DREAM 14 Preview & Predictions

If, in mid-2008, you’d predicted Sakuraba would be hunting yet another Gracie in mid-2010, I would have said “dream on, bro.” In mid-2008, the aging Sakuraba had just been handily KO’d by Melvin Manhoef. The fledgling Dream promotion was just taking flight. Sakuraba was riding a string of victories against similarly over-the-hill adversaries, or MMA newbies looking for a break, but there were no belts in his future, nor did it seem sensible for “The Gracie Hunter” to do anything but retire.

Now, like an ‘80s action star, Sakuraba’s back in his original role (as “The Gracie Hunter”) to headline a who’s who of overseas MMA superstars. On May 29, 2010 K1, DEEP, WEC, Pride, Shooto and Strikeforce veterans will do battle – in a cage – in Japan. If you’re not intrigued yet, you’re doing it wrong. Procuring arguably the biggest name in Japanese MMA should soothe the sting of the cancellation of the formerly scheduled light-heavyweight tournament for this event. Here's a rundown of who's punching who:

Be sure to look to ProFighting-fans.com for the official DREAM 14 results after the fights are complete!

Fighters Rumored or TBA

The rumored fighters slated for Dream 14 almost outshine an already stacked card:

• Tatsuya Kawajiri
• Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
• Katsunori Kikuno
• Gegard Mousasi
• Marius Zaromskis

Kikuno and Kawajiri would be a fantastic lightweight match-up; however, it is unclear if they are intended to fight one another. Yamamoto is, of course, a featherweight, Zaromskis is a welterweight, while Mousasi fights between middle and light heavyweight. One would assume this also leaves three slots open for three more names. As Mousasi and Zaromskis failed a title defense and a title bid, respectively, expect them to rebound in Japan. If all five do fight, this lineup will no doubt drop jaws from Saitama to Syracuse, and hopefully turn things around for what is rumored to be a financially struggling promotion. Stay tuned for the event recap.

Kazuyuki Miyata versus Takafumi Otsuka (Featherweight)

Miyata's a wrestler and K-1 Hero's vet who's both won five submission victories and lost five, as well as holding the dubious distinction of suffering the fastest KO loss in K-1 Hero's history (Norifumi Yamamoto defeated him in four seconds with that bane of grapplers: a spectacular flying knee). Otsuka moved to DREAM from the Japanese DEEP promotion where he has so far enjoyed a decent career, losing only to Rafael Dos Anjos and Bibiano Fernandes since 2006.

Prediction: like his last two victories, Otsuka should win via decision.

Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura versus Hideo Tokoro (Featherweight)

Tokoro, 32 years young, is both a K-1 Hero's as well as a DREAM stalwart with 48 professional fights in his career, and counting - granted, he is just shy of .500 with a string of recent defeats. Granted, he made it to the DREAM's 2009 featherweight Grand Prix final, where he lost to Hiroyuki Takaya - Nishiura never made it out of the first round. Tokoro is looking to rebound against the less experienced Nishiura, who prefers to work on his feet.

Prediction: Tokoro by submission.

Yoshiro Maeda versus Kenji Osawa (Featherweight)

Like Tokoro, Maeda has had a lengthy career in Japanese promotions (DEEP, Pancrase); unlike Tokoro, Maeda fought in the WEC. More to the point, he challenged once-invincible Miguel Torres for the bantamweight belt, losing by TKO after the third round due to a fisticuff-induced cut. Tokoro had an incredible run of TKO/KO wins in Pancrase back in 2005, but compare that to his 2009 record: 4-3, with one win by DQ. Osawa is the decision master - 9 of 15 victories have been awarded by judges. Like his opponent, his career is marred by his inability to cut it in the WEC (I've said it before and I'll say it again: Japanese MMA fighters need to learn to cut weight). Osawa pretty much did everything but win conclusively in the WEC: he had a decision loss (to future contender Scott Jorgensen), a draw and a split decision victory.

Prediction: Maeda by TKO/decision. Toughest call of the night.

> Talk Dream 13 on the MMA forums listed on Pro Fighting Fans and check out the entire DREAM 13 fight card & results!

Joachim Hansen versus Hiroyuki Takaya (Featherweight)

Both fighters suffered recent defeats to Bibiano Fernandes - back-to-back split-decision victories indeed for Fernandes (who is now 5-0 in DREAM and retains the promotion's featherweight belt). This is only Hansen's second featherweight battle after moving down from a lengthy and storied run at lightweight (at which he fought in PRIDE). He moved down in weight after his rubber match lightweight loss to Shinya Aoki - and the loss of the DREAM lightweight belt. Hansen is pretty much the sole Scandinavian in the elite ranks of MMA fighters, with a well-deserved legion of fans who dubbed him "Hellboy" for his punishing striking and gritty perseverance. Takaya will arrive in the ring with back-to-back losses, most recently to Michihiro Omigawa by TKO, which is incidentally Takaya's favored method of finishing fights. This fight is not to be missed - we should see a standup war between two bruised, battered, proud and determined fighters with a lot on the line.

Prediction: Hansen by TKO (knees).

Nick Diaz (Strikeforce Welterweight Champ) versus Hayato Sakurai (non-title fight)

Another Japanese legend, this time in Hayato “Mach” Sakurai”, is set to defend Japanese MMA honor upon Japanese soil. Too bad he has to fight Nick Diaz, who is 2-1 against Japanese fighters (if you count the submission of Takanori Gomi, which was ruled a no-contest due to a failed drug test – the drug was marijuana, which in Diaz’s home state and this writer’s home town, is akin to ruling a no-contest due to antihistamines). Diaz is the Strikeforce welterweight champion, 6-1 in seven straight fights. Or 13-1 if you don’t count the doctor stoppage at Elite XC: Renegade (2007) and the Gomi/marijuana hullabaloo. Most importantly, Diaz has a grueling, brutal, punishing style: he throws and lands hundreds of punches per round, with stamina, it seems, to go ten rounds. On the mat, it’s even worse: he boasts a black belt from the top-tier Cesar Gracie camp.

Hayato Sakurai is 35-10-2, 34 years old to Diaz’s 26. He’s been fighting since 1996, compared to Diaz, who entered MMA in 2001. Sakurai is not out of the game yet, but two consecutive losses including a KO (against Zarmoskis – see below) have upped the stakes and nearly lowered the boom for “Mach”. Recently, he’s beaten Shinya Aoki and Joachim Hansen, currently two of the finest lightweights in the world. He’s also lost to top talent: Akihiro Gono (most recently, in December of 2009), and Marius Zaromskis just before that.

Prediction: Diaz, TKO. Sakurai isn’t done yet, but Diaz is peaking, while Mach’s career is in eclipse.

Kazushi Sakuraba versus Ralek Gracie (Middleweight)

Everybody knows and loves Sakuraba. Justifiably one of the most important names in MMA history, he’s been in the game since Pride 2 – that’s 1998. He’s in his twilight, career-wise, but that’s no slight. Twilight for Sakuraba is like twilight for a psychotic mercenary: “You want me to fight one last brutal war before I settle down? Even though I’m sickeningly wealthy, aged and broken down like a forty-year old farm truck? Of course!” Sakuraba was originally nicknamed “The Gracie Hunter” for defeating four consecutive Gracies; namely, Royler, Royce, Renzo and Ryan. Other than that, he pretty much fought big name in Pride save Fedor - who was bigger than him. He’s won two in a row but hasn’t fought since October 2009.

Ralek Gracie’s career is much more abrupt. Astoundingly, he is the nephew of Royce and Royler Gracie – yes, Sakuraba defeated two of Ralek’s uncles. He’s got a whole two MMA fights under his black belt, one in K-1, another in DREAM, and he won both by armbar. The real difference? He’s 6’2” and 210 pounds. At that weight, he doesn’t cut weight, but he still outweighs the wily Japanese veteran by 25 pounds or so. Sakuraba has a history of taking on bigger guys, but at his age, Ralek will pose some serious issues.

By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer