Author: Daniel Herbertson

Injury Forces Darren Uyenoyama Out of DREAM Japan GP

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanStrikeforce veteran Darren Uyenoyama has been forced out of his May 29 DREAM bantamweight grand prix bout with Atsushi Yamamoto due to a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.

DREAM Keiichi Sasahara delivered the news of…

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Strikeforce veteran Darren Uyenoyama has been forced out of his May 29 DREAM bantamweight grand prix bout with Atsushi Yamamoto due to a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.

DREAM Keiichi Sasahara delivered the news of Uyenoyama’s withdrawal on Wednesday, stating that the San Francisco-based grappler first injured his hand in his September 2009 demolition of then-Shooto champion Shuichiro Katsumura. The hand was thought to be healed but Uyenoyama re-fractured the bone during a training session on Monday.

Coming in on four days notice will be Seichi Ikemoto pupil and DREAM newcomer Yusaku Nakamura. The Osaka-based striker racked up an 8-1 record in the amateur ranks before turning pro in 2010 and since then Nakamura has gone undefeated in his professional career. His fists have scored him three consecutive knockouts thus far, his most recent a second-round stoppage of the much more experienced Isao Terada at Deep 50.

DREAM “Fight for Japan” – May 29, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena, Japan

Shinya Aoki vs. Rich Clementi
Joachim Hansen vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
“Lion” Takeshi Inoue vs. Koichiro Matsumoto
Caol Uno vs. Akiyo Nishiura
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Daisuke Nakamura

Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals:
Masakazu Imanari vs. Keisuke Fujiwara
Hideo Tokoro vs. Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa vs. Takafumi Otsuka
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Atsushi Yamamoto

Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinals:
Masakazu Imanari/Keisuke Fujiwara vs Hideo Tokoro/Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa/Takafumi Otsuka vs. Yusaku Nakamura/Atsushi Yamamoto

 

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Rich Clementi Agrees to Face Shinya Aoki

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanUFC veteran Rich Clementi is the latest candidate in a long line of possible opponents for DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at DREAM “Fight for Japan” on May 29 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. FEG USA’…

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UFC veteran Rich Clementi is the latest candidate in a long line of possible opponents for DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at DREAM “Fight for Japan” on May 29 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. FEG USA’s Mike Kogan released the news via Twitter, but also stated that although the bout has been agreed upon, a contract has not yet been signed.

Clementi has gone 7-7 since his last win in the UFC in May 2008 and back to back losses to Gray Maynard and Gleison Tibau saw the 60-fight veteran lose his UFC contract.

Former Shooto champ Willamy Freire, former WEC champ Jamie Varner and MFC Champion Antonio McKee were all set to face the DREAM champion on May 29 but those bouts all fell through for various reasons. Some outlets have also indicated that BJ Penn student Shane Nelson was set to face Aoki but that bout has not materialized.

The full card for DREAM’s first event of 2011 is after the break although as experience shows, it is obviously subject to change.
DREAM “Fight for Japan” – May 29, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena, Japan

Shinya Aoki vs. Rich Clementi
Joachim Hansen vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
“Lion” Takeshi Inoue vs. Koichiro Matsumoto
Caol Uno vs. Akiyo Nishiura
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Daisuke Nakamura

Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals:
Masakazu Imanari vs. Keisuke Fujiwara
Hideo Tokoro vs. Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa vs. Takafumi Otsuka
Darren Uyenoyama vs. Atsushi Yamamoto

Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinals:
Masakazu Imanari/Keisuke Fujiwara vs Hideo Tokoro/Yoshiro Maeda
Kenji Osawa/Takafumi Otsuka vs. Darren Uyenoyama/Atsushi Yamamoto

 

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Visa Issues Force Antonio McKee Out of Bout With Shinya Aoki

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanRunning contrary to statements from promoter FEG, Antonio McKee claims he has been unable to obtain a visa and so has been forced out of his anticipated May 29 DREAM “Fight for Japan” bout with promotional lightweight cha…

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Running contrary to statements from promoter FEG, Antonio McKee claims he has been unable to obtain a visa and so has been forced out of his anticipated May 29 DREAM “Fight for Japan” bout with promotional lightweight champion Shinya Aoki.

The announcement of McKee’s withdrawal first came from HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon with MMAJunkie.com providing the details on McKee’s visa. FEG USA’s Mike Kogan however has responded to the news on Twitter, admitting the fight is off but denying that the reason is McKee’s visa.

Former Shooto ace Willamy Freire was also ready to fight the DREAM ace but was unable to obtain a visa and so was forced out of the bout. Former WEC champ Jamie Varner was in negotiations to fight Aoki but the bout fell through in negotiations.

DREAM “Fight for Japan”, a charity event set to take place at the Saitama Super Arena, will be a scaled down version of a regular DREAM event due to power shortages following the March 11 Japanese earthquake. The full card for DREAM’s first show of 2011 is after the break.

Shinya Aoki vs. Antonio McKee Booked for DREAM ‘Fight for Japan’

Filed under: DREAM, JapanShinya Aoki finally has an official opponent for DREAM’s May 29 “Fight for Japan” charity event as it was announced Sunday that the DREAM lightweight champion has signed to face Antonio McKee.

Shinya Aoki will be coming into …

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Shinya Aoki finally has an official opponent for DREAM’s May 29 “Fight for Japan” charity event as it was announced Sunday that the DREAM lightweight champion has signed to face Antonio McKee.

Shinya Aoki will be coming into the bout on the heels of his dominating submission victory over Lyle Beerbohm at Strikeforce in April, the Japanese veteran’s first win America. Aoki had been in negotiations to fight former Shooto ace Willamy Freire and former WEC champ Jamie Verner, but those bouts feel through.

In his last outing, Antonio McKee dropped a disappointing split decision to Jacob Volkmann, a loss which cost McKee his UFC contract. Prior to that loss however, McKee had amassed a 15-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2003.

The May 29 “Fight for Japan” charity event will be a scaled down version of a regular DREAM event due to power shortages following the March 11 Japanese earthquake. The full card for DREAM’s first show of 2011 is after the break.

Yamato Damashii Diaries: Video Wrapup

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In the wake of the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, former Shooto heavyweight champion Enson Inoue has been on a one-man charity mission, repeatedly traveling to northeast Japan to directly help those in need.

MMA Fighting joined Inoue to document his journeys through the ruins of the coastal villages of Tohoku, his work at evacuations centers in the area and to bring new light to the ongoing crisis in Japan.


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In the wake of the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, former Shooto heavyweight champion Enson Inoue has been on a one-man charity mission, repeatedly traveling to northeast Japan to directly help those in need.

MMA Fighting joined Inoue to document his journeys through the ruins of the coastal villages of Tohoku, his work at evacuations centers in the area and to bring new light to the ongoing crisis in Japan.


Koichiro Matsumoto vs. ‘Lion’ Takeshi Added to DREAM ‘Fight for Japan’

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanAnother featherweight contest was added to DREAM’s first event of 2011 as event producer Keiichi Sasahara revealed an intriguing battle of counter strikers on Monday. Reigning Deep featherweight champion Koichiro Matsumot…

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Lion TakeshiAnother featherweight contest was added to DREAM’s first event of 2011 as event producer Keiichi Sasahara revealed an intriguing battle of counter strikers on Monday. Reigning Deep featherweight champion Koichiro Matsumoto has agreed to square off with former Shooto 143-pound champion “Lion” Takeshi Inoue.

A bout between DREAM lightweight ace Shinya Aoki and former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner is being targeted, but sources have indicated that no bout agreement has been signed yet and negotiations may have hit a standstill. UFC veterans Antonio McKee and Willamy Freire were also slated to face Aoki but those bouts also fell through.

The May 29 “Fight for Japan” charity event will be a scaled down version of a regular DREAM event due to power shortages and financial issues following the March 11 Japanese earthquake. The current card for DREAM’s first show of 2011 is after the break.