May 27, 2011 – After some time off, the Japanese promotion DREAM makes its return to the Saitama Arena with “Fight for Japan,” a special event supporting relief efforts for the recent calamities in Northern Japan.
Of interest to regional fans here at home in Texas and Louisiana should be the appearance of Slidell resident Rich Clementi headlining against Shinya Aoki. The 35-year-old Clementi wasn’t the original choice for the main event opposite the Japanese submission master but got the opportunity after former WEC champ Jamie Varner and loud-spaking MFC vet Antonio McKee fizzled out of the card.
Best known to most fans for his appearance on “Ultimate Fighter 4” along with his short-lived feud with fellow Louisianan Melvin Guillard, “No Love” Clementi fought in the UFC for a three year stint from 2006-2009. Off and on with his own record as of late, “Rich may get a chance to resurrect one more chance at the big leagues here in the twilight of his career should he best the “Tobikan Judan” in the lightweight main event.
The rest of the DREAM 17 card holds potential for excitement based on the matchups put forth by the promotion.
At featherweight, Mitsuhiro Ishida takes on Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen in what will sure be a battle of atrition between Ishida’s wrestling prowess versus Hansen’s own BJJ skills. Also on the card will be long-time two Japaneseveterans in Daisuke Nakamura taking on Katsunori Kikuno.
Rounding off the card will the quarterfinals of the DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix, featuring submission wizard Masakazu Imanari (DEEP champion) taking on Keisuke Fujiwara (ZST champion) along with three other tournament bouts, seen on the full card below.
Dream 17 – “Fight for Japan” Fight Card (Predicted Winners in BOLD)
Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round:
- 135 lbs.: Yoshiro Maeda (28-9-2) vs. Hideo Tokoro (27-23-1)
- 135 lbs.: Yusaku Nakamura (3-0) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (14-6-1)
- 135 lbs.: Kenji Osawa (16-9-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (11-7-1)
- 135 lbs.: Keisuke Fujiwara (11-2-4) vs. Masakazu Imanari (21-8-2)
Bantamweight Grand Prix Second Round:
- 135 lbs.: Winner of Maeda/Tokoro vs. winner of Nakamura/Yamamoto
- 135 lbs.: Winner of Osawa/Otsuka vs. winner of Fujiwara/Imanari
Non-tournament bouts:
- 155 lbs.: Katsunori Kikuno vs. Daisuke Nakamura
- 145 lbs.: Caol Uno vs. Akiyo Nishiura
- 145 lbs.: Joachim Hansen vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
- 145 lbs.: Takeshi Inoue vs. Koichiro Matsumoto
- 155 lbs.: Shinya Aoki vs. Rich Clementi
