TOKYO -- Dream Event Producer Keichi Sasahara met with the press after Monday's Dream 4 post-fight press conference at the East 21 Hotel to announce that Brazil mixed martial arts promotion Fury FC has joined with Dream in a fighter, staff and referee exchange partnership.
Fury FC, ran by Giant Sport Entertainment and headed by Victor Costa and Gilberto Faria, started in 2006 and has since hosted five shows, including two one-night tournaments. Upstarts Ronaldo Souza (Pictures), Thiago Silva (Pictures) and Rousimar Palhares (Pictures) are among several talented Brazilians to cut their teeth in the ring of Fury FC.
The Brazilian promotion is slated to hold two more tournaments this year at lightweight and middleweight. AACC's Takafumi Otsuka, who has already won twice in Fury FC in as many bouts, will participate in the lightweight tournament to be held in a July. This match will mark the first of a series of Brazil versus Japan bouts. Combat rules within Fury FC will mirror Dream's.
Fighters will be exchanged, with most of the traffic coming to Japan. However, Sasahara did specifically that if a fighter would like to compete in Brazil, they may have the option.
Back in December, EliteXC's parent company ProElite signed a deal with Giant Sport Entertainment to stream events live from Brazil on its Web site.
Deep introduces M-1 Challenge team
In a separate press conference at East 21 on Monday, Deep President Shigeru Saeki introduced the Japanese M-1 Challenge Team to the media and announced several matchups and structure details for events on the horizon.
July 17's event will feature France taking on America in the first grouping, while Japan and Holland will clash in a separate bracket.
Team France vs. Team America
Samuel Judes vs. Keith PerrigonFarouk Lakebir vs. Vince Ortiz (Pictures)
Karl Amoussou (Pictures) vs. Jason Bukish
Christian Mpumbu Ndjoku vs. Bryan Harper
Malick Ndiaye vs. James Jack
Berland Amoussou-Guenou vs TBA
Team Holland vs. Team Japan
Bogdan Cristea vs. Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures)
Mehemt Uygun vs. Ken Hamamura (Pictures)
Jason Jones vs. Yuta Watanabe (Pictures)
Kamil Uygun vs. Yuji Sakuragi (Pictures)
Jessie Gibbs vs. Katsuhisa Fujii (Pictures)
