Former DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen may become the promotion’s first two-division champion. The Norwegian standout is rumoured to be dropping down in weight to challenge Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes for the DREAM Featherweight Championship at Dream.13. FiveOuncesOfPain.com first reported on the planned bout.

Hansen captured DREAM title gold in the finals of the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix when he dispatched of Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. He lost the title in a rubber match with Aoki at Dream.11 in October.

Fernandes (7-2-0) debuted in mixed martial arts in 2004 with a 31-second submission win in Jungle Fight, but would not compete again in MMA for two years. He did so against featherweight phenom “The California Kid” Urijah Faber and suffered a first-round loss, then faced even tougher competition in Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto 11 months later. Fernandes put on a solid showing against Yamamoto, but came out on the wrong end of a unanimous judges’ verdict. He rebounded with two victories in RAW Combat before debuting for DREAM in their 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix.

Victorious in the opening round against Takafumi Otsuka, Fernandes advanced on in the tournament and picked up an uninspired decision win over the always bizarre Masakazu “Ashikan Judan” Imanari, who offered little offence and drew the ire of the crowd. It was in the tournament semi-final that Fernandes became an instant hit, as he submitted wrestling powerhouse Joe Warren with an armbar in just 42 seconds. Fernandes would claim the DREAM Featherweight Championship later in the night with a close decision over Hiroyuki “Streetfight Bancho” Takaya in an excellent back-and-forth bout.

Hansen (19-8-1) became Shooto Welterweight (154-Pound) Champion when he defeated future PRIDE Lightweight Champion Takanori “Fireball Kid” Gomi in 2003. Though he lost the title in his first defence, Hansen picked up an impressive victory over Gesias “JZ Calvan” Calvancante and soon debuted for PRIDE, where he advanced to the semi-finals of the 2005 PRIDE Lightweight Grand Prix. Hansen challenged Shinya Aoki for the first time at PRIDE Shockwave 2006, but succumbed to a Gogoplata early in the first round.

One year after PRIDE’s demise, Hansen entered the inaugural DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix and defeated Kotetsu Boku in the first round. Hansen would go on to lose an all-out war against Eddie Alvarez, but re-entered the tournament after an injury later prevented Alvarez from advancing to the finals. Hansen made the most of his second chance and avenged the loss to Aoki by knocking the Japanese submission ace out just over four minutes into the first round. However, health issues sidelined Hansen for over a year and he lost his title in a rubber match with Aoki at Dream.11.

While the title clash has not yet been signed, both fighters have agreed to the fight and an official announcement is expected in the coming week. It would be a very interesting clash of styles and Hansen could potentially make history by becoming the first man to hold DREAM titles in two different weight classes.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)