Japan’s Fighting & Entertainment Group (FEG) recently announced a change of date and venue for its DREAM 11 event, which will now take place from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on Oct. 6.
It was originally set to go down Sept. 23 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan; however, a venue switch and an additional two weeks were required to make it happen.
The semifinal bouts for DREAM’s open weight tournament, which has been dubbed "Super Hulk," will take place at the event. Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa Minowa has been put to the task of facing off against 7’2" Korean gargantuan Hong Man-Choi in his semifinal fight, while the other side of the brackets will feature Gegard Mousasi doing battle against the dangerous Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
"Super Hulk" tournament finalists will then do battle on New Years Eve at the annual Dynamite!! event.
DREAM 11 is also expected to feature the semifinal bouts of the featherweight grand prix. Though the pairings are still to be announced, it will feature fan favorite and underdog Hideo Tokoro, jiu-jitsu ace Bibiano Fernandes, hard-hitting slugger Hiroyuki Takaya and also wrestling stud Joe Warren, who shocked the world recently by defeating featherweight superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto.
Also slated for the card is a clash to take care of some unfinished business between the charismatic Jason "Mayhem" Miller and grappling phenom Ronaldo Souza.
The bitter rivals recently fought this May at DREAM 9 for the vacant DREAM middleweight title, though the bout was stopped after an errant blow from Miller to a downed Souza caused a deep laceration, which the severity of forced the ringside officials to call off the bout and declare it a no contest.
Now the pair will tangle for a third time this October for a more decisive outcome and also to declare a new DREAM middleweight champion.
And elsewhere in non-tournament action Karate stylist Andrews Nakahara is set to throwdown with Croatian sensation Zelg Galesic in a middleweight showdown.
Here is the current line-up for DREAM 11:
DREAM middleweight title:
Jason Miller (22-6) vs. Ronaldo Souza (10-2)Featherweight grand prix participants:
Joe Warren (2-0)
Hideo Tokoro (22-16-1)
Bibiano Fernandes (5-2)
Hiroyuki Takaya (11-6-1)"Super Hulk" open weight grand prix semifinals:
Hong Man-Choi (2-2) vs. Ikuhisa Minowa (42-30-8)
Gegard Mousasi (25-2-1) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4)Non-tournament bout:
Zelg Galesic (9-4) vs. Andrews Nakahara (2-1)
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