Tag: Eddie Alvarez

Video Tribute: The Eight Most Insane Moments in DREAM History


(“You’ll never get me Lucky Charms!”)

For nearly four years, the Japanese MMA promotion DREAM did its best to carry the mantle of PRIDE, presenting the same mix of top international talent and freak-show comic relief, all inside of a traditional ring, rather than a filthy American cage. But we were hit with some sad news this weekend as multiple sources reported that DREAM has ceased day-to-day operations, and will no longer be producing events. So as we like to do when great MMA traditions die, let’s take a look back at some of the fights that made this promotion so unique, so entertaining, and so balls-out insane…

#8: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Melvin Manhoef
DREAM.4, 6/15/08 

Though Kazushi Sakuraba’s fame was partly based on his willingness to absorb damage from larger fighters, the level of savagery that Melvin Manhoef inflicted on him during their meeting at the Yokohama Arena probably should have convinced Saku to walk away from the sport. The moment when Manhoef drags Saku away from the ropes by his leg so he can dive in to continue the assault (see the 2:43 mark above) remains one of DREAM’s most indelible and brutal moments.

#7: Shinya Aoki vs. dumb-ass gaijin
DREAM.7, 3/8/09

Another tradition that DREAM inherited from PRIDE? Absurd mismatches. At the time of this fight, Aoki was widely considered to be a top-3 lightweight, while Gardner was an obscure 13-7 journeyman who was coming off a loss to Brian Cobb. Aoki’s domination on the mat was no surprise, but the fight became legendary for how it ended. Stuck with Aoki on his back, Gardner took advantage of a brief pause in the action — and the near-silence in the Saitama Super Arena — to wave to the crowd and shout “Hello Japan!” Aoki immediately wrapped up Gardner’s neck and choked him out, causing the crowd to break out in laughter and Bas Rutten to cry “Oh my God it is so dumb! So dumb! Why?!” Some things just can’t be explained, Bas.


(“You’ll never get me Lucky Charms!”)

For nearly four years, the Japanese MMA promotion DREAM did its best to carry the mantle of PRIDE, presenting the same mix of top international talent and freak-show comic relief, all inside of a traditional ring, rather than a filthy American cage. But we were hit with some sad news this weekend as multiple sources reported that DREAM has ceased day-to-day operations, and will no longer be producing events. So as we like to do when great MMA traditions die, let’s take a look back at some of the fights that made this promotion so unique, so entertaining, and so balls-out insane…

#8: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Melvin Manhoef
DREAM.4, 6/15/08 

Though Kazushi Sakuraba‘s fame was partly based on his willingness to absorb damage from larger fighters, the level of savagery that Melvin Manhoef inflicted on him during their meeting at the Yokohama Arena probably should have convinced Saku to walk away from the sport. The moment when Manhoef drags Saku away from the ropes by his leg so he can dive in to continue the assault (see the 2:43 mark above) remains one of DREAM’s most indelible and brutal moments.

#7: Shinya Aoki vs. dumb-ass gaijin
DREAM.7, 3/8/09

Another tradition that DREAM inherited from PRIDE? Absurd mismatches. At the time of this fight, Aoki was widely considered to be a top-3 lightweight, while Gardner was an obscure 13-7 journeyman who was coming off a loss to Brian Cobb. Aoki’s domination on the mat was no surprise, but the fight became legendary for how it ended. Stuck with Aoki on his back, Gardner took advantage of a brief pause in the action — and the near-silence in the Saitama Super Arena — to wave to the crowd and shout “Hello Japan!” Aoki immediately wrapped up Gardner’s neck and choked him out, causing the crowd to break out in laughter and Bas Rutten to cry “Oh my God it is so dumb! So dumb! Why?!” Some things just can’t be explained, Bas.

#6: Marius Zaromskis scores two head-kick KO’s in the same night
DREAM.10, 7/20/09

“The Whitemare” had already been drawing hype in Europe as a human highlight-reel when he entered the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix in 2009, but it was his performance in that tournament which launched him as a worldwide sensation. Between his Street Fighter cosplay and in-ring acrobatics, it was clear we were dealing with a special individual. In the final two rounds of the GP, he met Hayato Sakurai and Jason High on the same night, and knocked them both dead in the first round, one with his left leg, and one with his right. Zaromskis took home the DREAM welterweight belt and did it to another poor bastard three months later.

#5: Jose Canseco is not “Super Hulk” material
DREAM.9, 5/26/09 

DREAM’s Super Hulk Tournament was a bizarre convergence of veteran freaks, imposing big-men, and an off-his-rocker baseball player who was only there to make guys like Bob Sapp and Hong Man Choi look legitimate by comparison. The opening round featured Canseco vs. Choi, which has to be the most inexplicable pairing in MMA history. Canseco actually lands first with a big overhand right followed by a body kick, but eventually he remembers that he’s just there to collect a paycheck. Canseco grabs his knee at the 1:12 mark to signify that the dive is coming, then falls down after throwing one more kick and gets pounded on for a TKO loss. After the fight, Nick Diaz did his best to shore up the holes in Canseco’s game, but Jose has yet to take the MMA world by storm.

#4: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Zelg Galesic — back from the dead, once again
DREAM.12, 10/25/09

On paper, it’s another dramatic example of Sakuraba’s unbreakable spirit, his resilience, his heart. Much like his infamous 2006 fight against Kestutis Smirnovas, Sakuraba survived a terrifying beating — with Galesic smashing him in the head with blows that would have removed most fighters from consciousness — and went on to win by kneebar. Following this victory, Sakuraba went on a four-fight losing streak, including two losses by arm-triangle choke and a TKO loss to Marius Zaromskis that cost him his ear. But the Galesic fight was Sakuraba’s final triumph…if you really want to call it that.

#3: Gegard Mousasi submits a striker and knocks out a grappler
DREAM.6, 9/23/08 

Just like Zaromskis, Gegard Mousasi put his name on the map with two first-round stoppages on the same night in a DREAM tournament. His moment came during the final night of their Middleweight Grand Prix in 2008, where he first faced Melvin Manhoef, who was coming off of his previously-mentioned destruction of Sakuraba. Manhoef’s intimidation factor was at an all-time high, but Mousasi out-grappled the Dutch dynamo and secured a triangle choke submission in just 88 seconds. Next, Mousasi faced BJJ stud Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who was closing in on a top-ten ranking at middleweight. True to form, Souza put the Armenian Assassin on his back and tried to turn it into a grappling match. Mousasi defended the ground-attacks, kicked Jacare off, then landed a knockout upkick when Jacare tried to dive in with a punch — a wild stoppage, which showcased Mousasi’s versatility and unshakable coolness under pressure.

#2: Shinya Aoki breaks an arm, acts like a dick about it
Dynamite!! 2009, 12/31/09

Technically, the 2009 New Year’s Eve show was a co-promotion between DREAM and Sengoku — with a handful of K-1 matches thrown in on the undercard — and featured nine different DREAM vs. Sengoku bouts. For DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, there was clearly more at stake than just bragging rights. Stepping into the ring with Sengoku champ Mizuto Hirota, the Tobikan Judan wanted to exterminate with extreme prejudice. It took just over a minute for Aoki to prove that Hirota wasn’t on his level. Shattering Hirota’s arm with a hammer-lock was the exclamation point, and sticking his middle finger in Hirota’s face and then at the crowd was the unnecessary bcc to your entire Gmail address book. Aoki’s mounted gogoplata win over Katsuhiko Nagata the previous year seemed downright merciful by comparison.

#1: Eddie Alvarez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri, Fight of the Decade candidate

In May 2008, Eddie Alvarez fought a 15-minute war against Joachim Hansen that had many observers calling it a strong front-runner for Fight of the Year. Two months later, Alvarez topped it. The wild pace, the heart shown by both fighters, the shifts in momentum, and the astounding final sequence (skip to the video’s 7:20 mark) made this match, in my opinion, the single greatest fight in the promotion’s history, and one of the purest examples of the sport that you’ll ever see.

DREAM neva die.

– Ben Goldstein

Zuffa Should Sign Eddie Alvarez to Strikeforce for Gilbert Melendez

I previously wrote about why the UFC needs Eddie Alvarez.  But as I read about the predicament Gilbert Melendez is in, I have realized that a move to Strikeforce for the Bellator lightweight could be the answer to everyone’s problems.  …

I previously wrote about why the UFC needs Eddie Alvarez.  But as I read about the predicament Gilbert Melendez is in, I have realized that a move to Strikeforce for the Bellator lightweight could be the answer to everyone’s problems. 

Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, is in dire need of credible opponents since he has made quick work out of almost every good lightweight outside of the UFC.  He has resorted to rematching multiple mid range fighters simply to remain active. 

Alvarez, who is in a similar situation in Bellator FC, has been rumored to be signing with the UFC in the near future after his TKO of Shinya Aoki.   

Unfortunately for Alvarez, he most likely wouldn’t be awarded with an immediate shot at the UFC champ.  In fact, he most likely wouldn’t get to fight for that belt until sometime next year. 

The top of UFC’s lightweight division has been congested by multiple championship rematches for different reasons.  This has created a long line of contenders who are all vying for that number two spot in line.   

My suggestion is that Alvarez be brought to Strikeforce as a needed step up from Bellator, and a shot at another title.  This could potentially be his way into the UFC if his stint in the lesser of the Zuffa promotions proves to be successful.   

It would introduce him to a new pool of contenders without subjecting him to the fate of the top lightweights in the UFC who are constantly knocked out of line due to close decisions and upsets.

A dip in the Strikeforce pool might be what Alvarez needs to become acclimated to such a higher level of competition. 

Alvarez is one of a few credible lightweights Melendez hasn’t challenged.  Michael Chandler, also in Bellator FC, submitted Eddie Alvarez, relieving him of the lightweight title last fall. 

A move to Strikeforce for Alvarez could be great for all parties involved.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Strikeforce Is Damaging Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez’ Career

As Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez continues to not only compete against mid-level fighters but also rematch them multiple times, the clock on his career as an athlete continues to count down.  The 30 year old Californian is on a…

As Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez continues to not only compete against mid-level fighters but also rematch them multiple times, the clock on his career as an athlete continues to count down. 

The 30 year old Californian is on a six fight winning streak and has an overall record of 20-2.  He has knocked out 11 of his opponents.  Statistics like those are difficult to complain about. 

The question at hand is about the quality of his competition.  I don’t question the legitimacy of his opponents in his recent past that have elevated him to the number two or three ranked lightweight in the world.  In fact I support the credibility of those wins. 

Despite his residence outside of the UFC, Melendez has managed to compete with almost every legitimate competitor that is also outside of the elite organization.  Unfortunately for Melendez, this isn’t a very deep pool of fighters which is why Strikeforce has been forced to rematch him against multiple opponents. 

He will fight Josh Thompson for the third time this Saturday at the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Final as the co-main event. 

What Melendez should be concerned about is whether or not he can maintain this for an extended period of time.  Yes, there are some credible lightweights outside of the UFC but Melendez has already extinguished most of those challengers in dominant fashion. 

He claimed to not be leaving Strikeforce any time soon since he still has three more fights on his contract with the promotion.   

The possibility of credible UFC fighters temporarily transplanting to Strikeforce to fight him was shot down since a move like that would be viewed as a demotion for the UFC elite. 

I suggest that Zuffa sign Eddie Alvarez to Strikforce instead of the UFC since the line for that lightweight championship is abnormally long due to constant championship rematches being necessary.  It wouldn’t be viewed as a step down for Alvarez but could be a stepping stone for his potential entrance into the UFC.   

Melendez claims he isn’t stressing about it and it’s helping him to focus on getting better and having fun.  But the trouble with this is that he isn’t able to consistently test himself against the best in the world who fight in the UFC.

Of course he is able to train with the Diaz Brothers who are unquestionably some of the top athletes in the sport but practice doesn’t compare to truly competing in the cage. 

Although many MMA fans consider him to be possibly the best lightweight in the world, this can only be proven with dominance in the octagon.  The longer Melendez has to wait to join the number one promotion, the more complacent his resume becomes.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

5 Things to Watch for at Bellator 67

Bellator Fighting Championships will return to Canada and Ontario for the second time in a month on Friday with a very exciting and relevant night of fights from Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario.The mixed martial arts card will be headlined by a feature…

Bellator Fighting Championships will return to Canada and Ontario for the second time in a month on Friday with a very exciting and relevant night of fights from Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario.

The mixed martial arts card will be headlined by a feature fight between current lightweight champion Michael Chandler and Japanese veteran star, Akihiro Gono. The BFC title will not be on the line.

The card will also feature a welterweight tournament semi-final between Ben “Killa B” Saunders and Bryan Baker. This fight has large implications for the title aspirations of both fighters and could signal a bit of a shifting of the guard within the BFC welterweight division.

In a very highly anticipated fight, Canadian welterweight star Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford will make his BFC debut against 50-win veteran Luis Santos. Ford is a very popular fighter in Canada and many fans will be tuning in to see if Ford can make that next step in his career.

The rest of the card is not to be ignored as top fighters such as heavyweight Damian Grabowski and locals Will Romero, Nordine Taleb and Nathan Gunn will all be in action.

Here are five things to watch for on Friday night.

Begin Slideshow

Bellator: Why Hector Lombard and Eddie Alvarez Leaving Isn’t a Bad Thing

With Hector Lombard leaving and expected departure of Eddie Alvarez, Bellator will be losing two of the most influential faces in the promotion’s history. Losing two stars like Lombard and Alvarez is no doubt a huge loss, but it may actually turn out t…

With Hector Lombard leaving and expected departure of Eddie Alvarez, Bellator will be losing two of the most influential faces in the promotion’s history. Losing two stars like Lombard and Alvarez is no doubt a huge loss, but it may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Let me make this clear right from the start—there is no sensible way to deny that the two men were great stars for Bellator. Both men were the most dominant champions in the promotion and you could argue that Lombard was the face of the promotion much in the same way Georges St-Pierre is the face of the UFC.

So how can it be a good thing for Bellator if their two biggest stars are in transit to greener pastures?

The answer lies in Bellator’s move to major cable outlet, Spike TV, in 2013. Normally, losing two superstars is a dreadful loss, but given the fact that Bellator is in a transition period, they can now market any number of talented fighters in their move to Spike TV.

Bellator can tell us Michael Chandler or Alexander Shlemenko are world beaters and new fans wouldn’t know any better.

And it’s not like Lombard and Alvarez were helping the promotion move forward anyway. The ratings for the promotion have dropped abysmally the past few shows and it seemed nothing Bellator could do would help raise ratings.

You know what happens when a team underachieves in professional sports? The roster gets blown up.

Guys like Chandler, Shlemenko, the Freire brothers and Pat Curran among others are all new faces to many MMA fans who can carry the banner for Bellator moving forward.

Bellator also has the advantage of being the only major promotion not under the Zuffa umbrella that features women’s MMA. If they can correctly market WMMA on national cable, Bellator could potentially replace Strikeforce as the top promotion for women’s competition.

The Lombard/Alvarez Era helped make Bellator into what it is today, and their contributions cannot and should not be denied. But at the same time it’s clear Bellator is moving into a new era with a major TV deal and as such new stars are needed to replace the older ones.

Change is always scary for anyone but in cases like this, it’s needed.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA: Why the UFC Needs Eddie Alvarez

It’s no secret that the UFC has a lock on most of the top talent in mixed martial arts. With past acquisitions of the WEC, Pride, and Strikeforce, they hold a near monopoly over the top level of the sport.   But there are a handful of fighter…

It’s no secret that the UFC has a lock on most of the top talent in mixed martial arts. With past acquisitions of the WEC, Pride, and Strikeforce, they hold a near monopoly over the top level of the sport.  

But there are a handful of fighters out there who have managed to earn both money and reputation competing in other, smaller organizations. These fighters have inspired feisty debate over the years regarding their placement in the rankings due to the fact that, as talented as they are, they haven’t exactly been facing the highest level of competition.  

Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is just such a fighter. 

A professional mixed martial artist for nearly a decade, Alvarez cut his teeth on the local east coast circuit before graduating to the more prestigious promotions of Bodog, Dream, and Bellator. He’s impressed fans by compiling a record of 23 wins with only three losses—with 13 of those wins coming by knockout and three by submission.  

He’s long been a top-10 ranked lightweight, having defeated the likes of Joachim Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Roger Huerta, Pat Curran and, most recently, Shinya Aoki.  

Eddie lost his Bellator title to the young buzz saw Michael Chandler late last year, but Chandler is a phenomenal talent, and that loss should not diminish the star of Alvarez.  

At 28, he’s just coming into his athletic prime. He’s exciting and well-rounded, with heavy hands and a lot of charisma. And the UFC needs him. 

Make no mistake, the UFC lightweight division is perhaps the deepest division in the entire sport. There’s no shortage of contenders, and in the UFC Alvarez would be just another guy in line. But that’s what keeps a division so interesting. Fresh contenders provide more competition, which ups everybody’s game. That’s why the lightweight division is also perhaps the most exciting division in the entire sport. 

They don’t need Alvarez to survive, of course. It’s a different type of need. They need him, as well as any top talent they can get their hands on, to thrive well into the future.

It’s about vision.

Steve Jobs didn’t dominate the tech world with complacent assumptions that his product line was good enough. He did it by playing chess, not checkers.  

Alvarez just completed his Bellator contract. As is commonplace with MMA contracts, Bellator will have an exclusive bargaining time frame to try and hammer out a new deal. If an agreement cannot be reached, Alvarez can then seek employment elsewhere, and Bellator has the right to match any offer he may receive.  

Don’t be surprised if Bellator doesn’t let Alvarez go without a fight. They just lost middleweight champion Hector Lombard to the UFC, and while they’ll survive an Alvarez departure as well, promotions do not thrive by losing all their established stars.  

In the end, however, it’s difficult to match the procurement power of the UFC.  

Alvarez will likely end up fighting in the Octagon by fall, and we’ll have yet another contender to keep the lightweight division fresh well into the future.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com