Dream.17
Encyclopedia
Dream: Fight for Japan!, also known as Dream Japan GP – 2011 Bantamweight Japan Tournament, was a mixed martial arts
event held by Fighting and Entertainment Group
's mixed martial arts promotion Dream
. The event took place on May 29, 2011 at the Saitama Super Arena
in Saitama
, Japan.
Shinya Aoki
was originally slated to fight former MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee
. Then McKee unexpectedly pulled out of the fight and was to be replaced by The Ultimate Fighter 8 alumni, Shane Nelson
. However, Aoki declined to fight Nelson, and instead fought Rich Clementi
.
The first and second rounds of the bantamweight tournament took place on this card. The finals and third place fight will take place on an event in July. The winner and loser of the final and the winner of the third place fight will advance to the Dream World Bantamweight Tournament to be held at a later date. The event was not aired live on HDNet but will instead air via tape delay.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by Fighting and Entertainment Group
Fighting and Entertainment Group
Fighting and Entertainment Group is the leading Japanese combat sport promoter. Its current president is Sadaharu Tanikawa and it is the parent company behind the mixed martial arts series Dream and formerly, the largest kickboxing promotion in the world, K-1.On December 31, 2010 after the Dream...
's mixed martial arts promotion Dream
DREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
. The event took place on May 29, 2011 at the Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. Its spectator capacity is 37,000 at maximum settings.This main arena capacity is between 19,000-22,500 when events such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, gymnastics, boxing, mixed martial arts and...
in Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan.
Background
The event was held in the hall version of the Saitama Super Arena with a capacity of around 7000.Shinya Aoki
Shinya Aoki
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...
was originally slated to fight former MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee
Antonio McKee
Antonio McKee is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division and is known for his high number of decision victories.-Early life:McKee grew up with a mother who battled drug addiction....
. Then McKee unexpectedly pulled out of the fight and was to be replaced by The Ultimate Fighter 8 alumni, Shane Nelson
Shane Nelson (fighter)
Shane Nelson is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.-Mixed martial arts career:...
. However, Aoki declined to fight Nelson, and instead fought Rich Clementi
Rich Clementi
Richard Thomas Clementi is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. He holds notable wins over Terry Etim, Sam Stout, Fabio Holanda, Melvin Guillard and Anthony Johnson.-Mixed martial arts career:...
.
The first and second rounds of the bantamweight tournament took place on this card. The finals and third place fight will take place on an event in July. The winner and loser of the final and the winner of the third place fight will advance to the Dream World Bantamweight Tournament to be held at a later date. The event was not aired live on HDNet but will instead air via tape delay.
Results
- Lightweight bout:
Shinya AokiShinya Aokiis a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...
vs.
Rich ClementiRich ClementiRichard Thomas Clementi is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. He holds notable wins over Terry Etim, Sam Stout, Fabio Holanda, Melvin Guillard and Anthony Johnson.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Aoki defeated Clementi via submission (neck crank) at 2:32 of round 2.
- Lightweight bout: Katsunori KikunoKatsunori KikunoKatsunori Kikuno is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and currently fighting for Dream. Kikuno is a practitioner of traditional martial arts including Judo and Kyokushin Karate and is known for incorporating these styles effectively in mixed martial arts fights...
vs. Daisuke NakamuraDaisuke Nakamura (fighter)Daisuke Nakamura is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who has fought for DREAM, Strikeforce, M-1 Global, DEEP, ZST, Cage Rage, PRIDE, K-1 and Cage Force promotions. He holds notable victories over Nigerian K-1 kickboxer Andy Ologun and won his mixed martial arts debut against veteran...
- Lightweight bout:
- Kikuno defeated Nakamura via unanimous decision.
- Featherweight bout: Caol UnoCaol Unois a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
vs. Akiyo NishiuraAkiyo Nishiura"Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. Nishiura competes for the Dream organization in the featherweight division.-Biography and career:...
- Featherweight bout:
- Uno defeated Nishiura via unanimous decision.
- Featherweight bout: Takeshi InoueTakeshi Inoue"Lion" Takeshi Inoue is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting as a lightweight in the Shooto organization. In other organizations such as the WEC he would be considered a featherweight as Shooto's 143 lb. weight class is known as lightweight.-Biography:On November 8, 2007, he...
vs. Koichiro Matsumoto
- Featherweight bout:
- Inoue defeated Matsumoto via TKO (punches) at 6:51 of round 1.
- Featherweight bout: Mitsuhiro IshidaMitsuhiro IshidaMitsuhiro Ishida is a Japanese mixed martial artist who has competed in Shooto, Strikeforce and Pride. He currently competes in Dream and is known for his wrestling ability and endurance.- Mixed martial arts career :...
vs.
Joachim Hansen
- Featherweight bout:
- Hansen defeated Ishida via split decision.
Quarterfinals
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Kenji OsawaKenji OsawaKenji Osawa is a Japanese mixed martial artist from Tokyo, currently fighting in the WEC. He started MMA approximately six years ago, and trains and fights out of Wajitsu Keishukai A3, and teaches there once a week, he also teaches at his own school called "Osawa juku" every Sunday.-MMA career:His...
vs. Takafumi Otsuka
- Osawa defeated Otsuka via split decision.
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Keisuke FujiwaraKeisuke FujiwaraKeisuke Fujiwara is a Japanese mixed martial artist with a background in kickboxing.-Kickboxing:...
vs. Masakazu ImanariMasakazu Imanariis a Japanese mixed martial artist best known for his leglocks. He fights out of Team Roken in Kanagawa, Japan. He currently has a professional MMA record of 24–9–2 with notable victories over Danny Batten, Jorge Gurgel, Mike Brown, Robbie Olivier, Jean Silva and Yoshiro Maeda. He is a veteran...
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
- Imanari defeated Fujiwara via unanimous decision.
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Yoshiro MaedaYoshiro MaedaYoshiro Maeda is a Japanese mixed martial artist that has competed for Pancrase, DEEP, Pride, WEC and DREAM. He fought for the WEC Bantamweight Title at WEC 34 against Miguel Torres...
vs. Hideo TokoroHideo TokoroHideo Tokoro is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in Dream in the bantamweight division. He competed in many mixed martial arts fights in other various promotions such as TFC, ZST, Shooto, Rings and K-1 Hero's.-DREAM:...
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
- Tokoro defeated Maeda via submission (injury) at 0:23 of round 2.
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Yusaku Nakamura vs. Atsushi YamamotoAtsushi Yamamotois a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category F42/44 long jump events.He competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There he won a silver medal in the men's F42/44 long jump event.-External links:...
- Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
- Yamamoto defeated Nakamura via TKO (punches) at 8:43 of round 1.
Semifinals
- Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Kenji OsawaKenji OsawaKenji Osawa is a Japanese mixed martial artist from Tokyo, currently fighting in the WEC. He started MMA approximately six years ago, and trains and fights out of Wajitsu Keishukai A3, and teaches there once a week, he also teaches at his own school called "Osawa juku" every Sunday.-MMA career:His...
vs. Masakazu ImanariMasakazu Imanariis a Japanese mixed martial artist best known for his leglocks. He fights out of Team Roken in Kanagawa, Japan. He currently has a professional MMA record of 24–9–2 with notable victories over Danny Batten, Jorge Gurgel, Mike Brown, Robbie Olivier, Jean Silva and Yoshiro Maeda. He is a veteran...
- Imanari defeated Osawa via Submission (heel hook) at 0:58 of round 2.
- Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Hideo TokoroHideo TokoroHideo Tokoro is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in Dream in the bantamweight division. He competed in many mixed martial arts fights in other various promotions such as TFC, ZST, Shooto, Rings and K-1 Hero's.-DREAM:...
vs. Atsushi YamamotoAtsushi Yamamotois a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category F42/44 long jump events.He competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There he won a silver medal in the men's F42/44 long jump event.-External links:...
- Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal:
- Tokoro defeated Yamamoto via split decision.