DREAM 7: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Ross Ebanez
Japan’s Fighting Entertainment Group (FEG) today announced one additional match-up for DREAM 7 which features the opening round of its 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on March 8.
Former PRIDE star Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2) will be back in action looking to rebound from his TKO defeat at the hands of Eddie Alvarez last July at DREAM 5. “Crusher” will be taking on former Rumble on the Rock scrapper Ross Ebanez (19-6).
Like Kawajiri, “The Boss” shares a recent loss to uber-lightweight Eddie Alvaraez.
Also in action is WAMMA Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki (19-3), who was last seen making quick work of Eddie Alvarez in December 2008 (yes, Alvarez gets around). “Magic Pants” will suit up this time for David Gardner (16-10), which is expected to serve as a tune-up fight for the Japanese mainstay.
That’s because Aoki is getting ready to move up in weight to participate in the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix that begins in April. The fight between Aoki and Gardner will be fought at a catchweight of 163 pounds.
Joining them will be Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1) against Daisuke Nakamura (19-9). Nakamura had a very good outing in 2008, winning seven straight — two of which were flying armbar victories … an impressive feat to say the least.
He’ll take a step up in competition in the likes of Ishida and will certainly have his hands full.
Ishida has also been linked to appear in some capacity on Strikeforce’s April 11 card, however that could now be in jeopardy depending on if he’s able to make a quick enough turn around to fight again when the Showtime special airs on fight night.
Here is the current line-up for DREAM 7:
Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (12-5-1)
Hiroyuki Takaya (9-6-1) vs. Jong Won Kim (0-0)
Yoshiro Maeda (23-6-2) vs. Micah Miller (10-2)
Chase Beebe (11-3) vs. Joe Warren (0-0)
Bibiano Fernandes (3-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (8-3-1)
Abel Cullum (13-2) vs. Akiyo Nishiura (9-3-1)
Catchweight (163 pounds):
Shinya Aoki (19-3) vs. David Gardner (16-10)
Lightweight:
Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1) vs. Daisuke Nakamura (19-9)
Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2) vs. Ross Ebanez (19-6)
Stay tuned for more last minute additions or changes as DREAM continues to fire them off.
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