via KTFO (knee and punches), Rd 2
Prediction: Aoki would avoid major action in the opening 3 minute striking round and survive, then he'd take the fight to the ground and easily sub Nagashima in the following 5 minute MMA round.
What Happened: Little surprises in the 1st round: Aoki practically avoided fighting in the round altogether by using such techniques as dropkicks and rolling hell kicks to flop to the ground and waste as much time as possible. He also shot in for clinches and did several other stalling tactics that are illegal in K-1. All thought Aoki would easily sub Nagashima in the MMA round, but what happened next was arguably a winning last minute entry for upset of the year: Aoki immediately shot in, was blasted by a flying knee, and slumped to the ground where a few unnecessary followup punches sealed the deal.
Thoughts: Everyone including myself pretty much wrote out Nagashima after Aoki's antics in the first round, and I'm sure many of those same people were hoping Aoki would get his comeuppance as well. Well he did, and it was sweet. I have a love-hate situation with Aoki and his willingness to participate in useless fights have had me on the latter end lately. I hope Aoki bounces back nicely from this, but I'm glad he got flattened by that knee, in the MMA round no less.
Next for Nagashima: Back to K-1, where he is a champion. A cross-dressing, cosplaying, champion.
Next for Aoki: Hard to say. There aren't really any viable challengers for his lightweight title. A rematch with JZ Cavalcante seems one of the few options, but after having lost 3 of his last 4 (including his last fight) he's not really in a deserving spot. Katsunori Kikuno recently defended his Deep title, and may look to become a champ in Dream too, but his last fight in Dream was a loss. That and he'd most likely lose. Perhaps Aoki needs to come to America along with Kawajiri.
Hiroshi Izumi def. Ikuhisa Minowa via TKO (punches), Rd 3
Prediction: I really think they called Minowa in against Ishii just to try and get Ishii over with the fans because they knew he'd beat Minowa, whom the fans love and respect. I think the same thing was done in pairing Minowa with Izumi. Izumi by decision.
What Happened: As expected Minowa had nothing for Izumi, but Izumi showed more tenacity than Ishii did and managed to hammer out a stoppage late in the fight. He wasn't exactly destroying Minowa, but the fight needed to be stopped.
Thoughts: Minowa looks to be on his way to the bottom. He was never a top fighter, but lately he's just looked flat and uninspired. I've said many times that Minowa only really does well against big lumbering oafs who will clumsily tumble to the ground at some point during his dogged attempts to get them there, where they are damn near powerless against what is really his only weapon: leglocks. When you put Minowa against guys who are bigger than he is, but still skilled and relatively quick and athletic, there is nothing he can do. With Ishii's and Izumi's extensive judo backgrounds there's no way he'd submit them, and without the ability to submit them he's got nothing. It seems they've found another job for Minowa besides freak show fighter: prospect builder-upper.
Next for Izumi: Back in Sengoku I think it'd be interesting to see him fight Dave Herman. Or if they still want to protect him, Yoshihiro Nakao.
Next for Minowa: He should stick to freakshow fights, if there are even anymore freaks left for him to fight; he's just about faced them all. OR here's an idea: why not put together a rubber match between Minowa and fresh UFC castoff Phil Baroni. At this point I'd go with Baroni.
Kazuyuki Miyata def. Caol Uno via Decision (unanimous), Rd 3
Prediction: Tough one to call with Miyata's great improvements recently, but I figured Uno would be too crafty and savvy, and walk out with a late submission or decision win.
What Happened: After being outstruck for much of the 1st round, Miyata decided to go to his bread-and-butter: his dominant wrestling. For the final two rounds, Miyata shut down Uno's offense with smothering wrestling, and even landed three of his trademark German suplexes to take a clear-cut decision.
Thoughts: Miyata has really been looking impressive lately, and if he keeps it up could find himself in the top 10 come Dynamite!! 2011. After a rough start to his career, he has figured out how to apply his wrestling to MMA properly, and has developed enough striking to set up his powerful takedowns. He seems to have forgotten how to finish fights, with all but one of his wins on his current 6 fight streak going the distance, but you could also make the argument that it's because he's been facing much greater competition. Prior to facing opponents people have actually heard of he was getting his wins via submission. Perhaps as he improves he will start submitting top guys.
Tough break for Uno, who had his debut at 145 spoiled here. He's clearly past his prime, and I doubt he'll make a run at the title, but there are still some interesting fights for him in the division.
Next for Miyata: One could argue that he is ready for a title shot, but if not he should be one win away, and I would nominate Mitsuhiro Ishida for that fight. Pitting two powerful wrestlers like them against each other could make for an interesting bout, and may spell trouble for the champ.
Next for Uno: He's had a long career and has done a lot. Maybe he deserves a small step down in competition against someone like Daiki Hata. If he still wants to stay in the thick of it Akiyo Nishiura or Hideo Tokoro could make for good matchups.
- Hideo Tokoro took a surprisingly long time to submit boisterous (see: asshole) boxer Kazuhisa Watanabe. Tokoro seemed to be dead set on locking in a nearside armbar from the top, which Watanabe apparently learned how to defend pretty well. In fact, Watanabe proved to be very tough (and stubborn) in general throughout the affair. Not too impressive for Tokoro, who should have tried to utilize more than armbars and rear naked chokes (which he probably trained for) to put Watanabe away.
- Gegard Mousassi impressed once again bringing his kickboxing record to 5-0 as he took a decision from current K-1 Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro under K-1 rules. It was a close fight, but Mousassi convincingly snagged the decision. Kyotaro lost a hard fought decision to Semmy Schilt just two weeks prior, which may have affected him in this fight, but Mousassi was very impressive regardless and may have a future in K-1.
- In a K-1 MAX bout, colorful MMA fighter Akiyo Nishiura and K-1 MAX World -63kg Tournament winner Tetsuya Yamato fought to a majority draw, with the dissenting judge scoring the fight for Yamato. Akiyo's twitchy, unorthodox style was difficult for Yamato to figure out in the first two round, but he found his range in the third, tagging Akiyo repeatedly toward the end of the bout. Akiyo scored the better shots in the previous two rounds, but apparently the third round is the one that really matters to K-1 judges, which might explain one judge scoring it for Yamato.
Well that was exhausting, but when is it not. One of these days I'll do a recap that doesn't take half a day to read through, you'll see! Then again, it's not like anyone reads them anyway, so I might as well just keep up what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get around to covering the events of Sengoku 16 in the next couple days. That'll be another long one. Oh joy.
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