Gesias Calvancante vs Tatsuya Kawajiri fight possible for DREAM 9

Highly regarded lightweight standout Gesias "JZ" Calvancante is set to do battle with Japanese mainstay Tatsuya Kawajiri at 'DREAM 9' on May 26 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan according to a report over at Sherdog.com.

"JZ" is coming off a year long layoff, last competing against Shinya Aoki at 'DREAM 2' back in April 2008 where he would end up losing a decision to the "Tobikan Judan". Since than he's been nursing a torn ACL that required surgery last May.

He was ready to make his return against DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim Hansen in a non-title bout at 'FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008' on New Years Eve until Hansen failed pre-fight medicals and was forced to pull out of the fight with a mysterious "head injury" just hours before the event, leaving Calvancante without an opponent.

Well now it appears he’s found one in formidable foe Tatsuya Kawajiri.

"Crusher" was last seen at 'DREAM 7' earlier this month where he made short work of BJ Penn student Ross Ebanez (19-7), quickly submitting him with a rear naked choke in the opening stanza.

After the bout in his post-fight speech Kawajiri actually called out Calvancante and lobbied for them to fight in May.

Ask and you shall receive.

'DREAM 9' will also be host to the quarterfinals of their Featherweight Grand Prix, which should see the return of the highly popular Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto who was offered a bye in hopes he‘d be fit to compete in the Tournament.

Of course also participating will be the men who fought for their spots in the Grand Prix at the opening round at 'DREAM 7' including Masakazu Imanari (16-6-1), Hiroyuki Takaya (10-6-1), Yoshiro Maeda (24-6-2), Abel Cullum (14-2), Joe Warren (1-0) and Bibiano Fernandes (4-2).

The final eighth spot in the Tournament will be decided when Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1) faces off against Daiki Hata (10-5-3) at 'DREAM 8' on April 5. The bout was originally intended to take place in March with the rest of the opening round until an eye injury to Hata forced the bout to be rescheduled.

'DREAM 9' will have a primetime slot on Japanese broadcasting channel TBS, so look for more big names to be added to the card as we get closer to May 26.

Here is the current line-up for 'DREAM 9':

Lightweight bout:
Gesias Calvancante (14-2-1) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (23-5-2)

Featherweight GP Quarterfinals Participants:

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-1)
Masakazu Imanari (16-6-1)
Hiroyuki Takaya (10-6-1)
Yoshiro Maeda (24-6-2)
Abel Cullum (14-2)
Joe Warren (1-0)
Bibiano Fernandes (4-2)
Winner of Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1) vs. Daiki Hata (10-5-3) at 'DREAM 8'

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