With an incredible line up of international lightweight talent with names from Joachin Hansen to Luis "Buscape" Firmino, to Shinya Aoki, this DREAM debut show has some promising names as FEG sets off on a new adventure under another name. HEROS did not quite reach its top shelf status so perhaps a new name and a fresh start will let in the fresh spring like air.

"It’s been a while since last time I fought in Saitama Super Arena. It has been year and half. It’s the best place to fight so I am looking forward to it. I also would like to recognize my opponent for accepting this fight in such short notice. I respect his guts." - Mirko Cro Cop

Although many world wide fans have their eyes upon the heavyweight who fell short in the octagon, as the press conference for the first DREAM (formerly HEROS) show got started, it was Caol Uno who began by explaining why he is not competing in the DREAM Lightweight GP.

"Because of my jaw injury from the last year, I have realized that I can not be in a top shape to compete. I was preparing for this fight but realized that I cannot be ready. But I am looking to fight in DREAM later this year."

Definitely bad news for the Japanese and international fans, after Uno spoke then the press conference began. Caol Uno is probably still among the worlds top lightweights, once having fought to a draw against BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight belt. So this is indeed unfortunate for those fans that still believe in their man.

(from left to right) Alvarez vs. Dida, up close and personal..

After all the fighters were introduced in the order of their bouts, no one looked more pumped up than Andre Dida who is facing the young American ace Eddie Alvarez.

"Tomorrow I am looking to win in KO. Either in standing or on the ground it is going to be aggressive fight."

When the fighters faced off for the photos, these two where the only two who really came in close, face-to-face, almost ready to throw punches. If the very high tension in the pre fight pomp is any indication, the fans are in for a big treat. Dida is an extremely experience and durable opponent and will be Eddie’s biggest challenge to date.

"As always, I promise a high pace violent, very aggressive fight."

That was Eddie's promise to his fans. Alvarez’ only loss was to a Goat named Nick Thompson, who just got a victory in Japan in the Sengoku show. In all fairness, they don’t even belong in the same weight class, and Nick eventually used his size and reach to power down Alvarez.

Perhaps one of the most exciting and dangerous men in this tournament is the Scandinavian soldier Joachin Hansen, whose knees are extremely dangerous KO weapons. Although he can’t look past his first opponent in the tournament (Kotetsu Boku), somewhere in the back of his mind Hansen must have the Japanese star Aoki in his thoughts."I am very excited to be here for the first DREAM competition. I have been training very hard."

Boku too had his say. "Tomorrow I am looking to give everything I got and win."

Meanwhile Brazilian Luis "Buscape" Firmino is ready to fire things up in his encounter against the talented Japanese wrestler Kazuyuki Miyata. Firmino is definitely a dangerous opponent with his wild striking style and hyperactive game. "Tomorrow, I will win and position myself to be a next champion."

Miyata Meanwhile played it all down. "Please look at me in the ring tomorrow. That's it."

Also part of the Grand Prix is Black Mamba, Kultar Gill who has proven himself vulnerable to the ground game, having been taken out by Brazilian grappler Rodrigo Damm in the past. "I would like to thank DREAM for inviting me to the best lightweight tournament in the world. I will make a exciting fight tomorrow."

His opponent Tatsuya Kawajiri could be his nightmare opponent with his lay and prey style, unless he gets nailed by the lanky Indian, citizen of Canada, it might be a dull judges decision in the end. He is promising big things for himself and his hopeful fans here at home. "Tomorrow is the beginning of the new era of Japanese MMA. So I would like to produce a good result and make one big step towards the new era."

Probably the most highly anticipated match up which did not come into fruition for last new years Yarennoka show, is the duel between Shinya Aoki and JZ Calvan. Aoki knows he has a tough opponent before him, who is recovering from an injury that didn’t let the first fight happen. "I appreciated that I can be in the ring tomorrow. It is going to be a fight full of dream."

If Aoki can keep JZ down in his realm he may be able to catch Calvan, but this stocky Brazilians style is explosive and his standing game could be effective if he gets inside without getting wrapped up. "I am really happy to fight him. I hate to disappoint all the fans. I am sorry that I couldn't fight him on New Year's Eve, so I am glad to be here to finally face Aoki."

Finally, Minowa-man's opponent was announced on this day. It is Lee Kwan Bum from Korea, who used to be a professional baseball player who since turned to an MMA fighter. He is only 21 years old but already had eight pro MMA fights.

'Eddie Alvarez vs. Andre Dida!' - 3/08/2008

On March 7th, three more cards are added for the upcoming DREAM lightweight GP first rounds. Mitsuhiro Ishida, who edged out Gilbert Melendez on New Year's Eve 2007 would take on Bu Kyun Jung from Korea, Olympic silver medal winner Katsuhiko Nagata will face Artur Oumakhanov from Russia, and Eddie Alvarez is finally coming back to Japan to take on Andre Dida. Also on this day, DREAM revealed Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, instead of entering in the lightweight GP, is taking on Hidetaka Monma in the welterweight bout. Dream also confirmed that Minowa-man is fighitng in this show as well. The opponent of Mirko Cro Cop is still yet to be determined. At last, DREAM finally announced that both Gilbert and Caol Uno is out of the GP.

(*detailed report coming soon!)

(from left to right) Mitsuhiro Ishida, Hayato Mach Sakurai, Hidetaka Monma, and Minowa-man.

'Three Cards Added for Lightweight GP!' - February 26th, 2008

(from left to right) Kotetsu Boku, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Kazuyuki Miyata.

On February 26th, DREAM held a press conference in Tokyo and announced the three first round match-ups of the upcoming DREAM lightweight GP starting on March 15th at Saitama Super Arena.
Kultar Gill, the man who is known as Black Mamba in Japan, would take on Tatsuya Kawajiri. Former Olympic wrestler Kazuyuki Miyata is taking on Luiz "Buscape" Firmino, and finally Joachim Hansen would face Kotetsu Boku.

All three Japanese fighters attended the press conference.
Tatsuya Kawajiri was the first one to speak, "Look at these fighters, anyone can win this tournament. This ring is the adequate place to decide the best in the world. I am going to be 30 in May so I want to conquer this tournament and give myself a belt as a birthday present." But he is very cautious about Mamba, "He is the most dangerous opponent. His one shot is heavy. He has got that long reach so landing strikes and even clinching with him is going to be difficult. He may look like some kind of character but he has got real strength."
All three bouts announced on this day were ex-PRIDE fighters facing HERO'S fighters. Keiichi Sasahara DREAM Event Producer explained, "We weren't really aware of that" but Kawajiri was feeling the competition, "I liked the PRIDE ring. I don't want to lose to HERO'S fighters."

Miyata is considering this DREAM as his third opportunity, "I couldn't exhibit my ability in HERO'S and Dynamite!! My opponent is tough but I want to show what I got." In regards to Buscape, "Yesterday, I rented a DVD and watched his fight. Naturally his striking looks strong but he can do wrestling as well." It has been only three years since Miyata began doing MMA therefore "Now I am a grappler to a certain level so I am now emphasizing a bit more on the striking."

Boku seemed determined, "To me this fight against Hansen is like an 'evaluation match'. When I beat him no one can object to me being in this tournament. I am glad I don't have to fight a comical one. I think this fight is going to be demolishing at each other. Engage in a standing battle? Well, maybe I should. It would be good self-advertisement." Of course Boku smiled at the reporters. His association KILLER BEE recently moved from Shirogane to Magome and changed its name to KRAZY BEE and the training environment has improved dramatically, "These days, KID (Norifumi Yamamoto) likes to train me. Even yesterday, he put me through the wringer."

The other part of the card including the Mirko Cro Cop fight is scheduled to be announced later this week.
Finally, the home page of DREAM (http://www.dreamofficial.com/) has opened at 13:00 Tokyo time on this same day.

'HERO'S Rebaptized DREAM, Grand Prix Tournaments And Mirko' - February 13th, 2008

Mirko Cro Cop got the biggest applause from the fans at the press conference held at Hotel Metropolitan Edmond in Tokyo.

From the tough romantic notion of HEROS, Dream Fight Entertainment Group on Wednesday has announced a name changed as the new promotion will be the now romantic DREAM. FEG is behind this venture with former Dream Stage Entertainment (Of the PRIDE fame) employees steering the production.

The festivities will begin on March 15 for 2008, as an ambitious schedule will charter the course for this year. The first offering is a Lightweight Grand Prix in the 70-kilogram (154-pound) weight class. Shinya Aoki, Caol Uno, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Joachim Hansen, Gilbert Melendez, Gesias "J.Z." Calvancante, Andre "Dida" Amade, Luis "Buscape" Firmino, just to name a few on the sixteen-man card. Due to the fight not happening at the Yarennoka show because of JZ’s injury, his fight against Aoki has already been made official.

Names such as Kazushi Sakuraba, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, Kiyoshi Tamura, and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto were also presented as part of the talent core in this "new" show. One of the men who twice fought Saku, Mirko Cro Cop was at the press circus apparently stepping into the DREAM machine, which obviously means that his relationship with ZUFFA has ended in full blown but "amiable" disappointment for the former Senator and special forces man from Cro-Asia. Cro Cop could come back to the stage as early as March, but one must wonder what his true worth is right now in the eyes of the MMA masses. Although the Croat had a bad experience with the cage he did not rule out returning some day for revenge against Brazilian, Gabriel Gonzaga and French man Cheick Kongo.

The weight classes are almost the same as the UFC except that the heavyweights can be as light as 205 + pounds.

Heavyweight - 93.1 kilos and over (205 + lbs.)

Light Heavyweight - 93 kilos limit (205 lbs.)

Middleweight - 84 kilos limit (185 lbs.)

Welterweight - 76 kilos limit (167.5 lbs.)

Lightweight - 70 kilos limit (154 lbs.)

DREAM Schedule of Events 2008

March 15, 2008 HEIWA DREAM 1 - Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round at Saitama Super Arena

April 29, 2008 OLYMPIA DREAM 2 - Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round at Saitama Super Arena

May 11, 2008 HEIWA DREAM 3 - Lightweight Grand Prix Round Two at Saitama Super Arena

June, 2008 OLYMPIA DREAM 4 - Middleweight Grand Prix Round Two (Korea or Japan)

July 21, 2008 HEIWA DREAM 5 - Lightweight Grand Prix Finals at Osakajo Hall

September, 2008 OLYMPIA DREAM 6 - Middleweight Grand Prix Finals at Saitama Super Arena

FEG 'DREAM.1 Lightweight GP 2008 Opening Round'
Saturday, March 15th, 2008
At Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Doors Open - 14:00
Fight Starts - 15:00

Confirmed Cards (Subject to Change):

Lightweight GP First Round -

J.Z. Calvan (Brazil / American Top Team) vs. Shinya Aoki (Japan / Paraestra Tokyo)

Tatsuya Kawajiri (Japan / R-BLOOD) vs. Black Mamba / Kultar Gill (India / Freelance)

Kazuyuki Miyata (Japan / Freelance) vs. Luiz "Buscape" Firmino (Brazil / Brazilian Top Team)

Joachim Hansen (Norway / Front Line Academy) vs. Kotetsu Boku (Japan / KRAZY BEE)

Andre Dida (Brazil) vs. Eddie Alvarez (U.S.A. / Fight Factory)

Katsuhiko Nagata (Japan / Team Kings) vs. Artur Oumakhanov (Russia / SK Absolute Russia)

Mitsuhiro Ishida (Japan / R-BLOOD) vs. Bu Kyun Jung (Korea / Freelance)

Welterweight Bout 5 min / 3R

Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (Japan / Mach Dojo) vs. Hidetaka Monma (Japan / Wajiu-tsu Keishu-kai A-3)

Also Scheduled to Fight:
Mirko Cro Cop (Croatia / Team Cro Cop) vs. Tatsuya Mizuno (Japan)

Minowa-man (Japan / Freelance) vs. Lee Kwan Bum (Korea)

Ticket Prices:
VIP - 100,000 yen
RS - 30,000 yen
Stand S - 17,000 yen
Stand A - 7,000 yen

Special Artice 'DREAM - After All, 'The Grand Coalition' Was A Rehab Plan For HERO'S' >>