DREAM 9 Play-by-Play

The next round of the DREAM featherweight tournament continues at 4:00 a.m. Central American, plus the opening round of the all important "Super Hulk Tournament."

Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Bob Sapp

Round 1.
Sapp curiously shoots for the takedown. Successful, he works for a straight arm bar, a kimura. Minowa is sweeping. Sapp manages some shots to the head before flopping to his back. With Minowa now in Sapp's guard, the outcome seems ienvitable. Sure enough, Minowa by Achilles lock.

Minowa, Achilles Lock, Round 1.

Jose Canseco vs. Hong Man Choi

Round 1.
If having a self-trained, former baseball player fight a 7-foot-2 former K-1 champion is the biggest crime of the evening, Canseco's disturbingly tight jazz pants is the second biggest. Canseco has no cornermen, only his girlfriend. Insane. Canseco seems reasonably composed, clips Choi with an overhand right. Choi counters, brief clinch and a knee. Canseco is now visibly shaken. Canseco is on his bike. A round-house kick to Choi's side throws Canseco off balance, and the MLB whistle-blower falls to the ground. Choi capitalizes with some ground and pound before the referee steps in to save Canseco, who has begun to tap out.

Choi, TKO, round 1.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Jan Nortje

Round 1.
Sokodjou swings and clinches, drives Nortje into the ropes. He attempts a judo throw, but Nortje grabs the ropes. And again. Guy Mezger in the announcers' booth is furious, memories of sketkchy PRIDE officiating no doubt parading through his mind. The referee separates them, and Sokodjou works good kicks to the legs. Takedown by Sokodjou followed up with strikes, Nortje turtling up. The referee stops the fight, but Sokodjou continues to fire away. Nortje's corner storms the ring. Replays show that none of the later strikes really landed, but the poor sportsmanship from usually all-around nice guy Sokodjou is surprising. Sokodjou apologizes to Nortje.

Sokodjou, TKO, round 1.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mark Hunt

Despite the disparity in weight, Mousasi has an apparent height and reach advantage of Hunt. Hunt stalks slowly around the ring, takedown by Mousasi. Mousasi traps one arm with his legs while working for a straight arm lock, a kimura on the other. Hunt looks to roll, but can't get off his back, and taps out.

Mousasi, kimura, round 1.


Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Round 1.
Both fighters take the center of the ring immediately and begin to trade. Edge to JZ, landing clean hooks and crosses. Kawajiri shoots and Calvancanti sprawls well. Locked up against the ropes, JZ jumps for a guillotine. Kawajiri slips from guard, but JZ still has the choke locked in. Jumps to half guard. Kawajiri slips out, finally, settles on top of JZ in half guard.
Kawajiri working some ground and pound, looks to advance to mount, but JZ is tying him up well. Reset in the middle of the ring. JZ with an open guard. Kawajiri with some powerful ground and pound, JZ still lucid.
Kawajiri passes to side control, JZ regains full guard. Back on the feet briefly, but Kawajiri is absolutely smothering JZ, and plants him on his back again. More ground and pound from Kawajiri. Referee stands the up, yellow cards all around.
Both work jabs, miss wide with hooks. Kawajiri with a head kick, JZ witha good right to the jaw. JZ drives for a single leg, unsuccessfully, and they are now tied up against the ropes. Kawajiri working knees to the legs and body. REferee splist them up.
JZ with a good jab, Kawajiri with a clubbing left. Kawajiri looks exhausted, but his driving forward well. Strong uppercut from Kawajiri, drives for a takedown, and lands in JZ's guard. While JZ works the rubber guard, Kawajiri knees the body, finishes with some strong ground and pound. The marathon round was all Kawajiri.

In between rounds, DREAM announcer refers to Akiyama as Sexyama. Highlight of the evening, to be sure.
Last five minutes of the fight, JZ takes some shots to the face before Kawajiri drives for the takedown. JZ again with a guillotine choke, but it's loose. Kawajiri with more ground and pound from half guard. JZ rolls out, back to the feet. In the corner, knees to the body and legs by Kawajiri. The referee resets them in the center fo the ring. JZ works some good boxing, misses with a big overhand right. Kawajiri with awesome right straights, shoots in for a double leg, plants JZ on his back, advances to mount almost immediately. Ground and pound to JZ's dome before the referee restarts them at center. JZ regains half guard. 30 seconds left in the round, this fight was all Kawajiri. Kawajiri advances to side control, more ground and pound. JZ completely shut down by Kawajiri.

Kawajiri, decision, round 2.


Hideo Tokoro vs. Abel Cullum

Round 1.
Lunging rights from Cullum clip Tokoro on the chin. Good left from Tokoro, and a kick to the leg. Cullum has had enough of the standup, and puts Tokoro on his back with a sindobuble. Tokor pops back up, good kicks and punches, nails Cullum hard in the body with a kick. Cullum drives Tokto to the ground and Tokoro locks in a triangle choke. Real tight. Cullum holding on, but it looks like it could be over. Cullum slipping out, Tokoro tightens it up. Cullum slips out, amazing escape. Cullum with knees and punches to Tokoro's head. Tokoro reverses into side control, full mount. sloppy arm bar attempt, but Tokor manages to stay on top. Cullum on his knees, drvies into Tokor's guard. Shots to the body.Tokor threatens with a high guard. Cullum with punches to the head and body. Tokoro pops back up to the feet.
Cullum with a strong uppercut. Tokoro with a jab to the face. Cullum landing good shots to the body and head, puts Tokoro on his back. Tokoro again threatening with a high guard. Tokor sets up an omoplata fro the sweep, lands in Cullum's guard. Tokro advances to half guard, Cullum drops for a knee bar, a toe hold. Tokoro powers his way out with strikes. Cullum rolls or the leg again, but it's loose, Tokoro advances to side contorl, scramble, andt he pair are back otn eh feet. Cullum driving for the takedown, Tokoro hooks the ropes, Cullum picks Tokro up, puts him on the back, advances to hal guard. Tokoro rols to his stmach, Cullum tries to take the back but slips off. Tokoro in full mount, Cullum escapes. Tokoro, on his feet, performs a sliding knee into Cullum, but loses position in the scramble. Round ends with Cullum on top with ground and pound.

Round 2.
Both look remarkably fresh, scramble to the ground immediately. Tokoro gains mount, considers an armbar, but Cullum escapes. On his knees, Cullum drives forward. Tokoro seems to be slipping in a choke, looked tight, but Cullum drops to his side and out of the hold. Cullum looking worn out. The choke is back in. Cullum taps out. Incredible fight.

Tokoro, rear naked choke, round 1.


Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Yoshiro Maeda

Round 1.
Maeda and Takaya trade low kicks. Maeda catches a kick to the head and pushes Takaya to the ground. Maeda with some ground and pound from the half guard, works to pass. Takaya keeping him well tied up. They pop back to the feet. Maeda narrolwy misses with a big knee. The two paw with jabs, both miss with big hooks. They conintue to wing punches at each other in the center of the cage. Good combination by Maeda, Takaya comes back with one of his own. Maeda drives Takaya into the ropes, and then to the ground. Ground and pound from Maeda.
Maeda lands a couple powerful knees as Takaya works back to his feet. Some showmanship now from Maeda as they trade punches. Takaya is looking determined. Maeda's hands are now resting at his shoulders.
Maeda pushes for a takedown, and nearly sends the both of them through the ropes. The fight is stopped to check a cut over Takaya's left eye. They restart in the center of the ring, Maeda in mount. Takaya slips back to half guard. Maeda stands and dives back in with punches. Takaya tries to scramble up, but Maeda pushes him back, and the referee restarts them on the feet immediately after and gives Takaya an undeserved yellow card for holding.
Takaya crushes Maeda with a right straight. Maeda falls to the ground and Takaya capitalizes with ground and pound. Referee steps in.
Takaya and Maeda smile at each other, grateful for the brawl.

Takaya, TKO, round 1

Masakazu Imanari vs. Bibiano "Flash" Fernandes

Round 1.
Fernandes catches a high kick from Imanari and throws him to the ground. Imanari pops back up, continues to fire kicks. Fernandes with a takedown, and some strong ground and pound before Imanari goes for the leg lock. Fernandes explodes away, and they are back to their feet.
They paw with jabs. Takedown by Fernandes. Fernande stands up and kicks at Imanari's legsb before the ref stands them up. Imanari kicks Fernandes tot eh body, and tries to pull guard, but Fernandes shrugs him off. Low kick by Fernandes. Both are playing it very safe, sill feeling each other out.
Imanari again goes for a kick tohe body, Fernandes catches it and drives forward with a punch as he puts Imanari on his back. Leas out of the way of a leg lock, Fernandes kicks at Imanari's legs. Ref stands them up.
Imanari kicks, Fernandes punches, and Iamanri is to his back again. A pattern seems to be forming. Ref stands Imanari up. They feel each other out on the feet some more. Another kick, another takedown, and both are back on their feet. The referee restarts the fighters, scolding them for not engaging. Nevertheless, Imanari flops to his back and Fernandes fires leg kicks. Yellow cards to both fighters. Fernandes is skittish on the feet. Imanari with a flying knee that misses, and pulls Fernandes to the ground. Fernandes lands in side control, scores with knees to the head and body of Imanari. Fernandes holds the position as the round ends.

Round 2.
Round 2 starts with more of the same, kicks with Imanari landing on his back. Imanari actually takes a seat in the center of the ring. Back to his feet, he pulls guard, and Fernandes lands some punches before standing back up. Low kicks by Fernandes. Imanari feigns listlessness, keeping his hands at his sides. More low kicks by Fernandes, and he drives Imanari to the ground. Fernandes tries to pass. Imanari has a leg , but Fernandes explodes out. That may have been Iamanri's best chance at winning. Back on the feet Fernandes with a clubbing punch to the side of Imanari's head, who closes the distance into double under hooks. He flops to his back, and the ref stands them up, gives Fernandes a yellow card for some reason. They trade punches, end up briefly on the ground and then on the feet. With 20 seconds left, Imanari jumps for a leg lock once, twice. The round ends. Looks like Fernandes by decision.

Fernandes, decision, round 2

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto vs. Joe Warren

Round 1.
Kid tries to embrace Warren as the ref brings them to the center of the ring. The fight started, they trade kicks to the bod. Kid holds in the center of the ring, Warren shoots, Kid sprawls and they clinch. warren landing strikes well inside the clinch, knees and uppercuts. Kid shoots but Warren sprawls. Warren throws kid to his back. Warren working in Kid's guard with punches and knees to the back. Kid maintains a high guard and ties up Warren's hands. Warren slams out and puts some more ground and pound on Kid, but nothing significant. A cut on the bridge of Kid's nose gets checked. Ref issues yellow cards to both fighters. Restart on the feet.
Kid fires front kicks and ajab at Warren. Open palm strike slows Warren down. Clinch against the ropes, knees from Kid. Another strong right from Kid. Warren showing a good chin as he moves forward with clear eyes. Kid ties him up against the ropes and knees tot eh body. They trade body kicks, Warren shoots for a takedown but is shrugged off. Another hard short right by Kid, he's starting to find his stride. Warren shoots again, fails, clinches lands some decent knees. Some good punches, too.
Strong kicks to the leg and body from Kid. From good work from Warren in the clinch, a front kick. Warren puts Kid on his back, works ground and pound, and ends the round in Kid's guard. Impressive performance from Warren so far.

Round 2.
Warren muscles Kid around to start the second. Some kicks from Kid to the legs and body. Big left, and another to Warren's jaw. Fantastic chin, but Warren is looking suddenly tired. Clinches Kid against the ropes, puts him on his back. They restart in the center of the ring, Warren in Kid's guard. With three minutes left, Kid is losing this fight. Rolls for an arm bar, gives it up for some reason, back to guard. Ref stands them up. Kid clips Warren with a right, eliciting a grin from Warren. They trade punches and Warren again shoots, doesn't get it. Kid findhing his stride again, but maybe too late. A minute left, Warren clinches against the ropes, muscles Kid around. Knees tot ehbody. Another takedown, half guard. Ground and pound with 20 seconds left. Joe Warren is going to beat Norifumi Yamamoto. Kid rolls for a last minute arm bar, but loses it. The fight's over. Incredible performance by Joe Warren.

Warren, split decision, round 2
It's amazing that any judge could have seen it for Yamamoto at all.

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller

A montage of Jacare and Mayhem's antics, both in and out of the ring, is playing. Dance moves abound. The producers have dubbed this fight "Crazy MMA 2."
Miller comes out accompanied by a cavalcade of dancing Japanese schoolgirls. "God bless you, Jason Miller," says announcer Michael Schiavello .
Jacare walks out, arms moving like a alligator's jaws, moseys his way to the ring, ignoring about a dozen screaming Japanese fans eager to drink his sweat. "God bless you, Ronaldo Souza," says I.
Mayhem puts on his serious face and tries to hold back a smirk as the national anthems play. Jacare takes out his mouthpiece for the Brazilian national anthem.

Round 1.
They trade jabs in the center of the ring. Miller is looking to strike, but Jacare takes him down. Miller works back to his feet. Miller puts the muay thai plum on Jacare, but lets it go. They bully eachother along the rope. Jacare lands a couple straight punches. Miller catches a kick and throws Jacare to the ground. Miller levels a soccer kick at Jacare. The move is illegal and the ref calls time. Jacare is cut on the crown of his head. Miller is given a yellow card. Great concern over the cut on Jacare's cut. Chants of "Mayhem" in the crowd. The fight will restart.
Jacare slams Miller to the ground, Miller maintains butterfly guard. Back to the feet, Jacare's cut is bleeding profusely. The fight is stopped to check the cut again. Miller says something to get Jacare's blood up (figuratively speaking) and the ref has to hold Jacare back.
The referree has stopped the fight. Asserting that the foul was unintentional, the fight is ruled a no-contest. Miller seems close to tears.

Miller/Jacare, no contest