Showcasing many of their top stars and attractions, DREAM crowned its first Featherweight Grand Prix Champion at Heiwa Dream.11, while Joachim Hansen and Shinya Aoki battled for the Lightweight Championship in the co-main event rubber match.

Also on the card, the finalists in the much-discussed Super Hulk Tournament were determined and Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba made a successful return. MMARising.com has live play-by-play of the action as it happened.

DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Final

Hiroyuki “Streetfight Bancho” Takaya vs Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes

Round 1:
Takaya connected with a hard left hook early on and Fernandes took the fight to the mat. He looked for an armbar and Takaya spun free. Fernandes tried to secure a heel hook, but Takaya again evaded danger. Back on the feet, Takaya landed a three-punch flurry and was met with a solid right hook counter. Fernandes scored a takedown, then jumped on Takaya’s back as Takaya stood up. Fernandes used punches to try to set up a rear naked choke, but could not and the fighters were separated.

Fernandes tripped Takaya with a leg kick, then rushed forward with wild hooks. He tried for a takedown and Takaya stuffed it. More leg kicks landed for Fernandes and both fighters threw big haymakers. Takaya landed a punch-kick combination and Fernandes answered with a looping hook. Fernandes connected with a right cross and the fighters exchanged punches and kicks again. Fernandes landed a right hook and clinched, but Takaya pressed him into the corner and threw three big punches.

The fighters continued to swing for the fences with punches and Fernandes scored a takedown. Takaya worked back to his feet and an exchange of punches followed. Takaya rocked Fernandes with a one-two, but Fernandes fired back with looping counters. Takaya cut Fernandes beside the left eye with a hook and more punches were exchanged. Takaya scored with jabs and leg kicks before the bell.

Round 2:
Fernandes dropped Takaya with a massive right hook in the early stages of the second round and he rushed forward looking for the finish. He took Takaya’s back and returned to the same koala position in the corner from round one. The referee separated the fighters and they traded haymakers. Takaya landed a nice combination and more bombs were thrown. Takaya scored with a hard leg kick and Fernandes answered with more right hooks as Takaya’s left eye swelled up. Takaya landed a big one-two and stuffed a takedown.

The final 40 seconds saw both fighters go for broke with huge punches, but Takaya got the better of the exchanges. Absolutely incredible war that could truly go either way.

Winner: Bibiano Fernandes by Split Decision after two rounds. He improves to 7-2-0 and becomes the first DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Champion.

DREAM Lightweight Championship

Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen vs Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki

Round 1:
Hansen just missed with a lunging hook and Aoki clinched and scored a trip takedown. He moved to half-guard, but Hansen used butterfly guard to keep Aoki at a distance. A scramble ensued and Aoki wound up in half-guard again. He landed occasional punches and hammerfists, but Hansen got back to his feet. Aoki scored another takedown and worked from the top, but Hansen prevented him from doing anything. Hansen drilled Aoki with a massive upkick and a stunned Aoki fell backwards.

Time was strangely called and replays showed that Aoki had been kicked in the groin before the upkick to the face. The doctor began performing tests on Aoki’s eye from ringside, as the upkick had hit Aoki in the eye. A very lengthy break ensued, but the fight finally resumed and Aoki worked from Hansen’s guard.

Hansen looked for a triangle choke from the bottom, but Aoki evaded and threw a handful of punches from the top. Hansen continued to try for submissions from the bottom and managed to lock on a modified armbar. He wrenched back on Aoki’s arm, but Aoki remained calm and escaped. Hansen landed a series of elbows to the thigh and the fighters scrambled back to their feet. Hansen punched in the corner and Aoki scored a takedown. Aoki landed weak strikes and Hansen countered with two more upkicks. Hansen threw hammerfists from the bottom until the bell. Strange round.

Round 2:
The fighters clinched in the second round and Aoki took Hansen down. Aoki threw sparse strikes and looked to pass Hansen’s guard, but Hansen countered with short punches from the bottom. The referee stood the fighters up and gave Hansen a Yellow Card. Hansen landed a big knee and Aoki scored another takedown. He moved to mount and secured a guillotine choke from the top. Hansen squirmed free, but Aoki transitioned into an armbar. Hansen stayed calm and appeared to be fine, but he switched positions to knee Aoki’s head and Aoki immediately capitalised by extending Hansen’s arm and forcing a hasty tapout with mere seconds left in the fight.

If the fight had lasted four more seconds, the decision could have easily gone either way. Huge win for Aoki, but this was definitely not his best showing.

Winner: Shinya Aoki by Submission (Armbar) at 4:56 of round two. He improves to 22-4-0, 1 NC and becomes the new DREAM Lightweight Champion.

Non-Tournament Bout

Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba vs Rubin “Mr. Hollywood” Williams

Round 1:
Sakuraba opened the fight with kicks to the leg and body of Williams and Williams winced from the leg kicks. Sakuraba shot in for one of the weakest takedowns ever and somehow still got it. From side-control, he punched and landed knees. Sakuraba began to slap the back of Williams and then locked on a Kimura, which forced Williams to quickly submit.

Williams literally did absolutely nothing in the entire fight.

Winner: Kazushi Sakuraba by Submission (Kimura) at 2:52 of round one. He improves to 25-12-1, 2 NC.

Non-Tournament Bout

Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri vs Melchor “Barracuda” Manibusan

Round 1:
Manibusan immediately rushed forward with punches and Kawajiri answered with knees from a Thai clinch. Kawajiri scored a takedown and landed short punches from half-guard. He began to punch and elbow the ribs of Manibusan and passed to mount. Kawajiri landed punches and hammerfists as Manibusan tried to roll to his sides. Manibusan covered up and Kawajiri landed punch after punch. The referee finally stopped the fight, giving Kawajiri the expected win.

Winner: Tatsuya Kawajiri by TKO (Punches) at 3:47 of round one. He improves to 25-5-2.