DREAM Featherweight GP Loses a Participant?

Nightmare of Battle has this post, it basically refers to an article by Shu Hirata on ADCombat.com.

It seems having a qualifying fight less then a month before the GP is not a good idea. DJ Taiki might be so injured that he will not be able to fight on March 8.

I guess there are several options, but we will have to wait and see what DREAM comes up with. I really hope DJ Taiki gets to participate, as he clearly won a hard fought victory.

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2/10 DEEP & CMA - RESULTS

The main event on todays card was the pro-wrestling fight between Minoru Suzuki and Ikuhisa Minowa. But the stakes were much higher in the featherweight fight between Shoji and DJ Taiki, in addition to the stakes, this should be a very good fight.

The other MMA rule fight on the card saw Shooto veteran Fanjin Son take on Asato Hashimoto.

Sorry, this was NOT Fanjin Son on this card!! It was Motoki Awaji, and I didnt get the name right... It is updated now.

The results will be updated as they become available.

7. Main Event - Pro-Wrestling: Minoru Suzuki Def. Minowaman
6. Tag-Team U-Rule: Kazuo Takahashi/Eiji Mitsuoka Def. Ryushi Yanagisawa/Makoto Kato
5. Kick-Rule: Taichi vs. Ryota Matsui DRAW
4. MMA-Rule: Daiki "DJ Taiki" Hata Def. Shoji Maruyama by decision 3-0
3. Royale Rumble: 10 Fighters (names not announced)
2. Tag-Team U-Rule (pro-wrestling):
Kosei Kobuta/Yukio Sakaguchi Def. Daijiro Matsui/Takemura Hikariichi (?) by sleeperhold
1. MMA-Rule: Asato Hashimoto Def. Motoki Awaji by Decision 3-0

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2/10 DEEP & CMA - Shoji Fighting DJ Taiki for Spot in DREAM

It is official, but I got the date wrong earlier... Shoji Maruyama and "DJ Taiki" will fight for a spot in the DREAM featherweight tournament. Shoji has had a fight in DREAM before though, he fought in DREAM 3 where he lost a decision to Takeshi Yamazaki.

For "DJ Taiki", a spot in the DREAM tournament would mean a step up in level of opponents. This is a HUGE fight for both fighters, and its on a card that will have more pro-wrestling influence than usual.

The fight will take placec at 65kg, but that is probably no indication that the featherweight tournament will...

Announced:
DREAM Featherweight Qualifier: Shoji Maruyama 6-4-1 vs. 9-5-3 Daiki "DJ Taiki" Hata

Full Card:
7. Main Event - Pro-Wrestling:
Minoru Suzuki vs. Minowaman

6. Tag-Team U-Rule: Kazuo Takahashi/Eiji Mitsuoka vs. Ryushi Yanagisawa/Makoto Kato
5. Kick-Rule: Taichi vs. Ryota Matsui
4. MMA-Rule: Shoji Maruyama 6-4-1 vs. 9-5-3 Daiki "DJ Taiki" Hata
3. Royale Rumble: 10 Fighters (names not announced)
2. Tag-Team U-Rule:
Daijiro Matsui/Takemura Hikariichi (?) vs. Kosei Kobuta/Yukio Sakaguchi
1. MMA-Rule: Fanjin Son 5-4-0 vs. 0-2-3 Asato Hashimoto

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12/10 DEEP 39 - RESULTS

The big surprise of the night, Korean Chang Son Jon KO'd Fanjin Son. Son came out swinging, looked like he faked the handshake even. That started the slugfest that the Korean won. Son fell face first and the ref jumped in to save him.

Grudge match of the night was DJ Taiki (wearing his PIMPIT Fight Team shirt) against Naoya Uematsu. Uematsu looked like he had his chances on the ground, but DJ Taiki was able to sit up in his gruard. Strong body punches made Uematsu open up and DJ Taiki took a strong vicotry.

Otsuka vs. Shoji is probably one of the highest paced fights I have ever seen! Otsuka had the rear-naked choke in when the final round ended, but until then Shoji was escaping everything. A very good fight!

Obiya showed a bit of ring rust, and took some punches. In the end he showed that he has very poweful hands, and I am already looking forward to the next fight!!

11. 70.3kg: Nobuhiro Obiya Def. Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44" by TKO Round 2 2:35

10. 83.9kg: Yuya Shirai Def. Yuichi Nakanishi by Decision 3-0
9. 70.3kg: Takafumi Otsuka Def. Shoji Maruyama by Decision 3-0
8. 63.7: Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" Def. Naoya Uematsu by TKO Round 1 2:30
7. 70.3kg: Katsunori Kikuno Def. Jang Yong Kim by Decision 3-0
6. 65kg: Chang Son Jon Def. Fanjin Son by KO Round 1 0:17
5. 70.3kg: Seigo Inoue Def. Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno by Decision 3-0
4. Open: Shunsuke Inoue vs. Kazuhisa Tazawa DRAW

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
3. Yukiya Naito Def. Yuta Watanabe by TKO Round 1 1:25
2. Yusaki Tsukumo Def. Hidenobu Koike by TKO Round 1 5:00
1. Luiz Andrade Def. Shinobu Miura by Decision 2-0

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12/10 DEEP 39 - Weigh-in

The weigh-in for tomorrow's DEEP event in Korakuen hall was done today. No major issues, all fighters made weight.

This should he a very good event, that I wont get to go to... But as its showing just a few hours delayed on Samurai, I should see it tomorrow anyway.

The return of Obiya is something that excites me, and I am looking forward to more than a few fights on this card! There is a very strong rumor that there 3 70.3kg fights are part of a tournament... I have not seen it confirmed, so if someone has a link to this, I would apprecite it. I know I saw it somewhere, but now I cant find it and it doesnt look like its a tournament...

12. 70.3kg:
Nobuhiro Obiya 70.3kg
Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44" 70.1kg

11. 83.9kg:
Yuichi Nakanishi 83.7kg
Yuya Shirai 83.7kg

10. 70.3kg:
Shoji Maruyama 65.6kg
Takafumi Otsuka 65.7kg

9. 63:
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 63.7kg
Naoya Uematsu 63.2kg

8. 70.3kg:
Jang Yong Kim 70.2kg
Katsunori Kikuno 70.2kg

7. 65kg:
Fanjin Son 64.7kg
Chang Son Jon 65.0kg

6. 70.3kg:
Seigo Inoue 69.8kg
Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno 70.3kg

5. Open:
Shunsuke Inoue 105kg
Kazuhisa Tazawa 121kg

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
4. 83.9kg:
Yuta Watanabe　84.0kg→83.9kg
Yukiya Naito　82.8kg


3. 77.1kg:
Hidenobu Koike 76.5kg
Yusaki Tsukumo 76.7kg

2. 70.3kg:
Luiz Andrade I 71.0 → 70.3
Shinobu Miura 70.0

Future Fight:
1. Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

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12/10 DEEP 39 - Fight Order

DEEP have announced the fight order for their event next week. That means that the fights are final, and there are 12 fights on the card.

The main-event will see the returning Nobuhiro Obiya facing DEEP veteran Barbaro 44. Obiya is returning after 2 years off and there will be lots of fans excited to see him back. If he is event close to the shape he was, Barbaro 44 should not pose any problems but ring-rust can strike the best of them.

There has been a late change, Eiji Ishikawa has pulled out due to injury and is replaced by another Grabaka fighter, Hidenobu Koike.

For me, this is not as strong as the previous DEEP card, but DEEP 38 was a very good event. On this card, I am most excited about Murayama vs. Ostuka and "DJ Taiki" vs. Uematsu.

Main-Event:
12. 70.3kg: Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"

11. 83.9kg: Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
10. 70.3kg: Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
9. 63.7: Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu
8. 70.3kg: Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno
7. 65kg: Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon
6. 70.3kg: Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
5. Open: Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Hidenobu Koike 5-8-3 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

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12/10 DEEP 39 - Changes (Injury and Addition) **Updated**

Update/correction: I had missed a couple of fights on the card, they are updated now, and the full card that is announced so far is available at the bottom.


The DEEP Impact 39 card has suffered a loss, Jutaro Nakao had to pull out due to injury. Taking his place is Korean Jang Yong Kim, that's right, the guy that upset "K-Taro" in Cage Force earlier this month. That means that Katsunori Kikuno goes from facing one of the most experienced fighters in the game, to facing a new talent. Will be interesting to see if Kim can follow up his win in Cage Force.

Also added to the card is Fanjin Son. Son lost his last fight in the Cage Force tournament to "Wicky" Akiyo, he is a Shooto veteran that has had his last 3 fights in Cage Force. Now he is makeing a move to DEEP. He will be taking on another Korean, Chang Son Jon.

That means that all the 3 additions to this DEEP card will be making their DEEP debuts.

Changed:
Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno

Added:
Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon

Announced:
Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"
Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu
Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa
Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon
Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Eiji Ishikawa 17-15-2 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

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12/10 DEEP 39 - Fights Added

Shoji Maruyama, the former Lightweight King of Pancrase will be fighting AACC's Takafumi Otsuka in what should be a very interesting fight. Shoji had a busy first half of 2008, with 3 fights in 5 months. He won the Pancrase Lightweight title agaist Artur Oumakhanov with a kick to the head. He then decided to vacate the title to move down a weight class. His last fight was in DREAM 3, a decision loss to Yamazaki.

Shoji will be facing Takafumi Otsuka who is a very tough fighter. He is the sort of fighter that never gives up and this should be a good fight between 2 talented fighters.

Also added is the Heavyweight fight between Inoue and Tazawa.

It is shaping up to be a good card again for DEEP. The event is being held in Korakuen Hall.

Added:
Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

Previously announced:
Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"
Jutaro Nakao 22-13-4 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno
Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Eiji Ishikawa 17-15-2 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

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5/11 DREAM 3 - Card Complete (?)

It looks as though the DREAM 3 card it complete, still a small question mark over Nick Diaz but it looks as though he is fighting too. There is a lot to look forward to on this card! I am planning a preview of all the fights tomorrow, hopfully I can finish it. Either way, the last fighter added to the card is Pancrase title holder, Shoji.

Shoji is a fighter with lots of talent, but he is yet to fight on this level. His biggest win to date was his KO win over Artur Oumakhanov in January, that victory earned him the Pancrase title. He should have a good battle against the veteran Takeshi Yamazaki.

Added:
Takeshi Yamazaki 13-7-2 vs. 6-2-1 Shoji Maruyama

The complete card:
Lightweight Tournament Round 2:
Caol Uno 24-10-4 vs. 16-3-1 Mitsuhiro Ishida
Tatsuya Kawajiri 21-4-2 vs. 12-3-0 Luiz “Buscape” Firmino
Joachim Hansen 17-6-1 vs. 13-1-0 Eddie Alvarez

Welterweight Champion Eliminator:
Nick Diaz 15-7-0 vs. 16-5-3 Katsuya Inoue

Middleweight Tournament Round 1:
Jason Miller 20-5-0 vs. 2-3-0 Katsuyori Shibata

Middleweight Tournament Reserve Fight:
Melvin Manhoef 20-4-1 vs. Kim Dae Won

Non-Tournament Fights:
Jung Bukyung 0-2-0 vs. 13-9-0 Daisuke Nakamura
Takeshi Yamazaki 13-7-2 vs. 6-2-1 Shoji Maruyama

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