Sakuraba Returns at Dream 11

Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba will go to the post against Rubin Williams in a last-minute addition to Dream 11 this Tuesday at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Fighting and Entertainment Group officials announced the middleweight bout late last week.

Sakuraba, in the twilight of his hall of fame career, will carry a two-fight losing streak into his first appearance in nearly 10 months. The Pride Fighting Championships veteran has not competed since he dropped a unanimous decision to Kiyoshi Tamura under the K-1 banner on New Year’s Eve. Sakuraba holds notable victories against one-time UFC heavyweight titleholder Kevin Randleman, UFC hall of famers Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie and former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Vitor Belfort. The 40-year-old has delivered 17 of his 24 career wins by submission.

Williams, a 33-year-old professional boxer, has never competed in mixed martial arts. A cast member on Season 3 of “The Contender,” the Detroit native once challenged Jeff Lacy for the IBF super middleweight championship. Williams owns a 29-8-1 record as a professional boxer.

Dream 11 will feature the semi-finals and final of the promotion’s featherweight grand prix, along with a lightweight title showdown between defending champion Joachim Hansen and Shinya Aoki.

Dream 11 “Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 Final”
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Yokohama Arena
Yokohama, Japan

Dream Lightweight Championship
Joachim Hansen vs. Shinya Aoki

Dream Featherweight Grand Prix
Joe Warren vs. Bibiano Fernandes
Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Hideo Tokoro
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Daiki Hata (Reserve Bout)

Dream Super Hulk Tournament
Hong Man Choi vs. Ikuhisa Minowa
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Bob Sapp

Non-Tournament Bouts
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Melchor Manibusan
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Rubin Williams