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DREAM reveals opening-round match-ups for featherweight grand prix
The field is set for DREAM's featherweight grand prix, and the Japanese-based organization recently revealed the opening-round match-ups for the upcoming tournament.
The first round of the grand prix begins March 8 at DREAM.7, which is hosted by the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The 16-man bracket actually features just 15 fighters since Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-1), who hasn't fought in more than a year due to an ACL injury, gets an automatic berth into the second round.
Additionally, a bout between Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1) vs. Daika Hata (9-5-3) will take place in April at DREAM.8 to give Hata additional time to recover from a recent injury. Therefore, the DREAM.7 event features six grand-prix matchups.
The DREAM.7 fights include:
* Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (12-5-1)
* Hiroyuki Takaya (9-6-1) vs. Jong Won Kim (0-0)
* Yoshiro Maeda (23-6-2) vs. Micah Miller (10-2)
* Chase Beebe (11-3) vs. Joe Warren (0-0)
* Bibiano Fernandes (3-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (8-3-1)
* Abel Cullum (13-2) vs. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura (9-3-1)
The tournament will be held at 63 kilograms (139 pounds) and concludes with a September finale.
An eight-man welterweight tournament is also scheduled to begin in April at DREAM.8.
Both events are scheduled to air live on HDNet in North America.
The first round of the grand prix begins March 8 at DREAM.7, which is hosted by the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The 16-man bracket actually features just 15 fighters since Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-1), who hasn't fought in more than a year due to an ACL injury, gets an automatic berth into the second round.
Additionally, a bout between Hideo Tokoro (21-15-1) vs. Daika Hata (9-5-3) will take place in April at DREAM.8 to give Hata additional time to recover from a recent injury. Therefore, the DREAM.7 event features six grand-prix matchups.
The DREAM.7 fights include:
* Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (12-5-1)
* Hiroyuki Takaya (9-6-1) vs. Jong Won Kim (0-0)
* Yoshiro Maeda (23-6-2) vs. Micah Miller (10-2)
* Chase Beebe (11-3) vs. Joe Warren (0-0)
* Bibiano Fernandes (3-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (8-3-1)
* Abel Cullum (13-2) vs. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura (9-3-1)
The tournament will be held at 63 kilograms (139 pounds) and concludes with a September finale.
An eight-man welterweight tournament is also scheduled to begin in April at DREAM.8.
Both events are scheduled to air live on HDNet in North America.