Hansen-Fernandes Set for Dream 13

In March 2008, Joachim Hansen participated in the Dream lightweight grand prix, which he eventually won. In March 2010, he will be going for featherweight gold.

Dream’s parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group on Thursday formally announced the featherweight title bout between champion Bibiano Fernandes and the promotion's former lightweight champion for Dream 13 on March 22 at the Yokohama Arena. FEG also announced that the card would feature the Dream debut of Pride and UFC veteran Ryo Chonan.

After nearly 15 months out of the ring, the 30-year-old Hansen returned to action in October, where he lost the Dream lightweight championship to rival Shinya Aoki in the rubber match between the two, succumbing two an armbar just four seconds shy of the final bell. After competing as a lightweight over the balance of his 10-year career, this will be the Norwegian's first time paring down in weight. Dream's featherweight division, which does not follow the Unified Rules, is set at 63 kilograms, which is just under 139 pounds.

Fernandes, 29, enjoyed a breakout year in 2009, winning Dream's featherweight grand prix en route to become the promotion's first champion in the division. The multiple-time BJJ world champion notched victories over Takafumi Otsuka, Masakazu Imanari and Joe Warren before taking a well-appointed split decision verdict over Hiroyuki Takaya in the October final.

Chonan was cut from the UFC following an April split-decision loss to T.J. Grant at UFC 97, after compiling an Octagon record of 1-3. The former Deep middleweight champion returned to his old stomping grounds in August, winning a dominant unanimous verdict over another former Deep champ, Jutaro Nakao.

Chonan's opponent is expected to be announced next week.