Yan and Sakuraba / Dream publicity photo

A Brazilian black belt living in Barcelona, Yan Cabral is no Lionel Messi, the star of Catalan soccer club Barcelona, but he pulled off an amazing feat of his own. Undefeated in MMA, Yan took on MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba and brought on the pressure, even nearly knocking out the king of Pride FC early on. In the second round, Yan got the takedown, made it to side control and sunk an arm-and-neck choke to notch the tenth win in his undefeated career.

“It’s an honor – I can’t explain what it feels like to face Sakuraba. Life is a battle and we have to overcome the obstacles. ‘Arigato.’” said Yan after the fight.

Rodolfo made his promotional debut kicking off the quarterfinals of the bantamweight GP against Yusup Saadulaev. The Brazilian had his work cut out for him and needed three rounds to win by unanimous decision and make it to his tenth win in a row.

Now Bibiano Fernandes was quick on the trigger, finishing off Takafumi Otsuka with a rear-naked choke in just 41 seconds, thus moving to the next stage of the GP.

In another heavily anticipated fight, Shinya Aoki used his slick Jiu-Jitsu skills to put away Rob McCullough with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Now Takeshi Inoue knocked out Caol Uno and Tatsuya Kawajiri submitted Joachim Hansen with an arm-and-neck choke.

Coming off a loss in the UFC and recovered from a hand injury, Brazil’s Willamy Chiquerim’s return to the Land of the Rising Sun came against Satory Kitaoka. The Nova União fighter was neutralized for the first two rounds, during which Kitaoka clinched, got the takedown and held the advantage on the ground. Advised by his corner to go all or nothing, Chiquerim went on an all-out striking onslaught that saw a hook drop his opponent. He ended up taking a yellow card for stalling, however, and escaped a tight guillotine. When the scorecards came in, Kitaoka took the split decision.

(By collaborator Junior Samurai)

Complete results:

Dream 17
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
September 24, 2011

Ikuhisa Minowa submitted Baru Harn via arm-and-neck choke in R1

Bantamweight GP quarterfinals
Antonio Banuelos defeated Hideo Tokoro via split decision
Bibiano Fernandes defeated Takafumi Otsuka via rear-naked choke in R1
Masakazu Imanari submitted Abel Cullum via armbar
Rodolfo Marques defeated Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision

Superfights:
Yan Cabral submitted Kazushi Sakuraba via arm-and-neck choke in R2
Tatsuya Kawajiri submitted Joachim Hansen via arm-and-neck choke in R3
Shinya Aoki submitted Rob McCullough via rear-naked choke in R1
Satoru Kitaoka defeated Willamy “Chiquerim” via split decision
“Lion” Takeshi Inoue knocked out Caol Uno in R1
Gerald Harris defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision

Yan e Sakuraba. Foto: Dream, Divulgação.

A chaleira ferveu no tradicional Saitama Super Arena, no Japão. No templo do Pride aconteceu, neste sábado, o Dream 17, e não faltou emoção no quadrilátero.

Faixa-preta carioca radicado em Barcelona, Yan Cabral não é Lionel Messi, craque do clube catalão, mas realizou uma façanha pra lá de especial. Invicto no MMA, Yan encarou Kasushi Sakuraba, uma lenda do esporte, e começou botando pressão, quase nocauteando o rei do Pride no inicio da peleja. No segundo round, Yan quedou, chegou do lado e encaixou um katagatame para acrescentar a décima vitória ao cartel.

“É uma honra, não tem como explicar o que sinto por enfrentar o Sakuraba. A vida é uma guerra e a gente tem que superar os obstáculos. ‘Arigatô’.” disse Yan

Rodolfo Marques estreou no torneio e abriu os duelos das quartas de final do GP dos galos contra Yusup Saadulaev. O brasileiro não teve moleza e precisou lutar os três rounds para levar por decisão unânime e chegar à impressionante décima primeira vitória seguida.

Já Bibiano Fernandes foi rápido no gatilho e só precisou de 41 segundos para dar o bote no pescoço de Takafumi Otsuka e finalizar com um mata-leão, avançando no GP.

Em outra luta aguardada, Shinya Aoki usou seu jiu-jitsu afiado para finalizar Rob McCullough com um mata-leão no primeiro giro. Já Takeshi Inoue nocauteou Caol Uno e Tatsuya Kawajiri finalizou Joachim Hansen com um katagatame.

Vindo de derrota no UFC e recuperado de uma lesão na mão, o cearense Willamy Chiquerim voltou a terra do Sol Nascente, palco de suas maiores conquistas, para enfrentar Satoru Kitaoka. O representante da Nova União acabou neutralizado nas duas primeiras parciais, onde o japonês clinchou, derrubou e levou vantagem no solo. Orientado pelo corner, Chiquerim partiu para o tudo ou nada no derradeiro assalto, onde chegou a acertar um cruzado que derrubou o lutador nipônico, mas acabou levando um cartão amarelo e escapou de uma justa guilhotina. No final as papeletas decretaram a vitória de Kitaoka por decisão dividida.

(Colaborou Junior Samurai)

Confira todos os resultados:

Lutas casadas:
Yan Cabral finalizou Kazushi Sakuraba com um katagatame no 2R
Tatsuya Kawajiri finalizou Joachim Hansen com um katagatame no 3R
Shinya Aoki finalizou Rob McCullough com um mata-leão no 1R
Satoru Kitaoka venceu Willamy “Chiquerim” por decisão dividida
“Lion” Takeshi Inoue nocauteou Caol Uno no 1R
Gerald Harris venceu Kazuhiro Nakamura por decisão dividida

Chiquerim in action at Shooto

By Junior Samurai

Former Shooto champion Willamy Chiquerim will see action tomorrow at Dream 17, where he will face Japan’s Satoru Kitaoka. A well-known entity in the Land of the Rising Sun, Chiquerim is stoked about his return to Japanese soil. “Fighting in Japan against is like going home. It’s such a pleasant feeling; the Japanese have so much respect for the athletes. It’s very satisfying to be well treated, welcomed; being back there is really important to me,” he said.

At 24 years of age, the Nova União representative will have his work cut out for him against the Sengoku champ who even boasts wins over Takanori Gomi, Paul Daley and Kurt Pellegrino. “I’m going to lure him into my game. They say he’s a born finisher but I’ve done a lot of Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling. I respect him a great deal, but I’ll give me all to leave as the winner.”

Some other Brazilians with Jiu-Jitsu backgrounds will also feature in the ring at the Saitama Super Arena, something of an MMA temple, having been the main venue during the days of Pride FC. The undefeated Yan Cabral will face off with legend Kazushi Sakuraba in one of the superfights. Now the bantamweight GP quarterfinals will see Bibiano Fernandes taking on Takafumi Otsaka, while Rodolfo Marques squares off with Yusup Saadulaev. Some other big names in the mix are Caol Uno, Shinya Aoki, Rob McCullough, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gerald Harris and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

Bibiano in action against Imanari at Dream / Photo: FEG Inc.

The following bout order for Dream 17, this Saturday in Saitama, Japan, has been released. Check back with GRACIEMAG.com for the results.

From last to first:

Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough
Joachim Hansen vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno
Yan Cabral vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Willamy Freire vs. Satoru Kitaoka
Gerald Harris vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
Antonio Banuelos vs. Hideo Tokoro (GP dos Plumas – quartas de final)
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Takafumi Otuska (GP dos Plumas – quartas de final)
Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum (GP dos Plumas – quartas de final)
Rodolfo Marques vs. Yusup Saadulaev (GP dos Plumas – quartas de final)
Baru Harn vs. Ikuhisa Minowa