Hansen-Gill, Akiyama-Shibata Join Dream 5
Fighting & Entertainment Group held a press conference at the
East 21 Hotel in Tokyo Thursday to announce three more fights to
complement their Dream 5 lightweight grand prix finals at the Osaka
Castle Hall on July 21.
Middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) will return from a six-month layoff from a nose injury to take on Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures). After a super fight against former Rings star Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) failed to materialize, FEG opted for the safe method to ease one of their most valuable fighters back by pitting him against the trained pro wrestler.
Shibata is coming off four consecutive losses at the hands of Ralek Gracie (Pictures), Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), Min Suk Heo and most recently against Jason Miller in the first round of the Dream middleweight tournament last May.
Shibata said he "feels very privileged" to have been picked as opponent for Akiyama despite the lean period.
In a reserve match for the lightweight grand prix, Norwegian standout Joachim Hansen (Pictures) returns from his "fight of the year" candidate battle against Eddie Alvarez (Pictures) last May to square off against Indian muay Thai specialist Kultar Gill (Pictures). Even though the "Black Mamba" was eliminated in the tournament's first round, he gave former Shooto champion Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) a real run for his money in a bout that went the distance.
Looking ahead to a possible welterweight grand prix, Dream continues to bolster their 167-pound division by bringing back Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures) after a streaky spell in the UFC. The 32-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner got off to a good start in the Octagon by going the distance with now No. 1 contender Jon Fitch (Pictures) and defeating Forrest Petz (Pictures) by decision. Alas, he then suffered back-to-back knockouts against Thiago Alves (Pictures) and Jonathan Goulet (Pictures).
In his first fight on Japanese soil in more than two years, Academia Az's Hironaka will try to spoil the Dream debut of countryman Motoki Miyazawa (Pictures). The former middleweight has fought exclusively for the GCM promotion in the past and sports a perfect 4-0 record. Miyazawa carries a recent win over former Shooto champion Shiko Yamashita (Pictures) to bolster his jump to the big stage.
Former K-1 world grand prix final winner Mark Hunt (Pictures) has also been added to the proceedings. Even though no opponent for the big New Zealander has been pinned down yet, Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara promised a "well-known, famous and super-strong foreign fighter" as foil for Hunt.
Former Pride heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures) seems to be primed for the role having finally recovered from a persistent shoulder injury.
With the previously announced featherweight battle between Norifumi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Joseph Benavidez (Pictures) along with the tournament entries, the match count stands at eight. Sasahara said he hoped to add two more fights in the ten days leading up to the show. Rumored participants include middleweights Denis Kang (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) as well as heavyweight wrestler Akihito Tanaka.
Middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) will return from a six-month layoff from a nose injury to take on Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures). After a super fight against former Rings star Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) failed to materialize, FEG opted for the safe method to ease one of their most valuable fighters back by pitting him against the trained pro wrestler.
Shibata is coming off four consecutive losses at the hands of Ralek Gracie (Pictures), Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), Min Suk Heo and most recently against Jason Miller in the first round of the Dream middleweight tournament last May.
Shibata said he "feels very privileged" to have been picked as opponent for Akiyama despite the lean period.
In a reserve match for the lightweight grand prix, Norwegian standout Joachim Hansen (Pictures) returns from his "fight of the year" candidate battle against Eddie Alvarez (Pictures) last May to square off against Indian muay Thai specialist Kultar Gill (Pictures). Even though the "Black Mamba" was eliminated in the tournament's first round, he gave former Shooto champion Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) a real run for his money in a bout that went the distance.
Looking ahead to a possible welterweight grand prix, Dream continues to bolster their 167-pound division by bringing back Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures) after a streaky spell in the UFC. The 32-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner got off to a good start in the Octagon by going the distance with now No. 1 contender Jon Fitch (Pictures) and defeating Forrest Petz (Pictures) by decision. Alas, he then suffered back-to-back knockouts against Thiago Alves (Pictures) and Jonathan Goulet (Pictures).
In his first fight on Japanese soil in more than two years, Academia Az's Hironaka will try to spoil the Dream debut of countryman Motoki Miyazawa (Pictures). The former middleweight has fought exclusively for the GCM promotion in the past and sports a perfect 4-0 record. Miyazawa carries a recent win over former Shooto champion Shiko Yamashita (Pictures) to bolster his jump to the big stage.
Former K-1 world grand prix final winner Mark Hunt (Pictures) has also been added to the proceedings. Even though no opponent for the big New Zealander has been pinned down yet, Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara promised a "well-known, famous and super-strong foreign fighter" as foil for Hunt.
Former Pride heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures) seems to be primed for the role having finally recovered from a persistent shoulder injury.
With the previously announced featherweight battle between Norifumi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Joseph Benavidez (Pictures) along with the tournament entries, the match count stands at eight. Sasahara said he hoped to add two more fights in the ten days leading up to the show. Rumored participants include middleweights Denis Kang (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) as well as heavyweight wrestler Akihito Tanaka.
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