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Different Views of DREAM 3

by Kid Nate on May 12, 2008 1:28 AM EDT in News Comment 10 comments

Daniel Herbertson of Sherdog:

After what seemed like a couple of false starts with its first two shows, Dream made some ground Sunday toward returning MMA in Japan to what it is supposed to be.

Sam Caplan of 5 ounces of pain:

DREAM.3 wasn't a bad way to kill nearly five hours on a Sunday afternoon. But aside from a fight of the year candidate between Eddie Alvarez and Joachim Hansen, what was so great about it? DREAM might have similar look to PRIDE; use a lot of its unique elements such as the Grand Prix format; and utilize a lot of the same fighters, but it's not PRIDE. Not by a longshot.

Personally, I didn't get to see the show in full, just watched it one fight at a time online. I have to say, the Lightweight GP is pretty epic. Whoever wins it will likely be the #1 or #2 lightweight on earth. The Alvarez/Hansen fight was great and IMO the Uno/Ishida wasn't far behind. Seeing a great warrior like Uno come back and soundly beat one of the top young fighters was hugely dramatic. Ishida's smothering style makes him the Sean Sherk of Japan and it's always fun to see a guy like that lose when he's been so dominant recently against top fighters. I also enjoy Kawajiri/Buscape and am looking forward to Kawajiri vs Alvarez. That should be a slugfest to rival Kawajiri's New Year's war with Gilbert Melendez. And the Diaz and Mayhem fights were entertaining too. Was it a PRIDE caliber event? Well it wasn't PRIDE 33 or a Shockwave level event, but it was easily as good as half the Bushido events.

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Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

I'm surprised that an event that is basically a pride bushido event gets over 21,000 fans in saitama. when most Bushido events got around 12,000 fans.

by Michael on May 12, 2008 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

It makes sense in a way, because when Bushido was around Pride was holding huge events fairly regularly, so fans could pick and choose. Now it's DREAM, Sengoku or one of the smaller shows like Shooto and Deep, there aren't really any bigger events than DREAM as an alternative.

by catch on May 12, 2008 2:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

Either Caplan doesn't know much about Japanese MMA or he is trying to win some UFC press credentials or something. His article is a laffer.

by smoogy on May 12, 2008 2:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

''Whoever wins it will likely be the #1 or #2 lightweight on earth.''

I LOL'ed. Sherk/Penn is for #1 & 2:

BJ->-Uno
Sherk->-Franca->-Uno

BJ->-Gomi->-Kawajiri
Sherk->-Florian->-Din->-Guida->-Thomson->-Sugie->-Ishida>-Melendez->-Kawajir i

BJ->-Gomi->-Mach->-Aoki
Sherk->-Nakao->-Aoki

And just to wrap it up, let's throw all of them in there:
Sherk > Diaz > Gomi > Ishida > Melendez > Kawajiri > Edwards > Franca > Uno > Din > Pulver > Penn > Gracie > Sakurai > Aoki

by godzillad on May 12, 2008 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

MMAth makes my brain sad...

:(

by Tonley on May 12, 2008 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

I really have to concur. The fighters that have already fallen in the DREAM GP -- Calvancante, Ishida, Hansen, Andre Dida, and -- if you include Yarrenoka -- Melendez are all easily competitive with Florian, Huerta, Griffin, Guida, Edgar, Maynard and the others coming up in the UFC. And IMO JZ, and Melendez are top 5 in the world. Ishida's overrated but presents a real threat to grind out a decision against anyone (I'd love to see him vs Sherk for example -- ultimate battle for top position).

by Kid Nate on May 12, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

If BJ beats Sherk, it will be hard to argue the winner of this GP being ranked above him. Aoki (if he wins) is the only one who I think you can make a good argument for.

by Popetastic on May 12, 2008 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

Yeah that's why I said #1 or #2. But I definitely think the winner of the GP will pass Gomi. And possibly Sherk (if Sherk beats B.J.). Aoki or Kawajiri could make a case for being #1 in the world by winning the tourny. Alvarez would be top 5. Uno top 10. Nagata...won't be winning the tourny.

by Kid Nate on May 12, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

DREAM.3 was easily the best MMA card thus far this year. And might have surpased Bushido 9 as the best Bushido series event too.

DREAM.4 is going to be pretty sick too. The future is looking very bright for DREAM.

by AnonymousA on May 12, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Different Views of DREAM 3

I wasn't too impressed with most of the Dream cards so far, but the lightweight fights have been awesome.

by pud333 on May 12, 2008 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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