Noons-'Dida' Finalized for Dream 13

Karl James Noons and Andre “Dida” Amado will meet in a lightweight bout at Dream 13 on March 22 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

Noons, who signed with the U.S.-based Strikeforce in December, will represent the promotion as part of a cross-promotional talent alliance. Dream competitors Mitsuhiro Ishida, Melvin Manhoef, and Marius Zaromskis have already competed for the American outlet. Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki will make his Strikeforce debut against lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on April 17 in Nashville, Tenn.

The 26-year-old kickboxer has key MMA victories over former UFC contender Yves Edwards and Nick Diaz, Strikeforce’s 170-pound champion. Noons bested the mouthy Stockton, Calif., native with a second-round TKO on cuts in September 2007. Words between the fighters and their families ensued in the cage, but a rematch has yet to materialize.

Amado, who began his career with the once-revered Chute Boxe Academy before departing the team in 2007, dropped a first-round technical knockout to Katsunori Kikuno at Dream 10 last July. Amado scored a first-round TKO against Caol Uno in K-1 Hero’s lightweight tournament, but was eliminated by winner Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante later that same night.

Dream also announced three additional bouts for its March 22 event. Deep lightweight champion Kikuno will meet UFC veteran Kuniyoshi Hironaka in a second lightweight bout, while Ryo Chonan will face Andrews Nakahara in a welterweight bout. Dream “Super Hulk” champion Ikuhisa Minowa will clash with Jimmy Ambriz in an open-weight bout.