Although the Dream featherweight grand prix will not be resolved at Dream 9, the promotion will still see a new champion crowned.
FEG's official announcement of the bout was largely a formality. Souza (10-2) had revealed to several Brazilian media outlets that he would meet Miller for Dream’s middleweight mantle, while Miller (22-6) confirmed the bout himself following his April 18 first-round submission of popular Hawaiian brawler Kala Hose.
The title was vacated by 2008 Dream grand prix winner Gegard Mousasi, who now anticipates a more permanent move to the light heavyweight division. Mousasi defeated Souza in the September tournament finale to become Dream’s first middleweight champion. En route to the final, Souza, 29, took a unanimous decision victory over the 27-year-old Miller in June.
The middleweight title bout is the fifth official fight for the Dream 9 lineup, joining the four quarter-final bouts in the promotion’s 139-pound grand prix. Japanese superstar and tournament favorite Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto will take on former Greco-Roman wrestling world champion Joe Warren. Meanwhile, World Extreme Cagefighting veterans Yoshiro Maeda and Hiroyuki Takaya will square off, and popular Japanese underdog Hideo Tokoro will face former EliteXC title challenger Abel Cullum. Finally, Deep champion and leglock ace Masakazu Imanari will meet Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and hot prospect Bibiano Fernandes.