LOS ANGELES, CA. (January 17, 2012) - ProElite MMA (PK:PELE) and DREAM, the largest Japanese MMA organization, have initiated a promotional partnership and fighter exchange program, jointly announced today. The alliance will foster co-promoted events, both in the United States and in Japan with fighter exchanges featured on the cards of both fight promotions, respectively.

"Our partnership with DREAM forms a promotional bond with the most prominent Japanese MMA organization," said Billy Kelly, President of ProElite and COO of Stratus Media Group Inc. (SMDI:OTCBB) -- parent company of ProElite. "Dream has developed a stable of great fighters on their roster and a strong team behind the scenes. With this exchange, the two organizations are building a cultural and fight-event bridge that our fans are sure to welcome.

The initial fighter exchange debuts this Saturday, January 21, in Hawaii when DREAM star and Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa takes on Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove in the ProElite main event at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

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(December 14, 2011) – ProElite is coming back to the islands of Hawaii on January 21, 2012 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The main card will be televised live on HDNet at 10 P.M. EST.

Returning to the ProElite cage after breaking into the world top ten rankings, 9th ranked Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (4-0) will be facing off against the 5th ranked Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano (18-8). Coming off a dominant performance capped off with a keylock submission in the third round against Raquel Pa’aluhi, McMann hopes to continue climbing the ladder of the world rankings.

"This will be my biggest test since the Olympic Games, so I’m very excited to be competing against Hitomi. I’m confident I belong in the top 5 in the world and beating her soundly should put me there."

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Event: ProElite 3: "Da Spyder vs. Minowaman"
Date: Sat., Jan. 21, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on HDNet
Location: Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii

Main Event:

185 lbs.: Kendall Grove vs. Ikuhisa Minowa

Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals:

265 lbs.: Cody Griffin vs. Ryan Martinez
265 lbs.: Jake Heun vs. Richard Odoms

Main Card:

185 lbs.: Kaleo Gambill vs. Brent Schermerhorn
135 lbs.: Sara McMann vs. Hitomi Akano

For the latest "Da Spyder vs. Minowaman" news and notes check out our event archive right here.

Well, this was unexpected.

ProElite is expected to stage its third event on Jan. 21, 2012, at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. That's not surprising. The fact that a middleweight bout pitting Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Kendall Grove certainly is.

MMAFighting.com recently brought word of the pending match-up. 

They also report that "Minowaman," who will be making his debut with the promotion while fighting stateside for the first time in over 90 career fights, has signed a three-fight North American exclusive deal. Rumors had circulated that "The Punk" had signed with UFC and would appear on its Japan card this February.

Nope.

Minowa, one of the most beloved Japanese fighters you'll find, finally makes his way west after winning his last four fights in a row. Can he make it to five against a former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner?

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Last night (Sat., Nov. 5, 2011) at ProElite 2: "Big Guns" in Moline, Illinois, Tim Sylvia defeated Andreas Kraniotakes in the headlining bout of the evening. And while he didn't blow anyone away with his performance, "The Maine-iac" still has his sights set on bigger and better match-ups:

"I want to get up there. I want to get on the big stage again and prove myself. It's not about winning titles. I've won five of them in the UFC, I've won other ones in other organizations; I don't care about fighting for the UFC title again if it never happens. But I do want to get back in the UFC and I do want to fight all the fights that I think the fans want to see (and) the fights that I want. I want to fight (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira again. I want to fight Frank Mir again. I'd like to fight Brock Lesnar, you know, Alistair Overeem... I want to fight all those guys. I just think it would be great for the fans. Just keep me around and let me have those great fights. I'm going to put on a show no matter what. I'm going to fight. I'm going to show up and I'm going to fight. .... Dana White, I don't know if (you're watching) but give me a shout."

Anyone think the UFC is going to give him a call anytime soon? Do you even want to see Sylvia back inside the Octagon? How about the match-ups he mentioned? Interested?

For complete ProElite 2 results and blow-by-blow of all the main card action click here and here.

Remember Andrei Arlovski? You know, he's the guy who used to be the UFC heavyweight champion before bouncing around and losing four fights in a row, three by brutal knockout. Every third fan called him washed up and pleaded with him to retire.

Well, he didn't, instead going on to sign with the reincarnated ProElite to compete in its admittedly talent deprived heavyweight division. This was evidenced by "Pit Bull" taking on Travis Fulton last night (Sat., Nov. 5, 2011) at ProElite 2: "Big Guns" in Moline, Illinois.

But even old dogs can occasionally bust out a few new tricks and that's what Arlovski did at the iWireless Center. With just one second remaining in a bout that had many snoozing, the Belarusian unleashed a high kick that caught Fulton clean on the chin.

Good night, Irene.

For complete ProElite 2 results and blow-by-blow of all the main card action click here and here.

In the headline bout for last night's (Nov. 5, 2011) ProElite 2: "Big Guns" main event, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia entered the cage for his first heavyweight fight since 2008.

"The Maine-iac" had previously been competing only in super heavyweight fights during his time between 265-pound matches.

Sylvia squared off against Andreas Kraniotakes, an up and coming German fighter who was almost not allowed to fight on this card, due to his small amount of professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fights.

For three rounds, Sylvia tied up Kraniotakes' arms, clinched up, pushed the fight against the cage and essentially leaned on his opponent.

While he did land a decent amount of dirty boxing strikes, he never did anything to threaten or get anywhere near a finish. Unfortunately, the headlining bout ended up being the least exciting fight on the card, causing the fans in attendance at the iWireless center to rain down boos as Sylvia performed his post-fight interview.

Let's take a look at the rest of the action from ProElite 2.

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Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of ProElite 2: "Big Guns."

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE results and blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of ProElite 2, beginning with the main card bouts on HDNet at 9:00 p.m. ET.

If you're going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main ProElite 2 results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.

Enjoy the show, Maniacs!