DREAM 8: Shinya Aoki and Hayato Sakurai confirmed for 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix

by Jesse Holland on Feb 12, 2009 2:29 PM EST

Japan’s Fighting & Entertainment Group (FEG) today announced during a press conference that Japanese mainstay Hayato Sakurai (34-8-2) and lightweight superstar Shinya Aoki (19-3) are confirmed for the promotion's upcoming Welterweight Grand Prix commencing at DREAM 8 on April 5 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Featuring only eight fighters across two events, the 2009 Grand Prix will conclude on July 20 at DREAM 10.

Headlining the event will be the first-ever World Alliance Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, who is coming off a submission victory over Eddie Alvarez in the first round of their battle at Fields Dynamite!! on New Year's Eve.

The two were on a collision course at last year's Lightweight Grand Prix, until Alvarez got hurt and Aoki ran into finals alternate Joachim Hansen.

"Hellboy" would go on to upset the heavily-favored Aoki and bring home the belt.

The "Tobikan Judan" would rebound from that loss — just the third of his career — and submit Todd Moore via neck crank at DREAM 6 in September before finally getting a crack at Alvarez at year's end.

Now the very dangerous submission fighter will pack on a few pounds and join Hayato Sakurai in a quest for welterweight supremacy.

"Mach" -- who holds a unanimous decision win over Aoki from their days in Shooto -- has gone up against some of the most talented fights in the sport, from lightweight all the way up to middleweight.

In addition to Aoki, he’s competed against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Jake Shields, Joachim Hansen, Takanori Gomi, Frank Trigg, Jens Pulver and Caol Uno among countless others.

He's an exciting fighter and a crowd favorite in Japan. Having him meet Aoki in the finals for a rematch would be the ideal ending.

Here's to hoping.

Stay tuned for more additions to the DREAM 8 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix as they become available.

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: dream, hayato sakurai, shinya aoki

Comments

Nice! two extremely talented guys! that would be sick if they ended up fighting in the semis or final match

by brendan on Feb 12, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions

I would be stoked to see those two in the finals!

by Jeremyjackson on Feb 12, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Same here! Aoki’s my favorite lightweight. His BJJ is mind-blowing and he’s always looking to end the fight via submission no matter how good the opponents sub defense is. Now if only he could get his stand-up to a serviceable level and improve his GnP. He’d have more ways to win. Weaknesses and all, he’s still my #1 Lt Wt choice.

by Machine on Feb 12, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Aoki subs him with a leglock. He’s way better than when they first fought and he has shown that he can hang with powerful strikers/gnpers i.e JZ.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 12, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

Even more interesting is Andre Galvao, the Ju JItsu LEGEND is entering this tournament! Imagine Galvao vs. Aoki grappling it out in the 1st round. He could upset the great Rainbow pants (who I am a big fan of). Not to many people on earth can out jits Galvao!

by john on Feb 12, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

I read about that yesterday. Yea i think against aoki, it’s Galvao best chance to test out his hands coz he has zero worries on the ground. Weird though that he’s competing since i know he won a pass at the brazil ADCC trials. I wonder if he’ll try to do both simultaneously?

by NameNotRequired on Feb 12, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

I hear that he is now committed to mma!

I am not so sure that aoki would be able to submit him!

by john on Feb 13, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

Apparently I need to learn more bout Andre Galvao and his accomplishments. And I will. But, what are his credentials in terms of Gi-less grappling? There’s a world of difference. Also remember there are just as many champion BJJ practitioners that don’t well in MMA as opposed to those that do. So as good as Galvao may be in tournaments with tournament rules while wearing and using the Gi (both his and his opponents), how will will that translate to MMA and it’s rule set?

by Machine on Feb 13, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions

I would be lying to you Machine, if I sat hear and tried to tell you that I know if he is good with a gi or without one. What I do know is that he has been winning EVERYTHING in the Ju jitsu world for the past couple of years. THe guy is a ju jitus stud, rivaling the great Maia, Jacre, toquino, and Almeida in jits capability.

I totally agree that we have to see how his jits transfers to mma, but that wont be an issue against Aoki. Aoki is one of my favorite fighters in the world, but he is rather 1 dimensional….. I give Galvao a chance because his 1 dimension is the same as aoki’s. Neither fighter would really have to worry about the other man’s strikes….so it would just be a flat out no Gi Grappling match…..and as much as I Love Aoki….I give Galvao a great shot against anyone on earth in a grappling match up!

who knows if they will even pair up Galvao with Aoki, but I really hope that they do. It would probably be the most technical ju jitsu chess match seen in mma in the past 5 years!

I really hope they book this fight!

this is one fight that I wouldnt object if they started on the ground both in but scoop position!

by john on Feb 13, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

Sweet. I can’t wait for Dream to come back. I just wish they would stop having events on Sunday.

by DDT on Feb 12, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

Wow! this is huge.

by DB on Feb 12, 2009 2:50 PM EST reply actions

why does aoki have his fist out…….he wont be using it, hes just gunna crawl around like a pussy ass spider man

by JG on Feb 12, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions

rock, paper, scissors

by McArthur on Feb 12, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

BOO! Join the UFC!!!

by ( (Adam G) ) on Feb 12, 2009 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Dana is that you?

by Bill Maher on Feb 12, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

lets go Sakurai hey dose anybody know if HDnet will be a free after the digitle transition I also hope to see my hero Cro cop come back soon wether it be DREAM or the UFC

by Shadow side on Feb 12, 2009 3:26 PM EST reply actions

Threr is no reason that it would be. The digital transfer has nothing to do with sattelite TV. They are already fully digital.

Just quit being a cheap punk and pony up the ten bucks a month.

by DDT on Feb 12, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

I am poor man

by Shadow side on Feb 12, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

hit up channelsurfing.net or justin.tv

by brendan on Feb 12, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions

Gotta love the underarmour hat. Best clothes I have ever worn. A little pricey but well worth the money.

by Adam T. on Feb 12, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Hope Sakurai will actually train for these fights. Or he could just keep cheating on his wife with multiple chicks and show up fat and lazy as usual. One of the biggest waste of talents I can think of.

by Scott on Feb 12, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions

I was shocked when I heard about that

by Shadow side on Feb 12, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

some of the most brutal leg kicks in all of mma! I love Sakurai because he is a mean Ol’ Bastard. Mach isa mean MOfo…. i loved watching him KO Danzig into la-la land!

by john on Feb 12, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions