Bibiano in action. Photo: Susumu Nagao

This Monday, March 22, another installment of Dream came to a close. The event in Yokohama, Japan, featured a title fight and the return of Josh Barnett.

In defense of his featherweight title, Gracie Barra black belt Bibiano Fernandes won his seventh fight in a row. The fighter had his work cut out for him in Joachim Hansen, considered one of the best in the world in the lighter weights. Victory came by way of a split judges’ decision.

In the co-main event, Josh Barnett showed why he one the ultraheavyweight division at the IBJJF’s No-Gi World Championship. He overcame Mighty Mo via kimura lick while still in the first round.

In another heavily anticipated fight, KJ Noons beat Andre Dida and Ryo Chonan made it past Andrews Nakahara, both via unanimous decision.

Check out the results: 

Dream 13
Yokohama, Japan
March 22, 2010

Bibiano Fernandes defeated Joachim Hansen by split decision
Josh Barnett submitted Siala-Mou “Mighty Mo” Siliga via kimura at 4:41min of R1
KJ Noons defeated Andre Amade via unanimous decision
Ryo Chonan defeated Andrews Nakahara via unanimous decision
Cole Escovedo defeated Yoshiro Maeda via TKO at 2:29min of R1
Katsunori Kikuno defeated Kuniyoshi Hironaka via TKO at 1:26min of R1
Ikuhisa Minowa submitted Jimmy Ambriz at 2:42min of R2

Bibiano in action at Dream. Photo: Josh Hedges

The card for Dream 13 begins to take shape. The event is to take place March 22 in Yokohama, Japan

Among the bouts announced, former Jiu-Jitsu world champion Bibiano Fernandes, winner of the organization’s featherweight GP, faces Joachim Hansen. The fight is valid for the featherweight title.

In other matches confirmed, finishers Ryo Chonan and Ikuhisa Minowa face Andrews Nakahara and Jimmy Ambriz, respectively. Former Chute Boxe representative Andre Dida, training partner to Shogun, faces KJ Noons.

Check out the provisory card.

Dream 13
March 22, 2010
Yokohama, Japan

Joachim Hansen vs Bibiano Fernandes
KJ Noons vs Andre Dida
Katsunori Kikuno vs Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Ryo Chonan vs Andrews Nakahara
Ikuhisa Minowa vs Jimmy Ambriz

Melvin Manhoef is another addition to the card. Photo: Susumu Nagao

K-1, World Victory Road and Dream have added the final touches to their end-of-the-year event, Dynamite!!, to be held December 31 in the Saitama Arena. And, as Japanese organizations tend to do, some last minute matchups have been announced. Among them is the bout pitting Melvin Manhoef against Kazuo Misaki.

Another challenge to feature on the card, at least according to messages posted on Twitter, is Gegard Mousasi facing Gary Goodridge. Besides matching the current light heavyweight champion of Strikeforce against a heavyweight, the bout is under K-1 rules, making it a non-MMA match. It has not yet been officially confirmed, though.

Beyond that, the event features Olympic-judo gold-medalists Satoshi Ishii and Hidehiko Yoshida, facing each other, and such standouts as Shinya Aoki, Alistair Overeem and Rameau Thierry Sokodjou, among others. Check out the promo video for the event:

Check out the complete card:

Masato vs Andy Souwer (K-1 rules)
Satoshi Ishii vs Hidehiko Yoshida (MMA)
Melvin Manhoef vs Kazuo Misaki (MMA)
Shinya Aoki vs Mizuto Hirota (MMA)
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Kazunori Yokota (MMA)
Masanori Kanehara vs Norofumi “Kid” Yamamoto (MMA)
Akihiro Gono vs Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (MMA)
Hiroshi Izumi vs Katsuyori Shibata (MMA)
Marlon Sandro vs Hideo Tokoro (MMA)
Michihiro Omigawa vs Hiroyuki Takaya (MMA)
Kazuyuki Fujita vs Alistair Overeem (MMA)
Yosuke Nishijima vs Ray Sefo (K-1 rules)
Gegard Mousasi vs Gary Goodridge (K-1 rules)
Ikuhisa Minowa vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (MMA/”Super Hulk” final)
Hiroya vs Masaaki Noiri (K-1 KOSHIEN semifinal)
Katsuki Ishida vs Shota Shimada (K-1 KOSHIEN semifinal)
Tsukasa Fuji vs Ryuya Kusakabe (K-1 KOSHIEN reserve bout)
K-1 KOSHIEN final

Satoshi Ishii. Photo: Publicity

As is the tradition in Japan, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a monumental fighting spectacle, this year in the form of Dynamite!!, promoted by K-1, Dream and World Victory Road. This December 31, the fight-loving Japanese public and MMA and kickboxing fans the world over will be treated to 10 MMA matches, a mini tournament and two K-1 rules superfights.

Many of the matchups will feature athletes consecrated in Japan, Two Olympic judo champions will face off under MMA rules. Satoshi Ishii, heavyweight gold medalist at Peking 2008, will make his MMA debut against Hidehiko Yoshida, also a gold medalist, but at Barcelona 1992, in a matchup that has been postponed several times already.

Shinya Aoki, who is coming off wins over Joachim Hansen and Vitor Shaolin, faces Mizuto Hirota. Other Japanese heroes to make appearances are Tatsuya Kawajiri, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Hayato Sakurai.

Kazuyuki Fujita has the tough task of facing Alistair Overeem. Curiously, although Overeem is a standup specialist – even knocking out Brazil’s Ewerton Teixeira in the final of the K-1 World GP –, he is coming off three submission wins in a row.

Also awaited is the Super Hulk tournament final between Ikuhisa Minowa and Rameau Thierry Sokodjou. The K-1 rules bouts pit Andy Souwer against Masato and Ray Sefo against Yosuke Nishijima.

Check out the complete card:

Masato vs Andy Souwer (K-1)
Satoshi Ishii vs Hidehiko Yoshida (MMA)
Shinya Aoki vs Mizuto Hirota (MMA)
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Kazunori Yokota (MMA)
Masanori Kanehara vs Norofumi “Kid” Yamamoto (MMA)
Akihiro Gono vs Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (MMA)
Hiroshi Izumi vs Katsuyori Shibata (MMA)
Marlon Sandro vs Hideo Tokoro (MMA)
Michihiro Omigawa vs Hiroyuki Takaya (MMA)
Kazuyuki Fujita vs Alistair Overeem (MMA)
Yosuke Nishijima vs Ray Sefo (K-1)
Ikuhisa Minowa vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (MMA/”Super Hulk” finale)
Hiroya vs Japan Masaaki Noiri (K-1 KOSHIEN semifinal)
Katsuki Ishida vs Shota Shimada (K-1 KOSHIEN semifinal)
Tsukasa Fuji vs Ryuya Kusakabe (K-1 KOSHIEN semifinal reserve)