"DREAM: Japan GP Final" results

http://mmajunkie.com/news/24424/dream-japan-gp-final-results.mma

Hiroyuki Takaya's first successful title defense is in the books.

DREAM's featherweight champion successfully defended his title with a closely contested split-decision victory over challenger Kazuyuki Miyata at Saturday's "DREAM: Japan GP Final" event.

The event, which also featured the finale of the yearlong Japan bantamweight grand prix, took place at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum.

The show didn't air live in North America.

Takaya (16-9-1 MMA, 7-2 DREAM), who won the title from Bibiano Fernandes back in December, and Miyata (11-8 MMA, 4-2 DREAM), who earned the title shot on the heels of a six-fight win streak, proved evenly matched standing and on the mat. While the bout could have gone either way, Takaya, who implemented strong power strikes and solid takedown defense, ultimately got the judges' nod.

With the main-event victory, Takaya successfully rebounds from a split-decision defeat to Roberto Peralta in his April debut with Strikeforce. It's his only defeat in his past five fights.

Meanwhile, in the yearlong Japan bantamweight tournament, Hideo Tokoro (30-23-1 MMA, 8-6 DREAM) edged fellow finalist Masakazu Imanari (23-9-2 MMA, 2-2 DREAM) to win the eight-man grand prix.

In the closely contested finale, and as part of an action-light first round, Imanari continually looked to take the fight to the guard after striking exchanges. Tokoro, though, largely avoided the trouble and won the exchanges, especially on the mat.

In round two, though, Imanari's attempts to pull guard became more creative, and he attempted a handful of submissions. But Tokoro survived and landed a few solid ground shots throughout the round.

All together, it was enough for Tokoro to get the close unanimous-decision victory.

Both fighters now are expected to compete in a worldwide bantamweight tournament planned to begin in the next six month. In addition to finalists Imanari and Tokoro, Kenji Osawa (18-10-2 MMA, 3-1 DREAM), a former WEC fighter, secured his position in the upcoming-tournament field with a first-round TKO of Keisuke Fujiwara (11-4-4 MMA, 0-3 DREAM) in a Japan tournament third-place fight.

In a welterweight non-title fight, champ Marius Zaromskis (15-6 MMA, 5-0 DREAM) easily handled Eiji Ishikawa (22-17-2 MMA, 0-1 DREAM) to keep his perfect DREAM record intact. Zaromskis stuffed takedowns and rained down blows from all angles for a lopsided unanimous-decision victory.

In other action, Tatsuya Kawajiri (28-7-2 MMA, 8-1 DREAM) fought off a guillotine choke and then used a sustained ground attack to batter fellow lightweight Drew Fickett (41-15 MMA, 0-1 DREAM) en route to a first-round TKO victory. Additionally, Tatsuya Mizuno (9-7 MMA, 2-3 DREAM) won a slugfest with Trevor Prangley (23-8-1 MMA, 0-1 DREAM) after connecting with a vicious first-round knee to the South African's liver.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Champ Hiroyuki Takaya def. Kazuyuki Miyata via split decision (to retain featherweight title)
Hideo Tokoro def. Masakazu Imanari via unanimous decision (Japan bantamweight-tourney finale)
Champ Gegard Mousasi def. Hiroshi Izumi via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 3:28 (to retain light-heavyweight title)
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Drew Fickett via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 4:41
Kenji Osawa def. Keisuke Fujiwara via unanimous decision (Japan bantamweight-tourney third-place fight)
Tatsuya Mizuno def. Trevor Prangley via KO (knee strike) - Round 1, 4:41
Champ Marius Zaromskis def. Eiji Ishikawa via unanimous decision (welterweight non-title fight)
Eiji Mitsuoka def. Bruno Carvalho via unanimous decision

was this on HDNet?

No

the replay will be on hdnet by next weekend i believe

anyone know where i can watch the Gegard fight? ive searched the whole internet and then some

killerofchicken wrote:

anyone know where i can watch the Gegard fight? ive searched the whole internet and then some

It hasn't aired yet in Japan. When it does then it will be posted up.

Oh I see, why do they wait so long to air it in Japan? what gives

Don't know really.

I read about the Mousasi fight. Not pretty. Mousasi needs a to fight Hendo. That is THE best LHW match up left in SF.

killerofchicken wrote:

anyone know where i can watch the Gegard fight? ive searched the whole internet and then some

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/7/20/2284807/dream-light-heavyweight-title-bout-between-gegard-mousasi-and-hiroshi
[youtube]