FieLDS Dynamite!! DREAM vs Sengoku press conference news and notes

Earlier this week, we reported on the officially announced "DREAM vs. Sengoku" theme for the Dynamite!! event on New Year's Eve.

Besides the promotional personnel comprising the K-1 event, producer Sadaharu Tanikawa, DREAM event producer Keiichi Sasahara and Don Quijote chairman, Takao Yasuda, and Don Quijote COO, Sumio Inamura, select fighters from DREAM and Sengoku (or Sengoku Raiden Championship, as it will be re-christened) were also present at the press conference on the 25th.

The list of attendees was as follows:

DREAM: Shinya Aoki, Kazushi Sakuraba, Hideo Tokoro, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, Kazuhisa Watanabe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Kazuhisa Ishii

SRC: Hidehiko Yoshida, Akihiro Gono, Kazuo Misaki, Sanae Kikuta, Mizuto Hirota, Masanori Kanehara, Eiji Mitsuoka, Kazunori Yokota, Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao

Quotes from fighters and promoters after the jump:

Quoteworthy (fighters):

Kazuhisa Watanabe, former boxer turned K-1 fighter and MMA debutant (his NYE appearance will be his MMA debut) who has established himself as a firebrand with penchant for trashtalking and brazen demeanor in and out of the ring: "Hi, I am Watanabe who will be Masato's successor in K-1. If I were to fight someone in my weight class, I wouldlove to fight Kid Yamamoto. What do you think, Mr. Tanikawa?"

Hayato Sakurai (who showed up late to the conference, sporting a few days' growth of facial hair): "I really don't go online to keep myself up to date with all the happenings so I am not sure what is going on, but have DREAM and Sengoku joined forces? The only fighter in Sengoku in my weight class who comes to my mind is Mr. Akihiro Gono whom I have known for a long time. We have both toiled in Shooto back in the day. Honestly, I am confused as to what I should say, but I am really hungry. I woke up at noon and was told by the conference organizers to skip breakfast... well, let's all try our best to make this a great event. That's all!"

Kazushi Sakuraba: "I would love to fight Kid Yamamoto who is in the same weight class as me."

Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao: "This ambience is remniscent of the last time I fought in the Dynamite! It has been four years since the (infamous incident that has inspired his moniker) with Heath Herring, but I feel that I belong in the Dynamite! I would love to fight Mirko (Cro Cop)"

Sanae Kikuta: "I am glad about getting this opportunity, since I have someone I would like to fight. To get directly to the point, I would like to fight Kiyoshi Tamura."

Mizuto Hirota: "Since this is an inter-promotional contest, I would like to fight Eddie Alvarez. Wouldn't the fans love to see Alvarez get knocked out by a punch?"

Satoshi Ishii, who is scheduled to make his eagerly anticipated MMA debut against Hidehiko Yoshida, has been training in Las Vegas. Since he could not attend the press conference, he delivered his messages via video blog. Regarding his opponent, Yoshida, Ishii refrained from the brazenness he channeled in his previous comments about "nailing (Yoshida) in the tip of the jaw with a punch," and opted instead to pay his respect to the fellow former Olympic judo gold medalist.

Regarding his rumored role as the torch-bearer for Japanese MMA: "I am just focused on myself, and if I make that kind of a statement, everyone around me eats it up. I wish to be left alone, but I absolutely do not fancy myself in such a role. Just leave me alone."

Nothing like a little exchange of verbal jabs between the champions of the two organizations to fuel the rivalry and hype up the event

Shinya Aoki: "Who is the (lightweight) champion of Sengoku? I have no idea. I believe we are the number one and I am the top dog. If the Sengoku champ says that he wants to fight me, then I would give it a consideration."

Mizuto Hirota: "My honest reaction (to Aoki's statement) is... I am pissed. I think that my fighting Alvarez will make for a better fight, so I would like to knock Alvarez out. My impression of Aoki? I think he is a long-limbed fighter."

Additional notes from the promoters

• According to Tanikawa, FEG approached WVR with the overture of merged fight card (unlike what has been stated inthe rumors and speculations, WVR did not seek FEG's help to salvage their NYE event). The FEG and WVR will need to fine-tune and iron out the details of the event in the coming weeks.

• Regarding the questions about the future of WVR -- whether Sengoku/SRC will remain an independent promotion or merge with DREAM -- Inamura explained that Don Quijote plans on ramping up its support of WVR and that WVR has already secured a venue for its upcoming event in March.

• Earlier in the month, Tanikawa unveiled in his interview with a heralded Japanese combat sport magazine that, while WVR will continue as an independent promotion, plans for holding the DREAM/SRC merged fight cards on a periodic basis in the future have been in the works. At the press conference, he elaborated that he and other FEG and WVR personnel have had their hands full with the Dynamite! event and have not had time to discuss the future plans between the two organizations in detail.

• Sasahara clarified that not every MMA bout in Dynamite! falls under the DREAM vs. Sengoku banner: Several scheduled bouts will pit two DREAM fighters. Though not in attendance at the conference, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Kid Yamamoto, and Katsunori Kikuno have been mentioned as potential participants in the event. Inamoto declined to disclose whether there will be any fight between Sengoku fighters.

• Regarding the reconciliation of the rules between DREAM and Sengoku, Sasahara simply stated that FEG and WVR have been working hard to devise sensible rules for the Dynamite! event but nothing has been finalized yet.

• Inamura echoed the sentiment of WVR Director, Takahiro Kokuho, in his desire to add Kazuo Misaki to the Dynamite! fight card. Misaki's suspension for his brush with the law began in July, and Misaki has been behaving very well, dedicating himself to cornering and coaching roles. Ultimately, Misaki's participation hinges on the decision that will be rendered by WVR's commission in the next commission hearing in early December.

• Tanikawa emphasized that the matchmaking effort has been focused on organizing fights that fans want to see. To such end, FEG and WVR may put together several bouts that pit the champions of the two organizations. Regarding the title matches originally scheduled for "Sengoku Raiden Championship" NYE event, Tanikawa commented that WVR will likely hold the Sengoku title bouts in its events next year and not on the Dynamite! stage.

• Also on the 25th, WVR Director and PR chief, Takahiro Kokuho was dismissed from his position as the director. Though Kokuho's title has been listed simply as "PR director" in some media outlets, Kokuho has been the brain and brawn behind Sengoku and handled various duties ranging from matchmaking and venue booking to negotiation with sponsors. Though the dismissal is obviously unfortunate for Kokuho, it is an encouraging indication that Don Quijote has not jumped ship to ditch its sponsorship of WVR: Rather, DQ may augment its role and direct involvement with WVR.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates and fight announcements for FieLDS Dynamite!! in the coming weeks.