Two champions retained their titles and a tournament champion was crowned at the DREAM Bantamweight
Japan GP Final on Saturday night at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.
Defending DREAM light heavyweight champion
Gegard Mousasi delivered one of the worst beatings in recent memory, absolutely trouncing Olympic judo silver medalist
Hiroshi Izumi. Mousasi effortlessly knocked several of Izumi's teeth out, possibly broke his nose and beat him to a bloody mess all within two minutes.
Hiroyuki Takaya made his first successful defense of his featherweight title, very narrowly edging out
Kazuyuki Miyata in a nail biting three round war. Miyata seemed to get the better of Takaya, landing more punches, closing the eye of his opponent and having the advantage in the wrestling department but Takaya's right hook and low kicks earned him two of the judge's favor.
In the final of the DREAM Bantamweight Japan GP,
Hideo Tokoro fought a disciplined bout and completed his comeback to top form, his defense and hands leading him to victory over an aggressive
Masakazu Imanari.
Gegard Mousasi Delivers Incredible Beating to Hiroshi Izumi
In a disgustingly one-sided bout, former DREAM middleweight champion, former
Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and defending DREAM light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi beat Olympic silver medalist Hiroshi Izumi to a pulp inside the first three and a half minutes of their bout.
Mousasi simply watched for the first minute of the bout, easily avoiding looping hooks, a spinning backfist and kicks from the challenger, before eventually deciding to act – and when he did act, it was brutal.
Piston-like jabs landed with perfect accuracy, dazing Izumi and giving the champion his range for the right hand. The cross, now following Mousasi's left, knocked several teeth (possibly false teeth) from Izumi's mouth, seemingly broke his nose and sent him to the canvas. The iron chinned judo player was good enough to stand after a torrent of ground and pound, but was only able hang his bloody face outside the ropes to avoid punches from Mousasi before his corner finally showed mercy and threw in the towel.
The bout was over inside three and a half minutes but given the time that Mousasi simply watched, the alarmingly effortless violence probably lasted less than two minutes.
Hiroyuki Takaya Squeaks Past Kazuyuki Miyata to Retain Featherweight Strap
Hiroyuki Takaya's first featherweight title defense was successful, but only by the narrowest of margins. Freestyle wrestling Olympian Kazuyuki Miyata displayed greatly improved stand-up in their three round affair and in one judge's eyes, did enough to claim the belt.
Takaya was much better in the opening five minutes and had the challenger on the back foot. Powerful right hooks battered the guard of Miyata, clearly troubling him and forcing him to resort to purely defensive wrestling. As the bout progressed however, Miyata grew more comfortable in the stand-up and his jab honed in on the eyes of Takaya.
Through the final two rounds Miyata controlled the pace of the bout with his wrestling, landed more strikes, closed the right eye of the Champion with his jab and at one point landed an incredible Saenchai Sor Kingstar-style cartwheel kick to the head, but Takaya's powerful hooks and early domination was enough to win with two of the three judge's.
Hideo Tokoro Beats Masakazu Imanari to Claim DREAM BW Japan GP
Completing his return from several years of bad form, Hideo Tokoro narrowly beat out former two-division Deep champion Masakazu Imanari to claim victory in the DREAM Bantamweight Japan GP final.
Imanari was the more aggressive of the pair, leaping in with flying knees and aggressively seeking the submission during the few ground exchanges, at one point coming close with a straight ankle lock, but as is usual for Imanari, he also did himself no favors when he flopped to back after receiving any strike. Tokoro's defense and counter boxing during Imanari's reckless standing attacks was good though and earned him the judge's nod.
Although Tokoro was crowned the Bantamweight Japan GP champion, both fighters will advance to the Bantmweight World GP which starts in September at the next DREAM event.
Tatsuya Kawajiri Dominates Drew Fickett
Tatsuya Kawajiri returned to top form following his highly disappointing Strikeforce lightweight title contention, steamrolling Drew Fickett in a one-sided affair.
The former Shooto ace came out of the gates on a mission, landing a short series of low kicks that immediately formed a large welt, had Fickett wincing in pain and looking to get the bout to the canvas. A standing guillotine attempt from Fickett missed it's mark and Kawajiri had no problems escaping and moving into a dominant position. Through the next four minutes, Kawajiri delivered a barrage of blows against a largely defenseless Fickett to earn the referee stoppage and TKO victory.
Marius Zaromskis Pushed by Late Replacement Eiji Ishikawa
Coming in on only two days notice, Eiji Ishikawa displayed incredible heart and toughness in his DREAM debut bout with promotional welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis, the Deep and Pancrase veteran hanging with the Lithuanian striker to the final bell.
As expected from the aggressive Champion, Zaromskis tested Ishikawa's mettle early when he found himself in side control after a reversed takedown attempt. Zaromskis rained in fists as Ishikawa scrambled but the Champion seemingly came close to earning the referee stoppage. Ishikawa's experience, wrestling and toughness allowed him to recover and mount his own attacks however, throwing high kicks, controlling significant portions of the bout in the clinch and landing a beautiful throw off the ropes.
Zaromskis relentless strikes eventually turned the tide though, the Champion getting comfortable to the point where he was able to perform two back flip guard pass attempts. But even as Zaromskis was winning the bout Ishikawa was there to push him, at one point the Lithuanian's signature head kick landing cleanly but causing no damage, prompting Ishikawa to raise his hands in victory.
The judges had no problems rendering Zaromskis the winner but given the amount of notice that Ishikawa had, it was certainly a commendable performance.
Tatsuya Mizuno Scores Knockout Over Trevor Prangley
Despite possibly being unable to see in one eye, DREAM Light Heavyweight GP finalist Tatsuya Mizuno scored an impressive first knockout victory over UFC veteran Trevor Prangley.
Prangley utilized his formidable wrestling to dirty box Mizuno and although he was not landing many shots, he did manage to land a fist to the Japanese fighter's eye, seeming to blind him. Mizuno, blinking heavily, looked to be in trouble but was good enough to engage Prangley in the clinch and deliver a knee to the midsection. Moments later, with bout restarted after a break, Mizuno delivered a knee to the liver, causing Prangley to fold and flip backwards, giving Mizuno the knockout victory.
Kenji Osawa Books Ticket to Bantamweight World GP
In a bout to decide the DREAM Bantamweight Japan GP third place winner, Kenji Osawa had no problems getting past Keisuke Fujiwara, ZST bantamweight champion and replacement for the injured Atsushi Yamamoto.
Fujiwara's career in DREAM has been plagued with problems of inactivity and this bout was no excpetion – Osawa was essentially free to do as wished through the 15 minutes, Fujiwara only doing the bare minimum to avoid getting submitted. Osawa came close with two head-arm choke attempts but was unable to finish his passive opponent.
With the win, Kenji Osawa joins Hideo Tokoro and Masakazu Imanari at the DREAM World Bantamweight Japan GP in September.
Eiji Mistuoka Derails Bruno Carvalho
In the evening's opener, Eiji Mitsuoka avoided the wild striking and standing guillotine attempts of Brazilian prospect Bruno Carvalho to take a comfortable decision. An early standing guillotine attempt from Carvalho seemed to exhaust his arms and after that, Mitsuoka's superior wrestling made it an easy night.
DREAM BW Japan GP Final - July 16 at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan
DREAM Featherweight Championship
Hiroyuki Takaya def. Kazuyuki Miyata by Split Decision
DREAM Bantamweight Japan GP Final
Hideo Tokoro def. Masakazu Imanari by Unanimous Decision
DREAM Light Heavyweight Championship
Gegard Mousasi def. Hiroshi Izumi by KO (Punches) – Round 1, 3:29
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Drew Fickett by TKO (Punches) – Round 1, 4:41
Kenji Osawa def. Keisuke Fujiwara by Unanimous Decision
Tatsuya Mizuno def. Trevor Prangley by KO (Knee to the Body) – Round 1, 4:41
Marius Zaromskis def. Eiji Ishikawa by Unanimous Decision
Eiji Mitsuoka def. Bruno Carvalho by Unanimous Decision
