The long awaited Dream 11 card finally came to be. It was a long time coming for yours truly as there were so many bouts with so many of my favourites on this card.
Joachim Hansen, a sentimental favourite due to his ties with my own MMA family here in the Greater Toronto Area, Tatsuya Kawajiri -- who I would love to see fight B.J. Penn, and of course, Kazushi Sakuraba ...one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
Let's get to the bouts in chronological order:
Featherweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout: Kazuyuki Miyata vs. D.J. Taiki
The winner of this bout would be placed on standby reserve, with hopes to fight in the finals should one of the semi-finalist winners be unable to compete.
Miyata's first takedown attempt from the clinch was very well executed, as he transitioned to the rear mount. He started working for a "twister" and lucky for Taiki, he saw it coming. If he didn't keep his head flat on the mat and stopped Miyata's left arm from reaching around, the fight would have ended very quickly.
Miyata's wrestling and positional control was excellent. His left knees to the body while inside Taiki's half-guard were awesome. Miyata ended the first round by passing to side, getting mount, pounding Taiki from the top until he was able to gain his back and close off the round with some bombs.
In Round 2, Miyata started with a strong left knee and left hook, followed by another left hook and double leg takedown. Sort of reminded me of how GSP took Penn down in their third or fourth round at UFC 94. He tried to ground and pound his way to victory but to no avail. They eventually got stood up and after another Miyata takedown, Taiki secured a tight guillotine, but Miyata escaped.
With 40 seconds left, Miyata landed a suplex and was caught in Taiki's guard. Both guys ended the round swinging leather at each other.
Winner: Kazuyuki Miyata via unanimous decision
Featherweight Semi-final Bout: Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Hideo Tokoro
Both guys came out very intense and focused, with Tokoro being far more precise with his attacks; that is, until Takaya landed an excellent three-punch combo just over two minutes in. The tide appeared to be changing and Tokoro shot in, but Takaya sprawled and brushed him off.
By the midway point of the first round, Takaya was in complete control, landing hard punches that were hurting Tokoro. He punished Tokoro in every facet of the game. He stuffed a takedown and made him pay with knees, leg kicks and when they were standing, more punches and knees. A few Takaya punches landed around Tokoro's left ear and you could just see the damage they caused.
After Tokoro landed a few of his own, he decided to pull guard, and paid a serious price, with Takaya pounding up out big time to close off the first frame. Round one went to Takaya
The second round was a disaster for Tokoro. A left hand from Takaya dropped him and subsequent punches finished off his night. Takaya advanced to the finals.
Winner: Hiroyuki Takaya via TKO
Featherweight Semi-final Bout: Joe Warren vs. Bibiano Fernandes
Although he is only 2-0, Joe Warren arrived at DREAM 11 as the favourite to win the tourney. Standing in his way en route to the finals was Bibiano Fernandes, a veteran of seven professional fights and one whose record lists only two losses; defeats to the highly ranked Urijah Faber and Kid Yamamoto. Originally from Brazil, Fernandes now resides in Langley, B.C. and is one of the star instructors at Revolution Martial Arts.
Ironically enough, it was Warren who defeated Yamamoto in just his second fight, so on paper, he should be able to outlast Fernandes. But that was not the case.
As the fight began, both guys immediately clinch with Warren getting the takedown, but Fernandes was able to get back to his feet. Warren eventually came in for another takedown and with Fernandes jumping to guard, Warren slammed him down to the mat.
With his left arm posted on Fernandes’ torso, he began to rain down punches, but Fernandes used Warren's arm as a tool to spin around and lock in a lightning fast arm bar that ended the bout in a flash. Controversy ensued as Warren stated he did not tap, with Fernandes losing his marbles, storming out of the ring.
Regardless, the transplanted Brazilian-Canadian earned a right to fight Hiroyuki Takaya in the finals.
Winner: Bibiano Fernandes via arm bar
Super Hulk Tournament Semi-final Bout: Hong Man Choi vs. Ikuhisa Minowa
Minowaman, who has the unfortunate history of being part of some of the most historic MMA bouts where he was outweighed by nearly double, was paired up against a giant in Hong Man Choi.
Minowaman started with a shoulder roll (there's a shocker) and began to size up the distance between he and Choi. At one point he ran away from Choi and performed one of his acrobatic rolls in hopes to catch Choi's leg for a leg lock or at least to get the fight to the mat. Choi had none of it and wanted to keep the fight standing.
After a couple of instances where both fighters did end up on the ground, they stood up and Minowama shuffled his fists forward, to which Choi mocked him back by doing the same thing. The crowd laughed but I'm glad the referee informed both of them to "fight."
Minowaman landed a stiff overhand right that Choi responded with a nice knee to the face, but Minowaman secured the takedown and got into side control. He ground and pounded but dod not cause enough damage so the referee stood them up.
The next few minutes were spent with Choi picking apart his smaller opponent. There was an actual classic moment where after being on the mat, Minowaman stood up and traded punches, with Hong, who was on his knees - they were nearly the same height. The first round closed out with both fighters visibly gassed and in desperate need to catch their breaths.
Round two started off slow until Minowaman got the fight to the ground and eventually a scramble ensued, where he turned Choi onto his back, while securing his left leg underneath his right arm. He eventually transitioned to heel hook, finishing off the giant and securing himself a birth in the finals.
Winner: Ikuhisa Minowa via heel hook
Super Hulk Tournament Semi-final Bout: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Bob Sapp
Sapp started off strong, but Sokoudjou eventually got the takedown. He landed in side control and began the ground and pound. It didn't take long for Sokoudjou to finish off "The Beast," whose ground game is, well, never was.
The one disturbing factor in this bout was Sokoudjou's continued punching of Sapp, even after the bout was stopped by the referee. He did the same thing in his bout with Jan Nortje. As much as I like Sokoudjou, he should be fined heavily for that.
He now moves onto the finals of the tournament, and will take on Minowaman on New Year's Eve at Dynamite!
Winner: Sokoudjou via TKO
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Ruben Williams
Sakuraba, an MMA legend, who at this point is past the twilight of his career, was matched up against Ruben Williams, a pro-boxer making his MMA debut.
The Japanese icon immediately started throwing leg kicks, which immediately frustrated Williams... he almost looked confused that Sakuraba was allowed to do that in a fight. Sakuraba intelligently confused Williams until he eventually went for an ankle, transitioned to a single leg, got the takedown and immediately got side control.
At that point, it was a cat playing with a mouse as Sakuraba landed punches and knees while setting up an arm bar. He then started playfully slapping Williams on the head and back, more or less to keep the American guessing as to what's next.
What's next was not an arm bar, but a kimura on William's right shoulder... I wonder if this was his easiest professional victory to date?
Winner: Kazushi Sakuraba via Kimura
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Melchor Manibusan
This was an obvious mismatch, something very typical to matchmakers in Japan. On paper, Manibusan was simply no match for Kawajiri.
To his credit, Manibusan started of strong, throwing bombs and backing Kawajiri into the corner. The Japanese lightweight, nicknamed "The Crusher," eventually reversed him and took him down to the mat. He landed in half guard and after a minute or so, passed to side control and immediately transitioned to mount.
I looked at my watch and start counting backwards from 60 seconds... as the ground and pound begins, it's just a matter of time. Kawajiri pounded his way to victory in a bout that should have been stopped much sooner by the ref. Manibusan had no answer and could not escape. He covered up and that is the only answer he had. Late stoppage but an easy workout for Kawajiri.
Unfortunately, this does nothing for his rankings in the lightweight division but simply keeps him in line for a crack at the Dream Lightweight Title, and face the winner of tonight's title fight between champion Joachim Hansen and Shinya Aoki.
Winner: Tatsuya Kawajiri via TKO
Dream Lightweight Championship Match: Joachim Hansen vs. Shinya Aoki
The long-awaited lightweight championship match between Hansen and Aoki has been one many of the hardcore MMA fans have had circled on their calendars for a very long time.
The bout saw both guys on the ground, with Aoki controlling from the top. Hansen kept the Japanese submission wizard humble though, with a slick arm bar attempt, a barrage of elbows and up kicks, one of which hit Aoki in the groin, halting the bout.
With seconds left in the final round, Hansen was trapped by an Aoki arm bar attempt. The champion had to be careful as to which way he moved, as a wrong decision would see Aoki potentially finish the fight.
And that he did -- Aoki locked in the arm bar, earning himself the title, as the new Dream Lightweight Champion. Here's hoping Hansen now drops down to featherweight.
Winner: Shinya Aoki via arm bar.
Featherweight Finals: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Hiroyuki Takaya
This was a spirited affair with both fighters going back and forth, landing various punches and laying it all on the line. Takaya nailed Fernandes with a left hook that split the Brazilian open. It did not matter as Fernandes kept pushing forward engaging in any slugfest that Takaya was offering.
It appeared as if Takaya was getting the upper hand, but ironically enough, the Japanese judges were split on their decision.
It was a razor thin choice to make, but in the end, Bibiano Fernandes had two judges on his side, and was awarded the victory, earning himself the title as the winner of the DREAM 11 Featherweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion
Winner: Bibiano Fernandes via split decision
