Pride FC was purchased by the UFC, partially assimilated, and then put in the grave as MMA fans from all over the world mourned. K-1 Hero's moved on with their MMA cards but could not come close to competing with the UFC. Then, at New Year's Eve of 2007, the former promoters of Pride FC, Dream Sage Entertainment, the Yarennoka production team, and FEG the K-1 team all came together for a one time mega show. Now it seems, the mega show may become permanent.
Born from the "great dream alliance of New Year's Eve," comes Dream, as the successor of both Pride and the K-1's Hero's series!
"Of course Pride is gone now, as is Hero's," said FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa before the 300-plus fans and media in attendance. "However, we've wanted to put on a new mixed martial arts event that would continue the great dream alliance of last New Year's Eve. Promoting the event will be FEG, as well as TBS, while production will fall to the Yarennoka team. "We want to put on cards that will be extensions of what was seen last New Year's Eve."
"Of course Pride is gone now, as is Hero's," said FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa before the 300-plus fans and media in attendance. "However, we've wanted to put on a new mixed martial arts event that would continue the great dream alliance of last New Year's Eve. Promoting the event will be FEG, as well as TBS, while production will fall to the Yarennoka team. "We want to put on cards that will be extensions of what was seen last New Year's Eve."
Now let me just say at this point, sweeeeeeeet! K-1 and Pride have basically just combined to give us back our beloved foreign MMA company. And just who do they have on their roster to lure in fans you may ask? How about #1 Featherweight in the world Kid Yamamoto, submission wizard Shinya Aoki, K-1 dominator Gesias "JZ" Calvancante, legendary lightweights and top ranked Caol Uno, Joachim Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida, and Gilbert Melendez as well as feared Heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop, "The Punk" Minowa, Kiyoshi Tamura, Masakatsu Funaki (Rickson Gracie rival), legend Kazushi Sakuraba, and support as well as intent to fight from Royce Gracie and Fedor Emelianenko? Not fucking bad eh?
The weight classes are barely different at:
Lightweight: 154 lbs / 70 kg
Welterweight: 168 lbs / 76 kg
Middleweight: 185 lbs / 84 kg
Light Heavyweight: 205 lbs / 93 kg
Heavyweight: More than 205 lbs / 93 kg
The plan is to begin with alternating Lightweight and Middleweight tournaments beginning March 15th. Dream is not to be confused with World Victory Road (WVR) a seperate Japanese MMA promotion holding their 1st card,Sengoku, March 5th, featuring:
Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Josh Barnett
Kazuo Misaki vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
Makoto Takimoto vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos
Takanori Gomi vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig
Ryo Kawamura vs. Antonio Braga Neto
Fabricio Monteiro vs. Nick Thompson
and possibly Kazuyuki Fujita and Kevin Randleman.
Its a damn good time to be a MMA fan, as the UFC monoply ends before it begins and Japan is back in the middle of the combat sports world!
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