DREAM featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes (8-2) is set to defend his title for the second time at the upcoming New Year’s Eve Dynamite!!! 2010 event in Japan. He’s slated to face Japanese opponent Hiroyuki Takaya (14-8-1) in a rematch of their 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix Final match, and is expecting nothing less than a “war” when both men step into the ring.
Bibiano spoke to Tatame.com about his preparations for Takaya and his expectations for the fight.
“He’s a tough guy, but nowadays everybody’s tough, it’s hard. He has good hands, but I have to be the best plan I can use against him, set things straight, be pretty sharp. I have to be prepared to exchange with him, do what I do: mixing Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling…He’s a slippery guy, knows how to defend himself, knows how to escape from the positions when he’s got his back on the floor and then stand up and go for the trade of punches. I’ll do what I can do: if I can submit him, it’s cool. I’ll do whatever it is I can do to win that fight. The guys is a hard one, do I have to do everything right to win this fight. He’s too emotional, he can screw things up with that. He’ll bring much emotion to the fight, he’ll come forward, he’ll like to hit me a lot, so let’s see what happens.”
Check out the rest of Bibiano’s comments as he discusses the WEC-UFC merger and his thoughts on their featherweight champ José Aldo.
Bibiano won the DREAM title at the DREAM.11 – Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 Finals by defeating Takaya by split decision. He would then go on to defend his title against former lightweight champ Joachim Hansen at DREAM.13 by split decision also.