DREAM 7: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Ross Ebanez

by Jesse Holland on Feb 27, 2009 11:59 AM EST

Japan’s Fighting Entertainment Group (FEG) today announced one additional match-up for DREAM 7 which features the opening round of its 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on March 8.

Former PRIDE star Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2) will be back in action looking to rebound from his TKO defeat at the hands of Eddie Alvarez last July at DREAM 5. "Crusher" will be taking on former Rumble on the Rock scrapper Ross Ebanez (19-6).

Like Kawajiri, "The Boss" shares a recent loss to uber-lightweight Eddie Alvaraez.

Also in action is WAMMA Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki (19-3), who was last seen making quick work of Eddie Alvarez in December 2008 (yes, Alvarez gets around). "Magic Pants" will suit up this time for David Gardner (16-10), which is expected to serve as a tune-up fight for the Japanese mainstay.

That’s because Aoki is getting ready to move up in weight to participate in the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix that begins in April. The fight between Aoki and Gardner will be fought at a catchweight of 163 pounds.

Joining them will be Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1) against Daisuke Nakamura (19-9). Nakamura had a very good outing in 2008, winning seven straight — two of which were flying armbar victories … an impressive feat to say the least.

He’ll take a step up in competition in the likes of Ishida and will certainly have his hands full.

Ishida has also been linked to appear in some capacity on Strikeforce’s April 11 card, however that could now be in jeopardy depending on if he’s able to make a quick enough turn around to fight again when the Showtime special airs on fight night.

Here is the current line-up for DREAM 7:

Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round

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)

Catchweight (163 pounds):

Shinya Aoki (19-3) vs. David Gardner (16-10)

Lightweight:

Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1) vs. Daisuke Nakamura (19-9)
Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2) vs. Ross Ebanez (19-6)

Stay tuned for more last minute additions or changes as DREAM continues to fire them off.

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Im really looking forward to seeing Kawajiri fight again. I like Japanise fighters with great wrestling skills.

by belfort_fan on Feb 27, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions

I want Micah Miller to win the tourny. I doubt it will happen, the kid is kinda young and a bit inexperienced, but I like the guy.

Aoki
Nakamura
Kawajiri

by Synyster on Feb 27, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Man, i am so pumped for this card. Bibiano will take the tourney like i’ve been saying for a while now. Sleeper fight is for sure Cullum-Wicky Akiyo. With that Aoki, Ishida and Crusher.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 27, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

Miller will lose his first fight.

by belfort_fan on Feb 28, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

Synster: BOth Sergei kharitonov and JZ have verbally confirmed that they will fight on this card. As of now, both are booked to fight that tough guy, tBA!!!!

Sergei is getting ready to take a few fights in K-1. I owuldnt mind seeing Sergei vs:
Lebanner or
Hari at dREAM 7

by john on Mar 1, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

“That’s because Aoki is getting ready to move up in weight to participate…”

So important they had to say it twice…

by Jon on Feb 27, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions

I really wanted to get the point across

by Jesse Holland on Feb 27, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

aoki at welter is gonna be crazy! i hope. because he’ll be going against guys with more punching power. hope he’s working on his striking. a little bit anyways