DREAM.15: The Day that MMA in Japan Changes
The Lightweight Title fighters were the first to make their way to the stage. Challenger, Kawajiri wasted no time in making his feelings clear. gTomorrow is going to be the day that MMA in Japan changes. I will win by KO to solidify this change,h he said. The current champion, and habitual pot-stirrer, Aoki promised to shock the world once again before trying to do just that by confessing to liking both men and women. This tongue-in-cheek (I presume) comment was brought about when in answer to one reporters question to each about their opponents' condition, Kawajiri replied dead-pan serious with, gI'm not interested in men so I didn't check out his body.h After the confession, Aoki went on to say, gHe has a better body that I do. If we both fight as men, the fans will get the fight they're hoping for.h
A jovial J.Z. Calvan came up next along with his opponent, the perpetual smiler, Katsunori Kikuno. J.Z. displayed some honesty from the outset with, gIt's been awhile since I got a good resulth and said that for him the fight tomorrow was his chance for redemption. For Kikuno it seems just as, if not more important. gThis is not just a challenger's match this time. This is my chance to prove myself,h he said, before promising to deliver a knockout.
In the first match up of the Light Heavy-weight Championship Tournament Gegard Mousasi made his way to the stage alone. His opponent, Jake O'Brien, was still desperately trying to cut weight. Gegard showed none of the nonchalance that could be expected from a previous tournament winner. He stated, gHi everyone. Thanks for coming. Tomorrow I am going to win, but more importantly I am going to put on an exciting fight. Winning a second DREAM title is a dream, so I will make sure to do it.h
The other Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament bout is between the crowd pleasing Melvin Manhoef and local talent Tatsuya Mizuno. Weight in 3kgs under the limit didn't seem to phase gmini-Tysonh in the slightest. gTomorrow I'm going to give a good show. I'll come hard and aggressive as usual. Mizuno and I will put on a great show,h said Melvin. Mizuno promised to do his best to make the fight exciting too, and said the months spent in America training should really help.
Korean underdog Jung Young Sam noted that it was his first time to fight in Japan, so he would do his best to make it a successful trip. Yoshida Dojo's Michihiro Omigawa rather stoically announced, gTomorrow I will fight as usual, and I'll try to destroy my opponent.h
In a fight of firsts, DJ.taiki, minus the tai-yaki and animation costumes, stepped up to take on Mitsuhiro Ishida. DJ was first to the microphone, and he said, gThis is my first fight since changing gyms, so you'll see a different DJ than usual.h Ishida told us how confident he was in what will be his debut as a featherweight fighter.
The final fights to greet the audience will be the first in the ring tomorrow. Karl Amousso will be facing Yoshida Dojo's Kazuhiro Nakamura. When weighing in, the Japanese fighters' attitude changed dramatically. He later explained, gHe came all the way from France for this fight, and I was planning to welcome him. He started to stare down at me with an attitude, and it really pissed me off.h The Frenchman replied to that with a dry, gHe said he wanted to welcome me? So, I will welcome him in the ring tomorrow.h Both traditionally said they were happy to be fighting, and would put on an exciting bout.
There is certainly no love lost between any of the fighters, and the title fight has been over a year in the making. To me, that points towards an action-packed card that you won't want to miss. If you live within travelling distance, tickets will be on sale at the venue from 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. If you aren't lucky enough to be able to be there, make sure to join gThe Voiceh Michael Shiavello and Frank gTwinkle Toesh Trigg as they call the action live on HDnet.
DREAM.15 Weigh-in
J.Z. Calvan (70kg)
It's been awhile since I got a good result, so tomorrow is a redemption fight for me. I trained well and worked hard. If god blesses me, tomorrow will be my redemption.
Katsunori Kikuno (70kg)
This is not a challenger's match this time. This is my chance to prove myself. I will knock him out in the fight and please my fans.
Jake O'Brien
*cutting weight at time of writing.
Gegard Mousasi (93kg)
Hi everyone. Thanks for coming. Tomorrow I am going to win, but more importantly I am going to put on an exciting fight. Winning a second DREAM title is a dream, so I will make sure to do it.
Melvin Manhoef (90kg)
Hello. Tomorrow I'm going to give a good show. I'll come hard and aggressive as usual. Mizuno and I will put on a great show.
Tatsuya Mizuno (92.5kg)
This is my second fight for DREAM, and I am happy to be here. I have trained hard in the US for 6 months, and I will use what I learned to have an exciting fight.
Jung Young Sam (64.8kg)
This is my first fight in Japan, so I will do everything I can to make sure it is a good one.
Michihiro Omigawa (64.8kg)
Tomorrow I will fight as usual, and I'll try to destroy my opponent.
DJ.taiki (65kg)
This is my first fight since changing gyms, so you'll see a different DJ than usual.
Mitsuhiro Ishida (65kg)
Tomorrow I will make my debut as a featherweight fighter. I'll do my best, and I am confident.
Karl Amoussou (83.5kg)
Hello everybody. I am very happy to be in this show. I plan to put on a good fight for the fans.
Kazuhiro Nakamura (83.8kg)
Tomorrow I will face Karl, and he has said he will put on a good performance. I will do my best to.
Questions:
-- To Kawajiri and Aoki, you've just seen your opponent and heard their comments. What is your impression of them, and how do you feel about what they said?
Kawajiri: I'm not interested in men so I didn't check out his body. He said he will surprise the fans, and I'll make sure our fight does surprise them.
Aoki: I like both men and women. He has a better body that I do. If we both fight as men, the fans will get the fight they're hoping for.
-- To Kikuno and JZ: I'd like to ask you the same question with the addition of, what do you think of your opponent as a fighter?
JZ: He is a little shorter than I though.
Kikuno: He is skinnier than I though.
What about as a fighter?
JZ: He is a good fighter. I have respect for every fighter. He is a new sensation in Japan, so I am ready for it. I am ready. Let's fight.
Kikuno: I said he is smaller than I thought a second ago, but I think he will be significantly bigger tomorrow. Many foreigners mention asking for or being blessed by God. I have so much respect for that and for him too. I am sure he trains very hard, so it is with respect that I will do what I can to knock him out.
-- To Nakamura: What did you say to your opponent?
Nakamura: Well, in Japanese I just said, gWhat?h I mean, he came all the way from France for this fight, and I was planning to welcome him. He stared down at me with an attitude and it really pissed me off. Like I said, it was in Japanese so I guess he didn't understand.
-- To Karl: Now you know what he was thinking and what he said, how do you feel?
Karl: I don't understand Japanese at all. He said he wanted to welcome me? So, I will welcome him in the ring tomorrow.
Tatsuya Kawajiri (70kg)
Tomorrow is going to be the day that MMA in Japan changes. I will win by KO to solidify this change.
Shinya Aoki (70kg)
Tomorrow I will do my best. I will shock the world once again.