jakkups
04-05-2009, 08:07 AM
Aoki vs. Sakurai kicks off welterweight grand prix; DREAM.8 official results (http://mmajunkie.com/news/14472/dream-8-live-and-official-results-shinya-aoki-hayato-mach-sakurai.mma)
A pair of Japanese superstars kicked off DREAM's welterweight grand prix, while the organization also completed the quarterfinal bracket for its featherweight grand prix.
Those bouts and more were conducted at DREAM.8, held Sunday night at the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The event will air in the U.S. via tape delay April 10 on HDNet.
In the evening's main event, WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki (20-4) may have learned his submission-heavy game is best suited in a division below welterweight, as Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (35-8-2) put a quick end to the tournament hopes of "Tobikan Judan."
Sakurai moved in quickly, though Aoki ducked under "Mach," brought him to the mat, and moved into top position. But Aoki was unable to secure any sort of advantage from the spot, and Sakurai swept to top position. With Aoki trapped in the corner and wedged underneath his foe, Sakurai unleashed four knees to the skull and a flurry of punches that ended the fight in rapid, dramatic fashion.
Aoki was out cold just 27 seconds into the contest.
An emotionally charged Sakurai has now won three-straight contests, while Aoki's welterweight defeat should serve as notice of a necessary return to the lightweight division.
Looking to rebound from the first loss of his career at January's Affliction card, Jason High (7-1) did so in emphatic fashion.
Overwhelming Yuya Shirai (15-8) with a series of left hands shortly after the opening bell, High charged in quickly to his downed opponent. Shirai tried to recover from the initial onslaught, but a deep rear-naked choke form High ensured that would not be the case.
High continued to squeeze the choke, calmly remaining in the hold. Shirai refused to tap, and was saved by the ref when his body went limp just 59 seconds into the contest. In his first appearance in Japan, High impressively moves on to the welterweight grand prix semifinals.
Zaromskis and Ikemoto entertain; Galvao continues impressive run
When middleweight Marius Zaromskis (9-2) opened his bout with Seichi Ikemoto (18-15-5) with a flying spinning back-kick, it was obvious the matchup was going to have some interesting moments. What could not have been known was that the moments would last the entire 15-minute bout.
The two traded blows all over the ring, and Ikemoto chased Zaromskis with two-handed axe punches as he tried to evade. Wild blows in the forms of punches, kicks and everything in between were offered by both combatants. The pace was maintained throughout the contest, in moments reminiscent of Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar - neither fighter willing to back down, neither fighter willing to fall.
The second round saw more of the same, but Zaromskis began to pull away as Ikemoto's energy waned. A standing backward somersault guard pass attempt by Zaromskis brought cheers, but it was a flurry in the closing seconds that left little doubt as to the result. Zaromskis earned the unanimous decision in one of the more entertaining - while not necessarily overwhelmingly technical - bouts in recent months.
Zaromskis picks up his second-straight win en route to the grand prix semifinals, while Ikemoto loses for the first time in six bouts.
The welterweight grand prix kicked off with a bout between Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Andre Galvao (3-0) and Xtreme Couture's John Alessio (24-13). While "The Natural" did his best to avoid the slick ground game of Galvao, the task proved to be impossible.
Wrestling Alessio to the ground from the clinch, Galvao moved immediately to the back. Alessio worked hard to defend the rear-naked choke, but Galvao simply transitioned to an arm bar attempt.
Alessio kept his arms locked, trying to withstand the full extension. But the power of Galvao worked the arm free as Alessio tried to roll to an escape. In obvious pain, Alessio tapped repeatedly at 7:34 of the first round.
Galvao is now undefeated in his first three MMA contests, while Alessio has now dropped two-straight.
Hata completes featherweight bracket; Monson dominant in heavyweight showdown
A pair of Japanese superstars kicked off DREAM's welterweight grand prix, while the organization also completed the quarterfinal bracket for its featherweight grand prix.
Those bouts and more were conducted at DREAM.8, held Sunday night at the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The event will air in the U.S. via tape delay April 10 on HDNet.
In the evening's main event, WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki (20-4) may have learned his submission-heavy game is best suited in a division below welterweight, as Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (35-8-2) put a quick end to the tournament hopes of "Tobikan Judan."
Sakurai moved in quickly, though Aoki ducked under "Mach," brought him to the mat, and moved into top position. But Aoki was unable to secure any sort of advantage from the spot, and Sakurai swept to top position. With Aoki trapped in the corner and wedged underneath his foe, Sakurai unleashed four knees to the skull and a flurry of punches that ended the fight in rapid, dramatic fashion.
Aoki was out cold just 27 seconds into the contest.
An emotionally charged Sakurai has now won three-straight contests, while Aoki's welterweight defeat should serve as notice of a necessary return to the lightweight division.
Looking to rebound from the first loss of his career at January's Affliction card, Jason High (7-1) did so in emphatic fashion.
Overwhelming Yuya Shirai (15-8) with a series of left hands shortly after the opening bell, High charged in quickly to his downed opponent. Shirai tried to recover from the initial onslaught, but a deep rear-naked choke form High ensured that would not be the case.
High continued to squeeze the choke, calmly remaining in the hold. Shirai refused to tap, and was saved by the ref when his body went limp just 59 seconds into the contest. In his first appearance in Japan, High impressively moves on to the welterweight grand prix semifinals.
Zaromskis and Ikemoto entertain; Galvao continues impressive run
When middleweight Marius Zaromskis (9-2) opened his bout with Seichi Ikemoto (18-15-5) with a flying spinning back-kick, it was obvious the matchup was going to have some interesting moments. What could not have been known was that the moments would last the entire 15-minute bout.
The two traded blows all over the ring, and Ikemoto chased Zaromskis with two-handed axe punches as he tried to evade. Wild blows in the forms of punches, kicks and everything in between were offered by both combatants. The pace was maintained throughout the contest, in moments reminiscent of Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar - neither fighter willing to back down, neither fighter willing to fall.
The second round saw more of the same, but Zaromskis began to pull away as Ikemoto's energy waned. A standing backward somersault guard pass attempt by Zaromskis brought cheers, but it was a flurry in the closing seconds that left little doubt as to the result. Zaromskis earned the unanimous decision in one of the more entertaining - while not necessarily overwhelmingly technical - bouts in recent months.
Zaromskis picks up his second-straight win en route to the grand prix semifinals, while Ikemoto loses for the first time in six bouts.
The welterweight grand prix kicked off with a bout between Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Andre Galvao (3-0) and Xtreme Couture's John Alessio (24-13). While "The Natural" did his best to avoid the slick ground game of Galvao, the task proved to be impossible.
Wrestling Alessio to the ground from the clinch, Galvao moved immediately to the back. Alessio worked hard to defend the rear-naked choke, but Galvao simply transitioned to an arm bar attempt.
Alessio kept his arms locked, trying to withstand the full extension. But the power of Galvao worked the arm free as Alessio tried to roll to an escape. In obvious pain, Alessio tapped repeatedly at 7:34 of the first round.
Galvao is now undefeated in his first three MMA contests, while Alessio has now dropped two-straight.
Hata completes featherweight bracket; Monson dominant in heavyweight showdown