DREAM.15 Prefight Interviews With Gegard Mousasi & Shinya Aoki

DREAM.15 is set to take place on July 10, 2010 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and both Shinya Aoki and Gegard Mousasi are looking to rebound after losing their last bouts. The submission specialist Aoki lost to Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce:Nashville via decision while Mousasi lost Muhummad Lawal at the same […]

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DREAM.15 is set to take place on July 10, 2010 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and both Shinya Aoki and Gegard Mousasi are looking to rebound after losing their last bouts. The submission specialist Aoki lost to Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce:Nashville via decision while Mousasi lost Muhummad Lawal at the same event. DREAM.15 is also live on HDNet.

DREAM Continue To Assert That Overeem Will Face Rodriguez.

Despite words directly issued by current Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, it seems that Japanese promotion DREAM is still sticking with their belief that Overeem will face Ricco Rodriguez at DREAM.15 on July 10. Talk about being in denial.
Overeem specifically talked to MMAFighting about the situation, as The MMA News previously reported. […]

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Despite words directly issued by current Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, it seems that Japanese promotion DREAM is still sticking with their belief that Overeem will face Ricco Rodriguez at DREAM.15 on July 10. Talk about being in denial.

Overeem specifically talked to MMAFighting about the situation, as The MMA News previously reported. Here’s the meat from that statement:

“I feel very sorry for Ricco Rodriguez’s camp if they still think the fight is on, and I apologize to my fans that have bought a ticket to see me compete. I hope this statement has shed some light on the unfortunate situation.”

It seems pretty cut and dried, but DREAM doesn’t seem to be taking it to heart. Here’s DREAM’s side of the coin, via CagePotato.com:

According to sources close to the fighter, who is currently aboard a plane to Japan under the assumption that the fight is still a go, DREAM officials have denied the reports that have surfaced about Alistair bowing out of the event and they have held steadfast to their claim that Rodriguez will indeed face Overeem.

Hmm seems like Rodriguez is going a long way for nothing, but you never say never when it comes to mixed martial arts.

Further Proving the Theory that Japanese MMA is F’ed Up: DREAM Execs Deny Alistair Overeem vs. Ricco Rodriguez is Off

(SURPRISE! Just shittin’ you, Ricco. The fight’s still on.")In spite of Alistair Overeem’s public statement to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani today that he never agreed to face Ricco Rodriguez at DREAM 15 this weekend, executives from the Japanese MM…


(SURPRISE! Just shittin’ you, Ricco. The fight’s still on.")

In spite of Alistair Overeem’s public statement to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani today that he never agreed to face Ricco Rodriguez at DREAM 15 this weekend, executives from the Japanese MMA organization are denying that the Strikeforce heavyweight champion has declined a slot on the card.

According to sources close to the fighter, who is currently aboard a plane to Japan under the assumption that the fight is still a go, DREAM officials have denied the reports that have surfaced about Alistair bowing out of the event and they have held steadfast to their claim that Rodriguez will indeed face Overeem.

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Alistair Overeem Not Fighting Ricco Rodriguez At DREAM.15

Alistair Overeem has issued a statement to MMA Fighting, letting his fans know that he will not be fighting on the DREAM.15 card, contrary to reports.
“I have heard numerous rumors about me fighting at Dream on July 10. I want to give my side of the story before speculation arises…After my Brett Rogers […]

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Alistair Overeem has issued a statement to MMA Fighting, letting his fans know that he will not be fighting on the DREAM.15 card, contrary to reports.

“I have heard numerous rumors about me fighting at Dream on July 10. I want to give my side of the story before speculation arises…After my Brett Rogers fight on May 15, I decided to take time off and do media appearances — MMA expo in Canada, E3 expo, Strikeforce events — and enjoy some time off with my family. I knew Dream wanted me on the show, but I didn’t want to go back in training preparation. Then, they offered me a fight against Andrei Arlovski for the Dream heavyweight title. As I have said on occasions, fighting for a belt means something more, and I wanted that Dream title so much that So as a result, I agreed to lay off my media and holiday plans, and went back to training.

“During my training I found out that Andrei Arlovski was not going to be my opponent, and they changed opponents numerous times. I’ve heard names like Tim Sylvia and Minowa. At one point, I received notice that they had found a opponent but that the Dream heavyweight title was not on the line anymore. With all the changes and the title fight no longer a possibility, I simply had to turn down the opportunity. “

There’s plenty more of what Overeem said, just check it out on MMAFighting.com. It’s very interesting to see how things have fallen out and that Overeem actually takes responsibility for verbally agreeing but not signing any contracts. Wonder how Rodriguez feels about the whole thing?

DREAM 15 Mixed Martial Arts

Shinya Aoki vs Tatsuya Kawajiri Kawajiri does what Aoki wants. To be fighting on his back. You could look at the Gilbert Melendez/Aoki fight as a roadmap for what Kawajiri has to do. I’m thinking that Aoki is going to get pointed or TKO’d here. Gesias Cavalcante vs Katsunori Kikuno Kikuno is a crafty talented […]

Shinya Aoki vs Tatsuya Kawajiri

Kawajiri does what Aoki wants. To be fighting on his back. You could look at the Gilbert Melendez/Aoki fight as a roadmap for what Kawajiri has to do. I’m thinking that Aoki is going to get pointed or TKO’d here.

Gesias Cavalcante vs Katsunori Kikuno

Kikuno is a crafty talented fighter who will give JZ trouble.

Melvin Manhoef vs Tatsuya Mizuno

Manhoef via KO.

Gegard Mousasi vs Jake O’Brien

If you look at the Mousasi vs Mo Lawal fight, this one seems to fit the same pattern. Since Jake O’Brien is a fighter whose skillset is essentially take the dude down and get a ref stoppage via TKO. Gegard couldn’t get up from the ground and couldn’t stop the takedown. The only difference in this fight is that King MO is faster than Jake O’Brien.

As much as a technical striker Mousasi is on his feet, if he can’t wrestle with wrestlers Mousasi is going to be in trouble.

I like O’Brien here in the upset.

Mitsuhiro Ishida vs Daiki Hata

Ishida

Nakamura vs Karl Amoussou

Nakamura

Michihiro Omigawa vs Jong Young Sam

Omigawa

UFC 116: Lesnar Vs. Carwin, A Comic Book Fan’s Dream Come True

Growing up I loved comics, and to this day I still read a few in my spare time. Two of my favorite characters were The Hulk and The Thing. These guys would go toe to toe quite frequently, and it was always a classic match up.
While The Hulk usually end…

Growing up I loved comics, and to this day I still read a few in my spare time. Two of my favorite characters were The Hulk and The Thing. These guys would go toe to toe quite frequently, and it was always a classic match up.
While The Hulk usually ended up overtaking The Thing due […]

UFC Betting

UFC 116: Lesnar Vs. Carwin, A Comic Book Fan’s Dream Come True