Japan’s Fighting & Entertainment Group (FEG) recently announced the pairings for its featherweight grand prix semifinals which are set to go down at the DREAM 11 event scheduled for the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on Oct. 6.
First up will be wrestling convert Joe Warren (2-0) taking on jiu-jitsu ace Bibiano Fernandes (5-2).
Warren made his debut in mixed martial arts in the tournament opening round at DREAM 7 this March where he defeated former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe (12-4) via TKO (cuts). Then in only his second professional bout he shocked the world when he bested featherweight superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-2) to a decision win at DREAM 9 this May.
Fernandes path to the tournament consisted of garnering decision victories over Takafumi Otsuka (8-4-1) and Masakazu Imanari (16-7-1).
On the other side of the brackets will be hard hitting slugger Hiroyuki Takaya (11-6-1) who is coming off a impressive annihilation of Yoshihiro Maeda (24-7-2) at DREAM 9. He takes on fellow countryman, fan favorite and general underdog Hideo Tokoro (22-16-1).
The semifinal bouts for DREAM’s open weight tournament, which has been dubbed the "Super Hulk" tournament, will also take place at the event.
Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa Minowa (42-30-8) has been put to the task of facing off against 7’2" Korean gargantuan Hong Man-Choi (2-2) in his semifinal fight, while the other side of the brackets will see Gegard Mousasi (25-2-1) doing battle against the dangerous Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4).
The "Super Hulk" tournament finalists will then do battle on New Years Eve at the annual Dynamite!! event.
Also slated for the card is a clash to take care of some unfinished business and to crown a new DREAM middleweight champion between the charismatic Jason "Mayhem" Miller and grappling phenom Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, when the two bitter rivals face off for a third time.
Here is the current line-up for DREAM 11:
DREAM middleweight title:
Jason Miller (22-6) vs. Ronaldo Souza (10-2)
Featherweight grand prix semifinals:
Joe Warren (2-0) vs. Bibiano Fernandes (5-2)
Hiroyuki Takaya (11-6-1) vs. Hideo Tokoro (22-16-1)
"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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