Total-MMA.com

HEIWA DREAM.5 Lightweight GP 2008 Final Round
Date: July 21st, 2008
Place: Osaka Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan

10. Lightweight GP Final Fight: Kawajiri/Alvarez vs. Uno/Aoki
9. Heavyweight Fight: Mark Hunt vs. Alistair Overeem
8. Middleweight Fight: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Katsuyori Shibata
7. Featherweight Fight: Hideo Tokoro vs. Takeshi Yamazaki
6. Welterweight Fight: Motoki Miyazawa vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
5. Featherweight Fight: KODO vs. Joseph Benavidez
4. Lightweight GP Reserve Fight: Joachim Hansen vs. Black Mamba
3. Lightweight GP Semifinal Fight: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Eddie Alvarez
2. Lightweight GP Semifinal Fight: Caol Uno vs. Shinya Aoki
1. 2×5 Minute Special Rules Fight: Daisuke Nakamura vs. Andy Ologun

Read more for results and a few thoughts and comments.

1. 2×5 Minute Special Rules Fight: Daisuke Nakamura vs. Andy Ologun
Nakamura fought for the second time this week (having also competed on Thursday’s DEEP event - what was he doing for Shooto on Friday? - SLACKER) with a first round armbar on everyone’s favourite Nigerian shrimp chef brother. Routine.

2. Lightweight GP Semifinal Fight: Caol Uno vs. Shinya Aoki
Oh, this should be good. Maybe I’ve not been paying attention but Bas on commentary just declared his soccer affiliation to PSV Eindhoven which I think is worth noting.

Quite an even first round and, although it doesn’t matter so much with DREAM judging criteria, I would say Aoki took it. Unsurprisingly he went for more submission attempts (with almost every movement he made) and generally did a good job of controlling position. His first body throw saw him end up in mount but alas the Aokiplata as some are calling it could not be busted out. Uno is wearing shoes (could this be part of his sponsorship with Nike?) which outraged Bas in booth because it almost resulted in his getting caught in a toehold. There was an outrageous attempt at a triangle choke that U have no idea how Uno stayed conscious through. It looked certainly over but somehow he hung on before escaping. Bas thinks that Aoki’s legs may be fatigued in the second as a result. Great round.

Aoki has no takedown skills specifically but he has managed to take the fight to the ground immediately in both rounds. It was made too easy for him though. The second round was a bit anti-climactic as it was complete domination by Aoki. Not that he threw a punch (possibly in the whole fight) but he maintained position on the floor with ease and ended the fight in a gogoplata almost position to leave his mark in the judges mind. Disappointing performance from Uno, the sentimental favourite, but he was never in the fight. Aoki records another win against a quality opponent but looks quite tired going into the final.

3. Lightweight GP Semifinal Fight: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Eddie Alvarez
Another interesting match in what has been a great tournament so far. You’d imagine that this may go to a decision and take more out of the winner that Aoki had to endure - but if it’s anything like Hansen-Alvarez then it could be another contender for Fight of the year.

Alvarez surprises me early on by shooting for a takedown at the first opportunity, which doesn’t prove successful. I would have thought that he would have had faith in his boxing but it turns out to be Kawajiri who lands the first shot of note with a good straight right. As I;m typing that, Alvarez hurts him with a punch that Stuns Kawaijiri and seems to give the American a surge in confidence as he suddenly starts to have conviction in his strikes once more and throws a series of knees to follow.

The fight is stopped for a cut and Kawajiri immediately retaliates by knocking Alvarez down and jumps on top of him. After some sparring he moves to Mount!

They get back to the feet and start slugging at each other again. Alvarez just walks forward relentlessly and proceeds to throw what is more akin to one continuous combination than a series of them. Just relentless and an uppercut knocks Kawajiri to the floor. There is nearly a real basic error as he steps off assuming it to be over but Shimada says it must continue as Kawajiri looks to have slightly regained his bearings. It only delays the inevitable though because Alvarez jumps on him and pounds until the referee can’t feasibly let it continue any longer. Really good fight with a great finish. Aoki-Alvarez in the final.

4. Lightweight GP Reserve Fight: Joachim Hansen vs. Black Mamba

I’ll take any excuse for a Hansen fight despite not wanting either to have to be used in the final.

Hansen does the smart thing and takes him down at the first opportunity. It doesn’t take long before an armbar finishes things and Hansen, theoretically, could step into the final at short notice now.

5. Featherweight Fight: KODO vs. Joseph Benavidez
I feel robbed that KID isn’t here, especially so after seeing them hype Urijah Faber on the preview video. Also, it’s doubly frustrating because this show deserves to be seen by people and his absence means the casual Japanese are unlikely to tune in. This is only made worse by Cro Cop being missing in action.

Benavidez looks a strong wrestler and does a good job of controlling position early on, including a big slam to the far physically weaker KODO. The Japanese tries to scramble but ends up in a guillotine. The Californian pushes his opponent onto his back and manages to hold onto the choke to force an inevitable submission. Dominant win, es expected once the opponent was changed. I look forward to seeing him again.

6. Welterweight Fight: Motoki Miyazawa vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka

Hironaka won in the first via TKO cut stoppage, around the eye.

We’re almost back from intermission and Urijah Faber has joined Kenny and Bas in the commentary booth. It appears to be first time Rutten and Faber have met as they have an awkward introduction where the WEC champ claims to be of Dutch descent.

7. Featherweight Fight: Hideo Tokoro vs. Takeshi Yamazaki

Tokoro won a unanimous decision. I’ll be honest, I’m eager for the two main fights and didn’t pay a lot of attention. I have even less interest in seeing Shibata next.

BREAKING NEWS - ALVAREZ INJURED HIS EYE IN THE FIRST FIGHT AND CANNOY CONTINUE. IT WILL BE AOKI VS. HANSEN IN THE FINAL.

That is incredibly disappointing as I’m sure everyone will agree. The Hansen rematch isn’t nearly as compelling as much as I like him. There is slight interest but it’s still going to be anti-climactic. Hopefully they can arrange Aoki-Alvarez at the next possible opportunity.

8. Middleweight Fight: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Katsuyori Shibata
I love how much the Japanese boo Akiyama and nobody else in the world. There was thumbs being pointed downward when he came out. Yosh will be repping Judo to the fullest by wearing the Gi.

Bas informs us that the reason for the Gi being maintained is a statement to prove that his days of greasing up are behind him.

This fight is a perfect example of why it’s nice to have independent tv stations covering MMA. This is a complete mis-match and Rice / Rutten are calling it as such. It’s nice to not have your intelligence insulted from time to time as we have seen in the past when every commentator works from the promoter and has a duty to try and justify their decisions.

Akiyama bides his time but eventually mounts Shibata and chokes him out using the grease-proof Gi. Shibata moves to 2-5 and I NEVER nee to see him fight ever again.

The Alvarez news has been officially confirmed. Alvarez is in the ring looking distraught. His fiance is at the side of the ring in tears also. He says he begged the doctors to let him fight but they would not allow it. he issues a challenge to whoever is the victor and informs the Japanese that he will be back to fight in front of them. He finishes with his “trademark backflip” from the top turnbuckle.

9. Heavyweight Fight: Mark Hunt vs. Alistair Overeem
Hooray, fights I care about again. Come on Alistair!

In many way, this is 2008’s answer to VE days. Overeem submitted Hunt in the first minute or so with a shoulder lock, all after just a couple of days notice that he was going to fight. The tension in his face as he twisted Hunt’s arm with every ounce of energy he had was pretty fearsome. A glorious turn of events. Let’s hope Hansen can make it a European double in the main.

Aoki immediately gets a takedown. I’m starting to think the notion of him having awful takedowns is overrated because while technically deficient in that area he is normally able to get the fight to the floor one way or another.

Hansen attempts an up-kick to the standing Aoki but only succeeds in hitting him square in the nether regions. The replay shows that it was indeed low but annoyingly they restart on the feet rather than where they were.

Aoki begins to work the rubber guard that proved so successful when they first fought. Hansen shakes off a shoulder control position to smash Aoki in the face and temporarily scare Japan. It’s interesting to see someone try and bully Aoki on his back although it is a very dangerous tactic. As I type that Hansen stars unloading with some more ground and pound which Aoki is struggling against. He doesn’t to have any answer. The fight looks almost over…! Yes! Aoki tapped out due to strikes and the referee steps in. Hansen in the winner! Europe is on top of the MMA world for today at least.

Hansen steps out of the reserve bout and is your DREAM GP champion! Hansen vs. Alvarez II is coming up. Aoki looks distraught.