March 18, 2008 By: Ram Maramba Category: Dream, Ram Maramba, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Kazushi Sakuraba
The repurposed Japan MMA website Nightmare of Battle posted the names of nine fighters announced (or hinted) at the DREAM.1 event that will compete in the first round of the middleweight grand prix scheduled for April 29 at DREAM.2:
Seven fighters were present and announced for the GP during DREAM.1, they were: Kazushi Sakuraba, Yoon Dong Sik, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Minowaman, Kiyoshi Tamura, Kin Taiei and Masakatsu Funaki. Also, Kiyoshi Tamura and Denis Kang are on the event poster, so expect them to participate.
Some pretty big hitters, but the MW roster doesn’t pack the more relevant punch of the lightweight tournament. Sakuraba and Funaki are surefire seat-fillers in Japan; in the US however, they lack the same drawing power. The two legends are also past their prime, but that matters less in their home country than it does to the top-10 crazed crowd in the US. Another bit of senior intrigue is the inclusion of RINGS veteran Kiyoshi Tamura in the tourney. A long-awaited bout between Tamura and Sakuraba might finally come to fruition. The two former pro-wrestling mates have long talked about hashing out their differences in the ring during the PRIDE days but for one reason or another the fight never happened. Here’s hoping DREAM doesn’t out think themselves and pairs these two up in the opening round and proves once and for all that in fact, professional wrestling is strong.
The early favorites are Akiyama and Kang, which in itself would make for a pretty good rematch. The two fought last September at a K-1 event. The fight ended in one of the more spectacular knockouts of the year that left Kang, glassy-eyed and sans mouthpiece, heaped against the turnbuckle corner from an Akiyama uppercut. Depending on the pairings, a rematch between Akiyama and Sakuraba holds less implications but more intrigue. They last fought on NYE ‘06, also at a K-1 event, in a bout that was later ruled a No Contest due to Akiyama saying no to dry skin and lotioning between rounds. The already marginally disliked ethnic Korean was further vilified for being caught “cheating” against a Japanese legend. This would prove to be a recurring theme in Akiyama’s relatively young career.
The most recent controversy regarding Akiyama however will not get a chance at closure. Top middleweight Kazuo Misaki, who Akiyama fought on NYE ‘07 at the Yarrenoka! event, is not likely to participate due to his recent signing with the US-based promotion Strikeforce. Yet another No Contest on Akiyama’s dance card, the bout’s ruling was overturned when video revealed Misaki ended the fight with an illegal soccer kick.
The other seven slots are yet unfilled but the rumor mill is churning. In a Sherdog report, mid-level names like Karl Amoussou and former PRIDE up-and-comer Gegard Mousasi are being thrown out there as possible contenders. Also mentioned as a possibility is fading prospect Zelg Galesic, the knockout artist once labeled as a smaller but just as kicky version of Mirko Crocop. The pickings for US fighters remains slim; chances are Kang will be the only fighter unofficially representing North America through his birth in Baby France, St. Pierre and Miquelon, hanging off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
The lightweight tournament held last weekend had the potential to be a barn-burner but didn’t live up to the hype, culminating in the disappointing No Contest in the much-anticipated Calvancante vs. Aoki fight. The middleweight tournament may turn out to be the opposite: middling names and matchups that hopefully produce exciting fights. DREAM is off to a rocky but still promising start and DREAM.2 is slated to be the first “near live” event aired on HDNet. A good show for the US crowd will be just what the doctor ordered for Japan’s MMA promotion reincarnate to take hold with North American fans.
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