Updated: Shinya Aoki vs. Marcus Aurelio Added, Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs. Kazushi Sakuraba Confirmed for DREAM.16
by Chris Nelson on Sep 5, 2010 11:35 AM EDT
in Japanese MMA News
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With only three weeks left before the September 25 event, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) revealed the first set of matches for DREAM.16 at a Tokyo press conference today.
Confirming rumors that Shinya Aoki (24-5, 1 NC) would face a fellow PRIDE veteran, the lightweight ace was announced for a non-title bout against Marcus Aurelio (20-8).
Aoki - who showed up to the presser sporting a Nick Diaz t-shirt and chastised "indiscreet reporters asking negative questions" - defended his title against Tatsuya Kawajiri in July, rebounding from the five-round thumping dealt to him by Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez in April.
Since his most recent release from the UFC last summer, Aurelio has notched back-to-back submission wins in smaller international shows. He's slated to take part in Shine Fights' one-night lightweight tournament on September 10, should the troubled event actually take place. DREAM.16 will mark the Brazilian's first bout in Japan since his stint in PRIDE, during which he choked out Takanori Gomi (whom Aoki, confusingly, called out during today's meeting).
In perhaps the most intriguing addition, former Shooto 143-pound champion "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (18-4) will go up against resurgent Olympic freestyle wrestler Kazuyuki Miyata (9-7). The match will be Inoue's first since dropping his title to Hatsu Hioki in May, the same month in which Miyata earned a split decision win over then-DEEP champion Takafumi Otsuka. Miyata has not lost in four contests since dropping to featherweight in April of last year.
Meanwhile, former lightweight contender Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen (19-10-1) continues his featherweight campaign against Hideo Tokoro (26-22-1) in what looks to be a barn-burner. The Norwegian fan favorite has lost three straight, including two since dropping to 143-pounds against Hiroyuki Takaya and Bibiano Fernandes.
Regarding DREAM's estranged featherweight champion, event producer Keiichi Sasahara told reporters that both Fernandes and Kevin Randleman have now been paid the fight purses owed to them. Sasahara offered apologies to both the fighters and fans, but deferred to absent FEG head Sadaharu Tanikawa when pressed for further explanation.
Sasahara also informed the press that negotiations with Sengoku Raiden Championships have stalled out, halting plans for a proposed "DREAM vs. SRC" angle for the upcoming event.
One additional bout is expected to be announced on DREAM's official website in the next 24 hours.
Update: A previously reported bout between Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Kazushi Sakuraba has been confirmed by a video on DREAM's YouTube account. Watch it after the jump.
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Why exactly is it a non-title fight between Aoki and Aurelio?
Seems kind of odd.
I like Fedor, it’s just his fans that are intolerable...and his management.
That’s just how they do in JMMA. If you come in off the street and beat the champ in a non-title fight, you get a title shot in the rematch.
Thus ensuring that even a fluke title holder will not be permitted.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Sep 5, 2010 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s a picture of him on the back, and it says “VIOLENCE JIU JITSU” in kanji.
by Chris Nelson on Sep 5, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
aoooiikkki
theres not much ppl for him to fight in japan ,he has beaten most of the top lightweights outside ufc besides melendez, would be great to see him leave japans mma scene and onto the US scene
Sasahara also informed the press that negotiations with Sengoku Raiden Championships have stalled out, halting plans for a proposed “DREAM vs. SRC” angle for the upcoming event.
Prowrestling terms should not be associated with MMA.
Lion finally fighting outside of Shooto?
Oh Snap.
If Derek Jeter clubbed a baby seal on earth day while wearing a mink coat and crocodile skin boots while burning tires on an iceberg, the reaction would be "Its OK Derek, you’re a Yankee." -First mammal to wear pants
Can anyone make out what it says?
I can’t make out the writing
by devious1 on Sep 5, 2010 11:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
“Nick Diaz – Coming from a troubled past of delinquent and criminal behavior, he has changed his life for the better by finding a different path. With the introduction of jiu-jitsu, Nick was able to shed the image of old and start anew.
Now known as an intelligent fighter coupled with explosive striking skills, Nick can claim what very few can, Welterweight Champion of the World."
Someone needs to introduce Aoki to GSP
by MrTechnique420 on Sep 5, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I know right
Also, he has explosive striking and is known as an intelligent fighter? rlly?
He has incredible ‘volume’ strikes, and he’s known as a durable and inexhaustible fighter.
Jon Jones LHW Champion 2011
Gray and Pray LW Champion 2011
All due respect to Tokoro, but he's a dead man walking here
Meanwhile, former lightweight contender Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen (19-10-1) continues his featherweight campaign against Hideo Tokoro (26-22-1) in what looks to be a barn-burner.
If by ‘barn-burner’ you mean snuff film, then yea. Hansen is Tokoro’s worst nightmare. The kid fades as soon as he starts getting hit, and Hansen will definitely hit him. If this turns into Hansen/Takaya 2 I’ll go viral with a video of me throwing water balloons at a pack of saltwater crocodiles.
Tokoro acknowledged as much at the press conference, saying that all his friends and training partners were afraid for him when they heard about the match. But he seems resolute, and Hansen also hasn’t been quite the same since that last loss to Aoki. Both guys desperately need the win. I still think it’ll be a good scrap.
That’s understating it a bit. Hansen has looked like doo doo feces recently.
I’m giving Tokoro a halfway quasi-decent chance.
I specializes in grammar fail.
by a tommy point on Sep 5, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno if it's right to pass off Hansen yet
From memory the Bibiano fight was really close & his shitty performance against Takaya seemed more to do with him not knowing how to fight in a cage.
I thought crocs were solitary animals???
I didnt know they traveled in packs.
by the-gentle-way on Sep 5, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The kid fades as soon as he starts getting hit
I don’t know, I’ve seen some fights of his where this has been true, but he took some hard punches against Takaya and still put up a strong showing.
by JRN on Sep 5, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I never bought the "Hansen is gonna be a monster at FW !!"
In the last previous matches, I bet for Bibiano and Takaya. They are better than Tokoro but still, I think he has a chance to win with his grappling.
I'm kinda bummed we didn't get some guys from SRC on this card.
But lion takeshi vs miyata is a somewhat interesting fight.
Intersting fight between Aoki and Aurelio, it’s too bad that he’s already fighting in the shine fights because I see him going far their then being hurt in the quick turn around. Now if the event falls apart and Aurelio can just focus on Aoki, I might lean towards him winning that fight.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
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