DREAM Super Hulk Tournament Semi-Final

“The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs Bob “The Beast” Sapp

Round 1:
Sapp rushed forward right away and threw wild punches, but Sokoudjou scored a takedown and landed in side-control. He postured up and landed punches. Sapp floundered around on the ground and did nothing as Sokoudjou continued to land punches. Sapp turtled and the referee stopped the fight, but not before Sokoudjou once again got in two or three punches after the stoppage.

Winner: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou by TKO (Punches) at 1:30 of round one. He improves to 7-4-0 and advances to the finals of the DREAM Super Hulk Tournament.

 

 

DREAM Super Hulk Tournament Semi-Final

Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa vs “The Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi

Round 1:
Minowa did his traditional somersault to begin the fight and circled his gigantic opponent. Minowa tried for a takedown, but wound up on the bottom. He attempted a heel hook, but Choi used an extremely impressive sweep and reversed, then stood up. Minowa did some mock dance moves and Choi responded as Michael Schiavello provided hilarious commentary.

Minowa shot in for another takedown and wound up on the bottom again, but Choi quickly stood up. Minowa landed an overhand right and Choi answered with two punches and a knee. Minowa managed to get the fight to the ground and worked from side-control. He landed knees to the body of Choi and Choi did nothing but hold on. More knees landed for Minowa and Choi began to land short punches from his back. The referee stood the fighters up and gave Choi a Yellow Card.

Minowa tried for another takedown, but Choi pushed him to the ground and rained down a series of punches from the top. Minowa got back to his feet and Choi connected with a knee, then defended a takedown. Choi landed a left hook and more punches that forced Minowa to dive for a takedown. Minowa stood up and punched Choi while Choi was kneeling down – they were at similar heights at this point – and Choi stood up. He landed a pair of knees and stuffed another takedown from Minowa.

Round 2:
A fatigued Minowa landed a diving right hand and tried to take Choi down. Choi defended, but Minowa swept and looked for a leg submission. He could not secure an achilles lock, but a follow-up heel hook was successful and the giant Choi tapped out. Incredible victory for Minowa.

Winner: Ikuhisa Minowa by Submission (Heel Hook) at 1:27 of round two. He improves to 43-30-8 and advances to the finals of the DREAM Super Hulk Tournament.

 

 

DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes v Joe Warren

Round 1:
Quick strikes were exchanged and Warren scored a very brief takedown. Fernandes got up, but Warren slammed him to the mat. Warren landed hammerfists, but Fernandes locked on a lightning-fast armbar and flattened Warren out. Warren did not tap out, but he was clearly in severe danger of injury and the referee stopped the fight.

As Warren protested in the corner, Fernandes walked up and gave him the finger, then rushed out of the ring.

Winner: Bibiano Fernandes by Technical Submission (Armbar) at 0:42 of round one. He improves to
6-2-0 and advances to the finals of the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix.

 

 

DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Hiroyuki “Streetfight Bancho” Takaya vs Hideo Tokoro

Round 1:
Tokoro opened the fight with a body kick and evaded a combination from Takaya. More kicks landed for Tokoro and he followed with a right cross. Takaya continued to stalk Tokoro around the ring, but Tokoro landed more strikes. Takaya connected with a right cross and Tokoro fell while throwing a wild head kick. Both fighters landed quick punches and Tokoro tried for a takedown. Takaya stuffed it and kicked Tokoro’s legs. Tokoro stood up and was hit with an overhand right.

Takaya began to land leg kicks and he drilled Tokoro with a hard right. Tokoro threw a knee and was immediately countered by a right hook. Tokoro used his jab to try to keep Takaya at bay, but Takaya continued to punish his lead leg with kicks. Takaya scored with more punches and Tokoro tried unsuccessfully for a takedown. Takaya kicked his legs and Tokoro stood up. Takaya sent Tokoro off-balance with a right hook behind the ear, then rocked Tokoro with a punching flurry. Tokoro fell to the mat, but the fight soon returned to the feet.

Tokoro drilled Takaya with a knee and sent him staggering backwards with a left hook as the crowd went crazy. More huge punches landed for Tokoro and Takaya struggled to hold on. Tokoro seemed to pull guard with a flying triangle attempt, but it only served as a chance for Takaya to regain his composure. Just as it looked as if the round was going to end quietly, Takaya postured up and rained down nearly a dozen big punches that had Tokoro in all sorts of trouble, but the bell sounded and saved him. Crazy round.

Round 2:
Tokoro landed quick kicks and punches in the second round, but Takaya answered with two combinations. Takaya followed with more punches that dropped Tokoro and the referee quickly dove in to save a turtling Tokoro from further damage. Excellent fight.

Winner: Hiroyuki Takaya by TKO (Punches) at 0:31 of round two. He improves to 12-6-1 and advances to the finals of the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix.

 

 

DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout

Kazuyuki Miyata vs Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata

Round 1:
Hata missed with a flashy head kick early on, but connected with a body kick. Miyata quickly dragged him to the mat and took his back. Miyata punched the sides of Hata’s head to try to set up a rear naked choke, but gave it up and transitioned into a Twister. Hata prevented Miyata from applying pressure to his neck and a stalemate ensued. The fight was stood up and Hata was given a Yellow Card. Hata missed with another head kick and Miyata clinched. Hata broke free with an uppercut and followed with a counter hook.

Miyata connected with a nice one-two, then followed with an overhand right. Hata answered with a quick combination and Miyata scored a takedown. Miyata punched from half-guard until the fight was moved to the centre of the ring. More short punches landed for Miyata and Hata looked to set up a Kimura. Miyata passed to mount, but Hata scrambled. Miyata wound up in side-control and landed elbows to the ribs and knees to the head. Hata desperately tried to knee from the bottom, but met with little success. Miyata moved to mount and briefly tried for an arm-triangle choke, then switched to punches instead. Hata gave up his back before the bell. Complete domination by Miyata.

Round 2:
Miyata opened the second round with a flying knee and quickly scored a takedown. He postured up and landed some decent punches. Miyata tried to pass Hata’s guard, but could not do so and Hata got back to his feet. He landed a one-two, but Miyata slammed him to the mat. Hata stood up and was slammed once again. Back on the feet, Hata landed a pair of leg kicks and trapped Miyata in a tight guillotine choke as Miyata shot in for a takedown. Miyata eventually managed to break free of the choke and he took Hata’s back. Miyata attempted a German Suplex, but it failed. He wound up on top, however, and both fighters landed punches on the ground.

Winner: Kazuyuki Miyata by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. He improves to 8-7-0 and will advance on in the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix if either finalist is injured.