So alas, DREAM is no more.
In what may likely be the death knoll for the Japanese Mixed Martial Arts landscape (for the time being anyways), the would-be successor to PRIDE FC reportedly shuttered their doors this past week after a lengthy battle to keep the organization afloat.
As a promotion, DREAM showed glimpses of the enigma that once was pride, including announcer Lenne Hardt (aka “The Pride Lady”) and some incredible fights featuring top talents like Shinya Aoki, Kazushi Sakuraba, Alistair Overeem, and more from 2008-2012. They even made a mark stateside with broadcasts on HDNet and partnerships with other promotions like EliteXC and Strikeforce but never quite achieved a level a level of sustainability that would allow them to keep on going and now they’re gone.
With DREAM’s demise, Japan is now left with no true major player left to champion MMA in the country. Definitely a sad reality considering the country remains home to some of the most celebrated fights and event spectacles in the history of the sport.
The Asian MMA landscape still has hope for growth though as speculation leads us to believe that most of DREAM’s former roster should migrate to Singapore-based promoton – ONE Fighting Championshup (One FC). Only a little less than a year old, ONE has ambitious plans to hold events all over Asia and has already made waves as the next big player in the region with Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Shanghai listed as likely landing spots for future shows.
Dream Champion Bibano Fernandes to the UFC
One other notable story coming out of DREAM’s demise is that the last DREAM 135 lbs. champion Bibiano Fernandes has now signed with the UFC.
Currently riding a three-fight win streak, Fernandes has beaten the likes of former Bellator champ Joe Warren, Joachim Hansen, and Antonio Banuelos thus far in his career and will now look to make waves in the increasingly stacked UFC bantamweight division.
He’ll be making his promotional debut at UFC 149, scheduled for July 21st in Calgary, Alberta, Canada when he takes on Roland Delorme.
That bout now joins previously announced bouts: Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch, Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira vs. Cheick Kongo, and Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch as part of the UFC 149 card.