This event almost immediately followed UFC 104 and was a refreshing change of pace, comparatively. There were very few big names on the card, but all the competitions were very spirited.There was also excitement brought on by the anticipation of the "White Cage", along with a round system more familiar to US fans. As with the previous Dream event, I've limited my thoughts to the last "main" card.
1. Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Zelg Galesic via Submission
I'm beginning to see a current trend for how Sakuraba's matches play out. First, there are takedown attempts until he gets his takedown. Then he absorbs a ridiculous amount of punishment (while the ref barely flinches) and gets the submission win, against his 0-1, ex-pro Soccer player opponent. I kid about "The Gracie Hunter", but I still give him all the respect for trying to entertain the crowd as best he can, with what little he has left. His transitions to each submission were quite smooth and he really was going for broke, as exemplified by the look on Galesic's face when he tapped.
Zelg really couldn't have fought much better once he had Sakuraba turtled up, short of moving into a position less prone for submissions. But then that would have meant given up the positional advantage, offensively.
2. Marius Zaromskis defeats Myeon Ho Bae via KO
"The Whitemare" started off the bout channeling Caol Uno and quickly transitioned pre-UFC, CroCop.
Ho Bae even had his arm up when Marius threw his high kick so you can image the impact if he took it full on. I think Zaromskis is ready for a stiffer test like Nick Diaz or "Mayhem" Miller. Heck, put that silly Dream WW belt on the line too!
3. Eddie Alvarez defeats Katsunori Kikuno via Submission
By far, this was the best match on the card, pairing and action wise.
Alvarez is universally ranked in the top 10 of LW's and Kikuno is a tough Kyokushin product, with a good record and currently holds the DEEP LW belt. I liked the pairing stylistically, in terms of the fighters standup skills. Both guys like to trade but with very different styles. Kikuno prefers traditional Karate stances and strikes while Alvarez stands and trades more like a MMA boxer. In the end, it was Alvarez's ground skills that made the difference. Standing, I felt Alvarez only had a small advantage throughout the match and he hit a major setback when he got caught in that standing neck crank/crucifix. He rebounded in Round 2 when Kikuno's ground weaknesses were exploited.
Even though he could use a ton of improvement on the ground, I'd still like to see Kikuno go up against so strong contenders. His unique stance and patented Crescent kick make for an exciting and interesting match with any opponent willing to trade hands with him.
4. Alistair Overeem defeats James Thompson via Submission
Easy payday for both fighters - I just have a question of whether Overeem's guillotine is that good or is James Thompson that bad?
For an MMA event that reminds me of a Cirque de Solei event, I was quite impressed by the energy and excitement I felt by watching it. Dream is getting a little bit closer to being credible as a sport, at least for US fans with the use of the cage and similar match structures.
I just hope they never get rid of the fantastic introductions and the Screaming Lady.
Next up, winding back the clock for MFC 22.
~S
Showing posts with label dream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dream. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Dream 11 - Tourneys,Tune-Ups and Triumphs
Note: This event took place 10/6/09.
For the sake of my sanity and your eyesight, I'm going to go through just the last 4 matches of the card. I will however, give the results of the two tournament brackets matches that had occurred first.
Featherweight
Kazuyuki Miyata defeats Daika Hata via Decision (Reserve bout)
Bibiano Fernanddes defeats Joe Warren via Submission
Hiroyuki Takaya defeats Hideo Tokoro via TKO
Super Hulk
Ikuhisa Minowa defeats Hong Man Choi via Submission
Rameau Sokoudjou defeats Bob Sapp via TKO
Ok, down to the final four.
1. Tatsuya Kawajiri defeats Melchor Manibusan
Clearly, this was a gimme match for Kawajiri. He will most likely get the winner of Aoki/Hansen match going on later on this card.
Melchor posed no threat to "Crusher" whatsoever and frankly, this match made no sense for either fighter. The man's record was 2-3 before this match.
I love the Japanese and their "warm up" matches.
2. Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Rubin Williams via Submission
Speaking of matches that make no sense, the most beloved Japanese MMA fighter of all time beats an ex-boxer in his debut MMA match. I got the sense that both guys thought this was more a sparring match. We didn't really see any techniques besides the Kimura that ended everything. Both the strikes and takedowns were sloppy and I don't think Williams even threw any strikes.
Although, there's not many more veterans or experienced fighters that Sakuraba can face and beat, I'd rather not see him in these ridiculous lopsided matches with non-MMA fighters that are trying to transition over or just looking for a paycheck.
"The Gracie Hunter" deserves better, even in the twilight of his career.
3. Shinya Aoki defeats Joachim Hansen via Submission
Wow.
What a complete 180 from the last two matches.
This could have been a fantastical match in ADCC because of the little, inconsequential striking that took place. It had shades of Maia/McDonald and Sakuraba/Newton in terms of the levels of grappling we saw from both guys.
Although we could have went without Aoki hollywooding it for about 20 minutes when he took that nut shot, he definitely redeemed himself with the last second armbar to finish the match. He very much stuck to his game plan the whole time and didn't miss a beat. Sloppy takedowns or not, he went for them and got them. He shrewdly went for dominant positions first, before attempting any submissions and took his time doing it.
Hansen was trying to match Aoki on the ground and he was holding his own. He's as much an offensive grappler as Aoki. While a little less talented in that area, he makes up for this with having superior striking, which he did not get to utilize due to Aoki's effective game plan or Hansen's ineffectiveness in getting taken down.
Finally, that one mistake of going for the knee strike cost "Hellboy" the championship belt, but I commend him on his efforts regardless. Who's up for a 4th match between them?
4. Bibiano Fernandes defeats Hiroyuki Takaya via Decision
This was a close one and I saw it going either way.
I couldn't place my finger on it until about midway through the match, but Bibiano's fighting style is very similar to Hermes Franca's. It's a combination of the crazy, monkey-haymaker style punches and sloppy takedown and submission attempts. Another thing that reminded me of Hermes was his size. I know he doesn't train down at ATT but he must be getting pointers from someone down there because his weight cutting skills are either spectacular or he never plans on fighting in the US.
Takaya fought a good fight and connected to Fernandes' face with some rather good, hard shots. Too bad they proved ineffective and his lack of ground skills cost him the decision victory.
I'm now waiting for a rematch of champions, "KID" vs. "The Flash".
I'll try not to skip bouts that are televised next time. I'm just worried that if I try to come up with relevant and comical analogies about what strategies that Minowaman and Judo Thierry implemented in the Super Hulk tournament, it would just drain me of brain power that I plan on using for my bicep workout later today.
Later
~S
For the sake of my sanity and your eyesight, I'm going to go through just the last 4 matches of the card. I will however, give the results of the two tournament brackets matches that had occurred first.
Featherweight
Kazuyuki Miyata defeats Daika Hata via Decision (Reserve bout)
Bibiano Fernanddes defeats Joe Warren via Submission
Hiroyuki Takaya defeats Hideo Tokoro via TKO
Super Hulk
Ikuhisa Minowa defeats Hong Man Choi via Submission
Rameau Sokoudjou defeats Bob Sapp via TKO
Ok, down to the final four.
1. Tatsuya Kawajiri defeats Melchor Manibusan
Clearly, this was a gimme match for Kawajiri. He will most likely get the winner of Aoki/Hansen match going on later on this card.
Melchor posed no threat to "Crusher" whatsoever and frankly, this match made no sense for either fighter. The man's record was 2-3 before this match.
I love the Japanese and their "warm up" matches.
2. Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Rubin Williams via Submission
Speaking of matches that make no sense, the most beloved Japanese MMA fighter of all time beats an ex-boxer in his debut MMA match. I got the sense that both guys thought this was more a sparring match. We didn't really see any techniques besides the Kimura that ended everything. Both the strikes and takedowns were sloppy and I don't think Williams even threw any strikes.
Although, there's not many more veterans or experienced fighters that Sakuraba can face and beat, I'd rather not see him in these ridiculous lopsided matches with non-MMA fighters that are trying to transition over or just looking for a paycheck.
"The Gracie Hunter" deserves better, even in the twilight of his career.
3. Shinya Aoki defeats Joachim Hansen via Submission
Wow.
What a complete 180 from the last two matches.
This could have been a fantastical match in ADCC because of the little, inconsequential striking that took place. It had shades of Maia/McDonald and Sakuraba/Newton in terms of the levels of grappling we saw from both guys.
Although we could have went without Aoki hollywooding it for about 20 minutes when he took that nut shot, he definitely redeemed himself with the last second armbar to finish the match. He very much stuck to his game plan the whole time and didn't miss a beat. Sloppy takedowns or not, he went for them and got them. He shrewdly went for dominant positions first, before attempting any submissions and took his time doing it.
Hansen was trying to match Aoki on the ground and he was holding his own. He's as much an offensive grappler as Aoki. While a little less talented in that area, he makes up for this with having superior striking, which he did not get to utilize due to Aoki's effective game plan or Hansen's ineffectiveness in getting taken down.
Finally, that one mistake of going for the knee strike cost "Hellboy" the championship belt, but I commend him on his efforts regardless. Who's up for a 4th match between them?
4. Bibiano Fernandes defeats Hiroyuki Takaya via Decision
This was a close one and I saw it going either way.
I couldn't place my finger on it until about midway through the match, but Bibiano's fighting style is very similar to Hermes Franca's. It's a combination of the crazy, monkey-haymaker style punches and sloppy takedown and submission attempts. Another thing that reminded me of Hermes was his size. I know he doesn't train down at ATT but he must be getting pointers from someone down there because his weight cutting skills are either spectacular or he never plans on fighting in the US.
Takaya fought a good fight and connected to Fernandes' face with some rather good, hard shots. Too bad they proved ineffective and his lack of ground skills cost him the decision victory.
I'm now waiting for a rematch of champions, "KID" vs. "The Flash".
I'll try not to skip bouts that are televised next time. I'm just worried that if I try to come up with relevant and comical analogies about what strategies that Minowaman and Judo Thierry implemented in the Super Hulk tournament, it would just drain me of brain power that I plan on using for my bicep workout later today.
Later
~S
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