DEEP bantamweight champion Masakazu Imanari will face DREAM/K-1 vet Daiki "DJ.taiki" Hata in a 135-pound non-title affair at DEEP's "50th Impact" on October 24. Imanari has won four straight bouts in DEEP since being eliminated from DREAM's 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix by eventual winner Bibiano Fernandes. Hata withdrew from the same tournament with an eye injury after besting Hideo Tokoro in the opening round, but has since dropped consecutive decisions to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Kazuyuki Miyata. Photo by GBRing.
A tentative card for Japanese MMA promotion DEEP's 10th Anniversary show in October has been released, and it features some mega names. Shinya Aoki, Ryo Chonan, Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa, Katsunori Kikuno and many others are expected to participate.
Bloody Elbow brings you complete live coverage of Dream 15 in Saitama, Japan, including the anticipated lightweight clash between Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
All fighters but one made weight for Saturday's "Dream 15" cardin Tokyo, which features a lightweight title bout between champion Shinya Aoki and challenger Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri.
A full, in-depth preview of DREAM.15, airing LIVE on HDNet at 3:00 AM EST on Saturday, July 10th, featuring a DREAM lightweight title showdown between Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Melvin Manhoef, Gegard Mousasi, Gesias Cavalcante, and Katsunori Kikuno will also be in action.
Four more fights official for DREAM 15: Kazuhiro Nakamura (14-10) vs. Karl Amoussou (11-2-2) Michihiro Omigawa (10-8-1) vs. Young Sam Jung (0-2) Mitshuhiro Ishida (18-6-1) vs. Daiki "D.J. Taiki" Hata (11-6-3) Gegard Mousasi (28-3-1) vs. Jake O'Brien (13-3) Source: Head Kick Legend DREAM 15 coverage
#1 Brian Bowles still sits atop the bantamweight division after upsetting previous bantamweight king # 2 Miguel Torres at WEC 42. Bowles is still nursing a hand injury, but has been making the media rounds. As we stated previously, Torres has linked up with noted trainer Mark Dellagrotte and helped out WEC rising star Mackens Semerzier before his upset of Wagnney Fabiano.
There hasn't been a title defense, but the HardCore Gym's Brian Bowles is still MMA's top bantamweight dog. His sudden, thudding stoppage win over former WEC bantamweight king # 2 Miguel Torres at WEC 42 has firmly entrenched him atop the world's 135lbs division.
The reign of the mullet is officially over. Or, at least, over for now. With a dramatic stoppage win of former WEC bantamweight king Miguel Torres (now ranked #2) at WEC 42, current WEC bantamweight champion in #1 Brian Bowles has ascended to the peak of the 135lbs division.
DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinals Confirmed
