Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri vs Kazuyuki “Little Hercules” Miyata

Round 1:
Kawajiri landed leg kicks and a stiff jab, but Miyata countered with a head kick. Kawajiri took him down against the ropes and passed to half-guard. Kawajiri moved all the way to mount and landed short punches, but Miyata held on and prevented him from posturing up at all. Kawajiri used palm strikes to set up an arm-triangle choke, but he could not fully secure the choke and Miyata easily made it to the bell.

Round 2:
Miyata landed a series of left hooks in the second round, but Kawajiri took him down in the middle of the ring. Kawajiri briefly made it to side control, but Miyata rolled and regained full guard. The fighters stood and exchanged knees to the body. Miyata dragged Kawajiri to the mat and took his back. Kawajiri moved to the ropes and escaped out the back, then stood up. The fighters were separated and Kawajiri countered a body kick with a takedown. He locked on an arm-triangle choke and passed to the side, forcing Miyata to tap out with mere seconds remaining.

Winner: Tatsuya Kawajiri by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 4:54 of round two. He improves to 30-7-2.

Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs Ryo “The Piranha” Chonan

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of leg kicks and Sakurai grazed with a right hook. He dropped an off-balance Chonan with a left hand and dove into his half-guard with punches. Chonan tied Sakurai up and prevented him from landing anything damaging. Sakurai moved to side control and landed knees to the body. Chonan scrambled up and landed a head kick. He followed with punches and leg kicks until Sakurai clinched and took him down. Chonan stood against the ropes and the round ended in a clinch.

Round 2:
Both fighters landed short punches and knees in the clinch in the opening minute of round two and Chonan connected with a right cross after a break. The fighters clinched again and exchanged more knees. Sakurai landed a lead left hook and a one-two to the head and body. Sakurai dumped Chonan to the mat and worked from side control. He smothered Chonan and landed knees to the body and head. Chonan got back to half-guard late in the round and the fighters punched until the bell.

Round 3:
Sakurai landed a leg kick and punches to begin the final round and Chonan swiftly answered with kicks and punches of his own. He landed a left hook and Sakurai circled back. Sakurai landed a left to the body and Chonan countered with one to the jaw. Sakurai clinched and Chonan broke away. A hard left hook and jabs scored for Chonan. Sakurai began to land with punches in close.

Sakurai clinched, but the fighters were soon separated. Both fighters landed hooks and Chonan opened a cut below Sakurai’s right eye. Sakurai took Chonan down and moved to side control. He passed to mount and then to back control. Chonan got back to half-guard and Sakurai returned to side control. He moved to mount, but Chonan swept and took top position at the bell.

Winner: Hayato Sakurai by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 36-12-2.

*Note: 45-minute Intermission between fights.*

DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes vs Rodolfo Marques Diniz

Round 1:
After an exchange of kicks, Fernandes took Marques down in the corner and landed a series of elbows to the thigh. He remained on top in half-guard and continued to target Marques’s legs with elbows while mixing in punches to the face. Fernandes postured up and punched to the ribs while keeping Marques pinned in the corner. Marques tried to use the corner post to work back to his feet, but could not. Fernandes kneed him in the stomach and landed more punches. Marques finally stood just before the bell.

Round 2:
The fighters exchanged kicks again in the second round and Fernandes staggered Marques with a hard one-two. Marques dropped levels for a takedown, but Fernandes stayed on his feet in the corner and the referee called for a break. Marques clinched in the corner again, but Fernandes countered with a knee and pushed him off. Fernandes landed a duck-under left hook and Marques took a step backwards. Punches were exchanged and Marques looked to set up a single knockout punch. A left hook landed for Fernandes and he clinched in search of a takedown. Marques reversed the clinch and time expired.

Winner: Bibiano Fernandes by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. He improves to 10-3-0 and advances to the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Final.

DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Antonio Banuelos vs Masakazu “Ashikan Judan” Imanari

Round 1:
The fighters circled early in the fight and Banuelos was hesitant to throw any punches as Imanari used his customary strategy of diving for leglocks. Banuelos landed a right hand and Imanari countered with a head kick. Imanari tried to pull guard and Banuelos wisely stood up after landing one punch. Imanari kicked to the upper body and Banuelos blocked the strikes with his arms. Banuelos tried to close the distance to punch, but Imanari circled around the ring. Banuelos landed kicks and a one-two late in the round.

Round 2:
Banuelos stuffed a takedown and landed three hard hammerfist strikes in the opening seconds of round two. Imanari landed body kicks and countered a right hand by pulling guard. Banuelos stood and Imanari followed. The fighters were bizarrely warned for inactivity and action resumed. Imanari pulled guard again and Banuelos punched from the top. Imanari trapped Banuelos in rubber guard, but Banuelos broke free and landed more punches. Banuelos tried for an arm-triangle choke, then stood. Imanari swept him and attempted a leglock. He then pulled guard and Banuelos punched until the bell.

Winner: Antonio Banuelos by Split Decision after two rounds. He improves to 20-7-0 and advances to the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Final.

DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout

Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev vs Hideo Tokoro

Round 1:
Saadulaev countered a flying knee from Tokoro by taking him down early in the fight. Tokoro stood and Saadulaev secured a rear waistlock. He slammed Tokoro face-first on the ground and knocked him out cold. The referee moved in to stop the fight.

Winner: Yusup Saadulaev by KO (Slam) at 0:42 of round one. He improves to 9-1-1 and will advance on to the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix Final in the event that a finalist cannot compete.