This Tuesday night, DREAM returns with their second show and the first round of their 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix.
Shinya Aoki vs Gesias Calvancante - This fight is a rematch from DREAM.1’s first round of the Lightweight Grand Prix. The fight was stopped early and called a no-contest after several strikes from Calvancante appeared to land on the back of Aoki’s head. After the fight, through video replay, if was evident the strikes may not have been illegal and the two received an immediate rematch at DREAM.2.
After watching the first fight, I feel pretty confident that “JZ” will be able to take Aoki in the rematch. Calvancante has now seen Aoki and his wild submission attempts and will be ready to defend against them. No matter who he is fighting, Shinya Aoki always has a chance of submitting his opponent, but I think Calvancante will be able to out-muscle him and win via TKO. It really is too bad that DREAM had this matchup in the first round of the LWGP as these two would have been great competitors in the finals. Winner: Gesias Calvancante
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Andrews Nakahara - The Japanese continue to hold Kazushi Sakuraba on the highest of pedestals and once again gift wrap another fight for him. Andrews Nakahara does not have a professional MMA fight to his credit, which means Saku should be able to pull out a victory, even in his decrepit old state. Not much analysis can be given on this fight considering no one knows anything about Nakahara. Winner: Kazushi Sakuraba
Denis Kang vs Gegard Mousasi - Besides the Aoki-Calvancante rematch, this fight between Denis Kang and Gegard Mousasi is the fight I am most looking forward too. Kang is coming off a very disappointing loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama, who was also supposed to be part of the MWGP but could not due to a fractured nasal cavity. While not well known to the US audience, Mousasi has fought all over the world and already won twice in 2008 having fought in February and March. I expect these two to stand and trade blows, with Mousasi not afraid to take the fight to the ground should he start losing the standup battle. Mousasi has good submission skills that Kang will need to stay away from, and if he can prevent much ground fighting, Kang should come away victorious. Winner: Denis Kang
Yoon Dong Sik vs Shungo Oyama - In what should be a very entertaining fight, two fighters with losing records square off looking to get their careers back on track. After losing the first four fights of his career against some of the best fighters in the world, Yoon Dong Sik has reeled off three straight victories in K-1 Heros and looks to continue his submission victories against Oyama. Oyama is a long time MMA veteran who has only fought twice in the last 18 months. Oyama is a striker and will push the pace against Sik. These guys will go at each other, and go at it hard. Look for Oyama to land some nice strikes and KO Sik. Winner: Shungo Oyama
Kiyhoshi Tamura vs Masakatsu Funaki - Winner: Kiyhoshi Tamura
Ronaldo Souza vs Ian Murphy - Winner: Ronaldo Souza
Taiei Kin vs Ikushisa Minowa - Winner: Taiei Kin
Magomed Sultanakhmedov vs Zeig Galesic - Winner: Zeig Galesic
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lol i bet they paid that dude for sakaraba is fighting to take a dive lol..
Doc, is there a reason you always pick Minowa to lose? lol.
As for Saku, he should be able to walk through this guy, then because of the tourney bracket setup, he will face either Funaki or Tamura. Theyre both over the hill just like Saku, so he should be able to beat either one of them.
Boom! Saku in the semis hehe.
Interview with Saku
http://sukimma.blogspot.com/2008/04/kazushi-sakuraba-interview.html
LOL Saku said at the conference he was holding the door open for Funaki and they ended up throwing him into the tourney.
I dont think they even give Saku the option to fight anymore, they just schedule him because they know honor prevents him from backing out.