Surprise, surprise.
Brett Rogers, who was recently released from prison after completing a 60-day jail sentence for domestic abuse in Minneapolis, Minn., was denied a visa to travel overseas to fight former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, according to Heavy.com.
"The Grimm," who still has to satisfy a three-year probation period and is forbidden from seeing his battered wife until he completes a domestic abuse program, was penciled in to battle the "Maine-iac" under the DREAM banner as part of the FieLDS 'Genki Desu Ka!!' New Year's Eve event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Dec. 31, 2011. Now, he'll have to try and get his mixed martial arts (MMA) career back on track stateside until his international travel ban is lifted.
The former tire mechanic has dropped four of his last five bouts, including a split decision loss to Eddie Sanchez at Titan Fighting Championship 20 back on Sept. 23. His lone victory during that span was a 2010 unanimous decision win over Ruben "Warpath" Villareal in Canada.
Sylvia, according to the report, has been removed from the DREAM: New Year! 2011 fight card, which will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii.
In addition, DREAM: New Year! 2011 will feature the conclusion of the promotion's bantamweight grand prix that includes Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques on one side of the bracket and Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos on the other end.
For more news and notes for DREAM's New Year's Eve supershow click here.
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