Only four days out from DREAM.17, event officials have added one more fight with DREAM “Super Hulk” GP champion Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa agreeing to meet 275-pound Mongolian Baru Harn in a “Super Hulk” open weight match at the Saitama Super Arena on Sept. 24.
Due to his pro wrestling responsibilities as Tiger Mask V, Ikuhisa Minowa (49-32-8) has been relatively inactive in the MMA ring in 2011, picking up two wins in two attempts at regional level shows. Minowa, a natural middleweight, went 3-0 against super heavyweight fighters in 2010 but had two high-profile losses to Olympic judo medalists Satoshi Ishii and Hiroshi Izumi.
Baru Harn (1-1) is a former bouncer and two-time Mongolian wrestling champion who made his MMA debut in 2008 against defending DEEP “Megaton” champion Yusuke Kawaguchi, but lost a majority decision. Harn returned at Astra in 2010 to face former “Megaton” title contender Seigo Mizuguchi and managed to utilize his striking to win a hard fought decision.
DREAM.17, the first full DREAM event for 2011, is set to air live on HDNet in North America. The complete card is after the break.
DREAM.17 – Sept. 24 2011 at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen
Caol Uno vs. Takeshi Lion
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yan Cabral
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Willamy Chiquerim
Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Gerald Harris
Hideo Tokoro vs. Antonio Banuelos
Takafumi Otsuka vs. Bibiano Fernandes
Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum
Yusup Saadulaev vs. Rodolfo Marques Diniz
Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa vs. Baru Harn