DREAM.8 Press Conference
Apr 4, 2009
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Tomorrow night, mixed martial arts fightsport
production DREAM comes to Japan's third-largest city, Nagoya, for
the first time. The DREAM.8 Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 1st Round
comprises 10 fights, featuring four qualifying bouts for the DREAM
Welterweight GP (76 kg/lbs); and six additional MMA contests in a
variety of weight classes.
Nagging drizzle did not dissuade hundreds of fans from crowding under a giant glass canopy for today's public press conference at the Oasis 21 outdoor shopping center in central Nagoya.
Clashing in the Main Event are Shinya Aoki and Hayato "Mach"
Sakurai. The Japanese fighters traded barbs in their interviews
Thursday -- Sakurai saying Aoki had "a face like a worm, and fights
like a worm too, always squirming around on the ground"; Aoki
retorting that Sakurai "just fights in an old-style."
At the age of 25, Aoki is already regarded by many as Japan's best grappler, and he got a big cheer when he took the stage this afternoon. "Hello Nagoya," he screamed. "Tomorrow I will surprise you all! Tomorrow is the last day that people will regard MMA as 'vale tudo,' because tomorrow, I will show everyone a new, pure MMA style! There's a new generation, and I'm going to lead the change!" Said Sakurai: "I understand Aoki's a great fighter, however, it's no matter who I fight, I'll just do my best. Anyway, it's a bit cold today, but it's going to be very hot in the ring tomorrow!"
Said High, "I'm looking forward to introducing myself to the Japanese fans tomorrow. Thanks for having me!"
"This is a fight to represent my team," said Shirai, "I will make sure and finish my opponent!"
An intense staredown between these two during their photo session escalated into a bit of a shoving match before officials intervened.
Also in the Welterweight GP, it will be Marius Zaromskis of Lithuania versus Seichi Ikemoto of Japan.
"I very much enjoy fighting in Japan," beamed Zaromskis, "I like Japan and Japanese fighters very much, and I'll show a very good fight tomorrow!"
"I promise to do an aggressive fight with Mr. Marius," said Ikemoto, "and I'm thinking of showing a new technique tomorrow, so be sure and watch!"
In the last of the Welterweight GP bouts, Canadian kickboxer and jiujitsu fighter John Alessio will meet Brazilian jiujitsu stylist Andre Galvao.
"I'm very happy to be here, competing in this Grand Prix," said the confident Alessio. "I have a great opponent, he's a really good jiujitsu guy, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to taking the whole tournament!"
Said Galvao: "Thank you all for your warm welcome, tomorrow I will fight along with you all, and I will advance to the final, along with you all!"
The winner of tomorrow's Featherweight bout between Japanese fighters Hideo Tokoro and DJ Taiki will advance to this year's DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix tournament. "I'll make sure that our fight is the most exciting one of the day" said Taiki.
"It's cold and rainy today," said Tokoro, "but tomorrow will be great, just watch!"
Russian bruiser Sergey Kharitonov and Jeff Monson of the United States will go head-to-head in a heavyweight rumble. The crowd gasped in unison when Monson removed his shirt to reveal a patchwork of tattoos. Also attention-grabbing was the 116kg/256lbs;194cm/6'4" cm Kharitonov's strip down to a tight pair of red spandex underpants.
"I appreciate y'all coming out," drawled Monson, "Japanese the fans are very knowledgeable and I'm excited to be here! Kharitonov is one of the great standup fighters, well-rounded, and very well regarded in the US. It'll be an honor to be in the ring with him!"
Said Kharitonov, "It's my first fight in a long time, and I'm very happy to be back in Japan. Jeff is a great fighter, and a great opponent, so I'll try hard to put on a great fight against him!"
At 89kg/196lbs, Murilo "Ninja" Rua of Brazil will meet Japanese fighter Riki Fukuda, a late addition to the card..
"I took this fight on short notice," said Fukuda, "however, I promise that I will be very aggressive!"
"I'm happy to fight in Japan, and I will do a good show" said Rua.
In a lightweight bout, Brazilian jiujitsu fighter Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro will take on Olympian Katsuhiko Nagata of Japan.
"Tomorrow, I'll put my all into the ring," said Nagata.
"I'm delighted to see so many fans here today," said Ribeiro, "I hope you'll all come and watch me win tomorrow!"
A middleweight contest will feature kyokushin karate stylist Andrews Nakahara of Brazil and Japanese judoka Shungo Oyama.
"I'll fight with all my spirit, and make some fireworks in the ring!" pledged Oyama.
"I'm happy and I'm honored to fight tomorrow," said an intense looking Nakahara in Portuguese. "I will make sure that I thrill all the Japanese fans!"
In an 88kg/164lbs showdown, it will be Japanese pro wrestlers Minowam
an and Katsuyori Shibata, both of whom hail from Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture. "I will show you the best fight, the best performance," said Shibata.
"Tomorrow, I will show you what pro wrestling is all about, I promise! I will bring a Minowaman spring to Nagoya," said Minowaman. "I want to do something great for my hometown fans!"
The Olympia DREAM.8 Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 1st Round kicks off at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 at the NGK Hall in Aichi. It will be broadcast same day in Japan on SkyPerfect and the TBS network; and in the United States on HDNet. For delay-broadcast information in other areas, contact local providers. Visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp) for comprehensive coverage of this and all FEG productions.
Nagging drizzle did not dissuade hundreds of fans from crowding under a giant glass canopy for today's public press conference at the Oasis 21 outdoor shopping center in central Nagoya.
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At the age of 25, Aoki is already regarded by many as Japan's best grappler, and he got a big cheer when he took the stage this afternoon. "Hello Nagoya," he screamed. "Tomorrow I will surprise you all! Tomorrow is the last day that people will regard MMA as 'vale tudo,' because tomorrow, I will show everyone a new, pure MMA style! There's a new generation, and I'm going to lead the change!" Said Sakurai: "I understand Aoki's a great fighter, however, it's no matter who I fight, I'll just do my best. Anyway, it's a bit cold today, but it's going to be very hot in the ring tomorrow!"
In the second of the Welterweight GP elimination bouts, Japanese
judoka Yuya Shirai will square off against American wrestler Jason
High.
Said High, "I'm looking forward to introducing myself to the Japanese fans tomorrow. Thanks for having me!"
"This is a fight to represent my team," said Shirai, "I will make sure and finish my opponent!"
An intense staredown between these two during their photo session escalated into a bit of a shoving match before officials intervened.
Also in the Welterweight GP, it will be Marius Zaromskis of Lithuania versus Seichi Ikemoto of Japan.
"I very much enjoy fighting in Japan," beamed Zaromskis, "I like Japan and Japanese fighters very much, and I'll show a very good fight tomorrow!"
"I promise to do an aggressive fight with Mr. Marius," said Ikemoto, "and I'm thinking of showing a new technique tomorrow, so be sure and watch!"
In the last of the Welterweight GP bouts, Canadian kickboxer and jiujitsu fighter John Alessio will meet Brazilian jiujitsu stylist Andre Galvao.
"I'm very happy to be here, competing in this Grand Prix," said the confident Alessio. "I have a great opponent, he's a really good jiujitsu guy, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to taking the whole tournament!"
Said Galvao: "Thank you all for your warm welcome, tomorrow I will fight along with you all, and I will advance to the final, along with you all!"
The winner of tomorrow's Featherweight bout between Japanese fighters Hideo Tokoro and DJ Taiki will advance to this year's DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix tournament. "I'll make sure that our fight is the most exciting one of the day" said Taiki.
"It's cold and rainy today," said Tokoro, "but tomorrow will be great, just watch!"
Russian bruiser Sergey Kharitonov and Jeff Monson of the United States will go head-to-head in a heavyweight rumble. The crowd gasped in unison when Monson removed his shirt to reveal a patchwork of tattoos. Also attention-grabbing was the 116kg/256lbs;194cm/6'4" cm Kharitonov's strip down to a tight pair of red spandex underpants.
"I appreciate y'all coming out," drawled Monson, "Japanese the fans are very knowledgeable and I'm excited to be here! Kharitonov is one of the great standup fighters, well-rounded, and very well regarded in the US. It'll be an honor to be in the ring with him!"
Said Kharitonov, "It's my first fight in a long time, and I'm very happy to be back in Japan. Jeff is a great fighter, and a great opponent, so I'll try hard to put on a great fight against him!"
At 89kg/196lbs, Murilo "Ninja" Rua of Brazil will meet Japanese fighter Riki Fukuda, a late addition to the card..
"I took this fight on short notice," said Fukuda, "however, I promise that I will be very aggressive!"
"I'm happy to fight in Japan, and I will do a good show" said Rua.
In a lightweight bout, Brazilian jiujitsu fighter Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro will take on Olympian Katsuhiko Nagata of Japan.
"Tomorrow, I'll put my all into the ring," said Nagata.
"I'm delighted to see so many fans here today," said Ribeiro, "I hope you'll all come and watch me win tomorrow!"
A middleweight contest will feature kyokushin karate stylist Andrews Nakahara of Brazil and Japanese judoka Shungo Oyama.
"I'll fight with all my spirit, and make some fireworks in the ring!" pledged Oyama.
"I'm happy and I'm honored to fight tomorrow," said an intense looking Nakahara in Portuguese. "I will make sure that I thrill all the Japanese fans!"
In an 88kg/164lbs showdown, it will be Japanese pro wrestlers Minowam
an and Katsuyori Shibata, both of whom hail from Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture. "I will show you the best fight, the best performance," said Shibata.
"Tomorrow, I will show you what pro wrestling is all about, I promise! I will bring a Minowaman spring to Nagoya," said Minowaman. "I want to do something great for my hometown fans!"
The Olympia DREAM.8 Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 1st Round kicks off at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 at the NGK Hall in Aichi. It will be broadcast same day in Japan on SkyPerfect and the TBS network; and in the United States on HDNet. For delay-broadcast information in other areas, contact local providers. Visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp) for comprehensive coverage of this and all FEG productions.
