Former rivals Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri and Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen will square off for a second time at DREAM.17 on September 24th in Saitama, Japan. Kawajiri will make his featherweight debut in the fight after Hansen, a former DREAM Lightweight Champion, dropped down in weight last year.

The pair first faced off for Hansen’s Shooto Welterweight Championship at 154 pounds in February 2006, but the bout ended after just eight seconds due to an accidental low blow from Hansen. Now five and a half years later, Hansen will have a chance to gain a measure of revenge in the rematch.

Kawajiri (28-7-2) has been active in recent years and has won 13 of his 16 fights since the brief bout with Hansen. He is just 2-2 in his last four fights, however, dating back to New Year’s Eve 2009, and suffered a lopsided loss to Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez in April. Kawajiri returned to action last month and stopped UFC veteran Drew Fickett with first-round punches to earn his 18th stoppage victory.

Hansen (22-10-1) has also remained active since facing Kawajiri for the first time, but has experienced ups and downs over the past three years. After capturing the DREAM Lightweight Championship from Shinya Aoki in July 2008, Hansen endured the longest layoff of his career and was defeated by Aoki in the pair’s third meeting over 14 months later. He dropped two more fights before rebounding with three straight wins starting in September.

Both Kawajiri and Hansen are durable fighters and proven finishers, and their rematch could determine a future challenger for DREAM Featherweight Champion Hiroyuki Takaya. Hansen was knocked out by Takaya last May in the only KO loss of the Norwegian’s career.

DREAM.17 takes place on September 24th at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)