FEG announces fight match-ups for 2009 DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix

by Jesse Holland on Feb 19, 2009 6:02 PM EST

Japan’s Fighting & Entertainment Group (FEG) today announced the fight match-ups for the 2009 DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix that will commence at DREAM 7 on March 8 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

DREAM’s featherweight class will be held at 63 kilograms (139 lbs.), considerably different to what has come to be the norm in the U.S. (145lbs).

Conspicuously absent from the first round is featherweight superstar Norifumi Yamamoto . "Kid" was offered a bye into the second round of the tournament at DREAM 9 in May in hopes that he will have recovered from a previous injury in time to compete.

Yamamoto (17-1) is in the midst of a 14-fight win streak, but has been plagued with injuries that have kept him on the sidelines since demolishing Rani Yahya at K-1 Premium Dynamite in December 2007.

He was expected to make his DREAM debut last July to face undefeated featherweight prospect Joseph Benavidez at DREAM 5. However three days before the fight while in training he attempted a flying knee maneuver and landed awkwardly on his right leg. This resulted in a partial tear of his anterior ligament that has kept him out of action ever since.

With the opening round not being completed until DREAM 8 on April 5, ‘Kid’ will have a considerable amount of time to prepare should he follow through with his commitment.

Then again, seeing him rub elbows with the WEC elite during one of Dana White’s previous video blogs can’t give DREAM event producer Keiichi Sasahara that warm, fuzzy feeling.

Also joining him in the virtual infirmary is Pancrase veteran Daika Hata (9-5-3). "DJ.taiki" is recovering from a recent eye injury and will complete the first round of the GP against Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1) at DREAM 8 on April 5.

Here is the complete line-up for the first round of the 2009 DREAM Featherwight Grand Prix:
DREAM 7:

Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (12-5-1)
Hiroyuki Takaya (9-6-1) vs. Jong Won Kim (0-0)
Yoshiro Maeda (23-6-2) vs. Micah Miller (10-2)
Chase Beebe (11-3) vs. Joe Warren (0-0)
Bibiano Fernandes (3-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (8-3-1)
Abel Cullum (13-2) vs. Akiyo Nishiura (9-3-1)

DREAM 8:

Daika Hata (9-5-3) vs. Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1)

Both events will be broadcasted live in North America courtesy of HDNet. For the entire DREAM archive click here.

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Comments

dream is the shit, i can’t wait for this event.

by roy on Feb 19, 2009 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Can anyone confirm that Overeem has accepted a fight with Bonjasky for March 28?

by NameNotRequired on Feb 19, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Also LC Davis and Nam Phan are in the Sengoku Tourney!!

by NameNotRequired on Feb 19, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I can confirm that fight! Actually I know that Alistar has accepted that fight, but I dont know about Remmy! Its being fought under K-1 rules!

by john on Feb 19, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

If Alistair wins that fight he’s gonna stay in japan and fight with K-1.. Overeem in the K-1 WGP finals would be nice to see

by RoB on Feb 19, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

DREAM 7 FIGHT UPDATES*** (confirmed!!!)

Shinya Aoki vs. David Gardner (warm up fight at ww)
Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Daisuke Nakamura

by john on Feb 20, 2009 8:07 AM EST up reply actions

Daisuke never has a bad fight, he’s always going for something. I wish that dynamic grappling style could come to the US. Here it’s all about scrambling and control never about chaining sick sub combos.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 20, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

Nice Led Zeppelin poster. Oh, my bad.

Also, anyone see the preview clip of Eddie Alvarez on this weeks Inside MMA? Dude looks like he over did it with the eyebrows and the tape on his haircut. Weird looking.

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Feb 19, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions

Here is the link:

http://blip.tv/file/1791944/

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Feb 19, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, not the best representation of a philadelphian, but he can fight his ass off!

by john on Feb 19, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I like him as a fighter, but I was like WTF, man!!!

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Feb 19, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions

I am a proud philadelphian, but its hard to defend someone looking like that!

by john on Feb 20, 2009 8:08 AM EST up reply actions

haha…I saw that too

by McArthur on Feb 19, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

mexi, Led Zepplin got icarus from Greek mythology…… who is to say they didn’t do the same?

by Bill Maher on Feb 19, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Stone Cold said so!!!!!!

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Feb 19, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

lol

by McArthur on Feb 20, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

possibly WEC bound, yeah?

by nameless on Feb 19, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions

actually Kid got a BYE. He was at the DREAM press conference. He is fighting at Dream.9

by Bill Maher on Feb 19, 2009 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

I love that poster.
anyone in worcester ma area, i’ll be in town either first or second week in march. let me know, we’ll get lunch

by kevin on Feb 19, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Early prediction to win the tournament:
Yoshiro Maeda

by john on Feb 19, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions

That is unless “KID” enters the GP!

by john on Feb 19, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

Bibiano Fernandes is gonna win the tournament. No questions. Even with KID in the tourney, he has a great chance.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 19, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

beebe has this man dont you know matt hughes and robbie lawler will be his corner

by randy murders on Feb 19, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

Bibiano’s record is unimpressive but you just have to see the ridiculous amount of talent he possesses: straight up Penn-esque levels. He took Kid to decision in his 3rd fight and his other loss is to Urijah. There is no one here even close to him here. In 5 fights he’s fought harder competition than most guys in the WEC and did awesome even while losing.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 19, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’m calling Jong Won Kim.

I’m actually a little dissapointed in the line up. Are you telling me that in the land of smaller fighters Dream couldn’t come up with 16 guys that have all had professional fights before? Two guys on this thing are 0-0. That looks like a TUF cast more than it looks like a Grand Prix.

by Dana White on Feb 19, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed! That dude is straight up rad. His battle with torres will go down in the fights of all time.

by enzo-enormous on Feb 19, 2009 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Micah Miller, the other fighting Miller brothers! I think he has some tough competition and is probably seen as an easy fight for most of the Japanese guys but I am still going to be pulling for him.

by E30kaiser on Feb 19, 2009 6:29 PM EST reply actions

Chase Beebe all the way!!!

by DDT on Feb 19, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions

beebe is fighting a week or 2 before the GP…in the USA, so I am basically counting him out!

Namenotrequired: Havent seen much of Bibiano Fernandes. Break him down for me!

by john on Feb 19, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

BJJ world champ. There is no one there than can hold a candle to him on the ground. Fought very though comp in Kid and Faber. He’s the only one i’ve seen take faber down, take his back and almost sub his ass in less than 1 minute. Like i said above – penn level skills/talent. He will win this tourney and be top 3 FW in the future.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 19, 2009 9:22 PM EST up reply actions

THanks for the breakdown man. I got a slow day at work, so I will watch some footage on him.

THanks again!

by john on Feb 20, 2009 8:01 AM EST up reply actions

It is crazy Chase is fighting in UWC right before he fights in DREAM. Holly shit.

by rctrue on Feb 19, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions

Its not crazy! Its flat out retarded! this GP is an amazing opportunity for Chase. Taking another fight before the GP is just idiotic!

by john on Feb 19, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

Chase is pulling a no show for the UWC event. So he was thinking along the same lines as you guys. The tournament is more important.

by Fugitive on Feb 20, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

are that guys wings really that big?

by shitleTOT.com on Feb 19, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions

They are not that big, gotta be photoshop.

by fmx on Feb 19, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

never really watch fights in this class whats everyones pick ?

by Jared on Feb 19, 2009 7:30 PM EST reply actions

kid! all the way babyy… yeah

by gaara on Feb 19, 2009 7:46 PM EST reply actions

Tokoro has looked good in his last few fights, and Maeda is good too, but my gut feeling says Imanari is going to rip someone’s leg off.

by Belisarius on Feb 19, 2009 8:02 PM EST reply actions

i though benivadez was on the card

anywho i stick with the kid let hope he didnt rust

but if chase comes out untouched from the other fight ima pull for him too

by phenomenal angel on Feb 19, 2009 10:26 PM EST reply actions

Anybody have the odds on Joe Warren and Chase Beebe? Joe is a beast and nobody has ever heard of him, FYI Joe is a NCAA divison 1 all-american and a World Champion watch him crush Beebe.

by Jeff on Feb 21, 2009 4:15 PM EST reply actions