Report: “Crusher” Kawajiri to Make UFC Debut Against Hacran Dias in Singapore


(Photo by Anton Tabuena/BloodyElbow)

If a new report from FightSport Asia is accurate, Japanese veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri will indeed make his Octagon debut at the UFC’s January 4th card in Singapore (aka UFC Fight Night 34). Carrying a 4-0 record since dropping to featherweight in 2011, the 35-year-old “Crusher” will face off against Hacran Dias, the Nova Uniao product who has gone 1-1 in the UFC’s 145-pound division. The fight will mark Kawajiri’s second fight in Singapore, following his first-round submission of Donald Sanchez at ONE FC: War of the Lions in March.

Kawajiri has been inactive for all of 2013, but longtime MMA fans will surely remember his appearances in PRIDE and Dream, including the classic wars he had against Eddie Alvarez and Takanori Gomi. We’ve placed both those fights after the jump for your enjoyment. UFC Fight Night 34 is slated to go down at the Marina Bay Sands in Marina Bay, Singapore, and will likely be headlined by Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine.


(Photo by Anton Tabuena/BloodyElbow)

If a new report from FightSport Asia is accurate, Japanese veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri will indeed make his Octagon debut at the UFC’s January 4th card in Singapore (aka UFC Fight Night 34). Carrying a 4-0 record since dropping to featherweight in 2011, the 35-year-old “Crusher” will face off against Hacran Dias, the Nova Uniao product who has gone 1-1 in the UFC’s 145-pound division. The fight will mark Kawajiri’s second fight in Singapore, following his first-round submission of Donald Sanchez at ONE FC: War of the Lions in March.

Kawajiri has been inactive for all of 2013, but longtime MMA fans will surely remember his appearances in PRIDE and Dream, including the classic wars he had against Eddie Alvarez and Takanori Gomi. We’ve placed both those fights after the jump for your enjoyment. UFC Fight Night 34 is slated to go down at the Marina Bay Sands in Marina Bay, Singapore, and will likely be headlined by Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine.


(Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Eddie Alvarez, DREAM.5, 7/21/08)


(Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Takanori Gomi, Pride Bushido 9, 9/25/05)