The first half of 2009 proved difficult for Akihiro Gono, but at DREAM
and World Victory Road’s year-end “Dynamite!! 2009” event, he had the
opportunity to finish the year on a high note.
Gono dropped a decision to Jon Fitch in January at UFC 94,
received his UFC walking papers, and suffered a subsequent knockout
loss to Dan Hornbuckle at Sengoku Ninth Battle. But after a
unanimous-decision win over Yoon Young Kim a few months later, the big
opportunity came.
In a DREAM vs. WVR matchup, Gono was matched up against Hayato
“Mach” Sakurai, a DREAM welterweight grand prix semifinalist who
entered the bout with eight wins in 10 fights.