Aoki Remains In DREAM Grand Prix

by Robert Sargent

Just days after withdrawing from the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix due to injury, FEG has announced that Shinya Aoki will remain in the tournament but will compete on June 25th at Dream.4, rather than at Dream.3 this Sunday.

Aoki had previously stated that he would be unable to compete at Dream.3 due to injuries suffered in his bout with Gesias Calvancante at Dream.2, will now remain in the Grand Prix.

It was initially reported that Aoki had suffered facial injuries in the second battle with Calvancante, but his doctor has announced that it was actually a severely bruised rib, coupled with a concussion of the cervical vetebra from the first fight with Calvancante, that has put the submission wizard on the shelf.

DREAM producer Keiichi Sasahara has stated that the postponement of Aoki's upcoming bout with Katsuhiko Nagata was preferable to having Aoki withdraw from the tournament entirely. He expressed a desire to retain as many original tournament competitors as possible, while using sponsor nominations only when absolutely necessary.

In addition, Sasahara also expressed a desire to continue to keep Hayato "Mach" Sakurai in the running for a shot at the newly-created DREAM Welterweight Championship, despite his upset loss to David Baron in Shooto yesterday.