Strikeforce and DREAM will announce a partnership that could see an exchange of fighters between the two promotions.

Strikeforce Chief Executive Officer Scott Coker revealed Monday night in a radio appearance on The Carmichael Dave Show that the number two mixed martial arts promotion in the USA will enter into an "alliance" with Fighting Entertainment Group, the parent company of the number one mixed martial arts promotion in Japan.

The partnership could open up new possibilities for the recently-signed Fedor Emelianenko, who had seemingly only Alistair Overeem, Brett Rogers and Fabricio Werdum as opponents in Strikeforce. Fedor could also find himself fighting in Japan after his fall Strikeforce on Showtime date. The former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion is well-loved in the country and from 2003-2007 took pride in a tradition to compete every New Year's Eve in Japan's annual blockbuster year-end show.

"We've talked about (the partnership) for a long time," Coker said on the Northern California sports program. "It's finally going to happen now so maybe (Sergei) Kharitonov could fight Fedor at some point."

Besides more options for Fedor, there's an entire pool of new opponents for each promotion that could also give a clearer understanding to world rankings outside of the UFC.

The current champions and direct title contenders under DREAM are Joachim Hansen (lightweight champion), Shinya Aoki, Marius Zaromskis (welterweight champion), Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Bibiano Fernandes, Joe Warren, Hiroyuki Takaya and Hideo Tokoro.

Meanwhile, the champions with Strikeforce are Alistair Overeem (heavyweight), Renato "Babalu" Sobral (light heavyweight), Cung Le (middleweight), Josh Thomson (lightweight), Gilbert Melendez (interim lightweight) and the August 15 winner of Nick Diaz versus Jay Hieron.

The two promotions already share the services of former DREAM Middleweight Champion and current number one Strikeforce light heavyweight title contender Gegard Mousasi, who also happens to be under contract with Fedor's management, M-1 Global.

Coker added that more details on Fedor's future, including the date and opponent, could be announced as early as Thursday.

A press conference was held yesterday in Tokyo by World Victory Road to announce the signing of 2008 Olympic gold medalist in Judo Satoshi Ishii for the promotion. Previously signing with the UFC is reported to have no impact on Ishii's negotiations with WVR to appear in their Sengoku events.

The 22-year-old judoka had been sought out by the other major mixed martial arts promotion in Japan, DREAM as well as the UFC.

Ishii accepted an invitation from the UFC last December to meet UFC President Dana White and experience UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. White said Ishii has the potential to become a great MMA fighter.

Ishii appeared at first willing to put aside his celebrity in Japan to compete in the UFC. But by signing with World Victory Road, Ishii picks the safest and richest choice to begin his MMA career.

It was previously reported on several sources that Ishii was set to appear on the tenth season of the popular Spike television series, The Ultimate Fighter. Ishii's Facebook page appeared to confirm that rumor yet now, this signing may not allow the Japanese fighter to do both. It is important to note that he has a clause in his new 2-year contract allowing him to fight for other promotions outside of Japan and Ishii has previously indicated a desire to fight in the UFC late last year.

"I have finally made up my mind," Ishii told Nikkan Sports in December. "The UFC is where I want to fight."

Time will tell where he really makes his MMA debut. WVR Director Takahiro Kokuho believes Ishii's first fight for the promotion can come as early as August 2 and as late as the New Year's Eve event at the end of the year.

In any case, for WVR and Japanese MMA in general, this signing might mark a significant turning point in their campaign to get back on network television. With WVR and DREAM alike staging strong events, fans may see a resurgence of MMA in the once PRIDE-dominated country.

Since leaving Judo with his eyes set on MMA, Ishii has been traveling around putting in mat time with current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, the American Top Team and Xtreme Couture.

Fresh off of his first round submission victory over heavyweight Mark Hunt at DREAM 9 event, former DREAM Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi confirmed that his next fight will be against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort at Affliction 3 on August 1.

Prior to his win over Hunt, Mousasi (25-2-1) last competed on K-1 and DREAM's co-promoted K-1 DYNAMITE!! 2008 back on New Year's Eve. He TKO'd Musashi in the first round of their kickboxing bout.

Mousasi's last mixed martial arts tussle came in September when he put Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza to sleep in the first round of the Middleweight Grand Prix Finals. With the victory, Mousasi became the first ever middleweight champion of the organization.

Since exiting the UFC over four years ago, Belfort (18-8) had struggled to find his hold form. He dropped three of his next five, however has rebouded nicely to take his last four.

Belfort tells Brazilian MMA magazine TATAME that he would face Mousasi only at middleweight. Belfort has been very successful as a middleweight, winning both of his Affliction fights with devastating knockouts over Terry Martin and Matt Lindland.

Mousasi, who will be making his US debut at the event, extended his win streak to ten with his submission win at DREAM 9 against Hunt in the opening round of the Super Hulk Tournament. Outweighed by 68.4 pounds, Mousasi took Hunt to the mat and snatched an arm for the kimura. Mousasi will face either Ikuhisa Minowa, Hong Man Choi or Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou after the Belfort fight.

Former American League MVP Jose Canseco, who has authored two controversial books and starred in a reality television show since his 17-year big league career came to an end in 2001, will next try his hand at mixed martial arts.

According to an Associated Press report, the 44-year-old Canseco will make his MMA debut on May 26 in Japan against South Korean Hong Man Choi as part of the Dream 9 card at Yokohama Arena. The 7-foot-2, 330-pound Hoi has a 1-2 career professional record.

"I have no idea if I can do it," Canseco told the AP. "It's a tough sport."

Canseco has fought in two celebrity boxing matches. He was knocked out in the first round by former NFL player Vai Sikahema on July 12th, 2008, and he fought to a majority draw earlier this year in a bout against former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce.

A six-time All-Star, Canseco won the 1988 AL MVP after becoming the first player in big league history to have at least 40 home runs and 40 steals in the same season. He currently ranks 32nd all-time with 462 career home runs.

In his 2005 book, "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big," Canseco attributed much of his success on the diamond to his use of performance enhancing drugs.

Source: MLB.com

Bibiano Fernandes, Joe Warren, Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura, Yoshiro Maeda, Hiroyuki Takaya and Masakazu Imanari all advanced Sunday in the DREAM.7 Featherweight Grand Prix at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto was the only fighter to receive a bye and will be in action at DREAM.8. The final spot will be determined by Hideo Tokoro vs. Daika "DJ Taiki" Hata bout at DREAM.8.

In non-tournament bouts, Mitsuhiro Ishida won a unanimous decision over Daisuke Nakamura, Shinya Aoki submitted David Gardner with a rear naked choke and Tatsuya Kawajiri also won by rear naked choke against Ross Ebanez.

Aoki was fighting at lightweight for one more time before he moves up to welterweight to enter the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix.

Kawajiri called out Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante for a number one contender bout to determine current DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen's first title challenger.

DREAM 7 was dedicated to Helio Gracie. Kazushi Sakuraba and Yuki Sasaki stood inside the ring for a moment of silence during the opening ceremony.

Below are the official results for DREAM.7:

Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round Bouts:

• Masakazu Imanari def. Atsushi Yamamoto by split decision

• Hiroyuki Takaya def. Kim Jong-won Kim by TKO (punches) at 0:40 of Round 2

• Yoshiro Maeda def. Micah Miller by unanimous decision

• Abel Cullum def. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura by unanimous decision

• Joe Warren def. Chase Beebe by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 10:00 of Round 1

• Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka by unanimous decision

Non-Tournament Bouts:

• Shinya Aoki def. David Gardner by submission (rear naked choke) at 5:58 of Round 1

• Tatsuya Kawijiri def. Ross Ebanez by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:03 of Round 1

• Mitsuhiro Ishida def. Daisuke Nakamura by unanimous decision

DREAM announced today the fight order for DREAM.7. Masakazu Imanari versus Atsushi Yamamoto bout will serve as the main event.

DREAM.7 ~ Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 1st Round ~
Date: March 8, 2009
Place: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

Fight Card:

• Takafumi Otsuka vs. Bibiano Fernandes (Featherweight GP)

• Chase Beebe vs. Joe Warren (Featherweight GP)

• Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura vs. Abel Cullum (Featherweight GP)

• Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Daisuke Nakamura (Welterweight one match)

• Shinya Aoki vs. David Gardner (Welterweight one match)

• Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Ross Ebanez (Lightweight one match)

• Yoshiro Maeda vs. Micah Miller (Featherweight GP)

• Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Kim Jong-won (Featherweight GP)

• Masakazu Imanari vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (Featherweight GP)

Japan's DREAM organization announced on Friday that top ranked lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri (picture) will take on BJ Penn trained fighter Ross Ebanez at DREAM 7 on March 8 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Kawajiri (22-5-2) made an impressive kickboxing debut at Dynamite!! 2008 after his MMA loss to Eddie Alvarez at the semifinals of the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix.

Ross Ebanez (19-6) last competed in October, defeating Waachiim SpiritWolf at Rumble on the Rock: Beatdown 9.

DREAM 7 also features the opening round of the organization's featherweight tournament with fighters such as Masakazu Imanari, Chase Beebe, Atsushi Yamamoto, Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura, Micah Miller and more competing in the tournament.

The now former DREAM middleweight fighter, Yoshihiro Akiyama, has signed with the UFC. Akiyama may most be known for his "greasing" tactic against Japanese hero Kazushi Sakuraba but should also be known for his impressive record as well.

Akiyama holds a victory over another recent UFC middleweight signee in Denis Kang, before Kang began his current slide.

The signing of Akiyama is a big one in the sense that he could be the guy who ends up truly challenging Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at some point down the road.

UFC President Dana White had this to say about Akiyama on UFC.com, "I can see him making an immediate impact in the middleweight division."

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic informed Croation Sports Magazine Sportske-Novosti that he has resumed training after successful surgery to repair the ligament damage in his knee.

"I'm training as much as I can at this stage of the recovery," said Filipovic. "I'm mainly working on weights and cardio with conditioning coach Jukic. As things stand at the moment I can say that the operation went very well."

Filipovic has fulfilled his contract with Japanese MMA promotion DREAM and has had preliminary discussions with both the UFC and and another US based MMA organization believed to be Affliction.

"I'm in talks with the Japanese which of course is natural, since they treated me so well over the years," said Filipovic. "It's not a secret anymore that the UFC have contacted me. I'm also in talks with another US organization."

Filipovic stated that he'd decide on an organization within a month though the former PRIDE Grand Prix Champion admitted he'd be unable to fight for several months thereafter.

The current DREAM Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi is reported that he is considering a move to the heavyweight division.

Mousasi holds impressive wins over the likes of Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.

The Red Devil International team member has trained with current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko as his next step seems to be the light heavyweight division, but that could be temporary if he's serious about stepping up with the big boys in heavyweight division.

Middleweight fighter Dean "The Boogeyman" Lister requested and received his release from his UFC contract following a loss to Yushin "Thunder" Okami at UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 in December 27. He will seek a deal with a new employer in 2009. The news was confirmed on Sunday by Lister's management team at Haymaker's Empire.

According to the management team, Lister requested the release and the UFC granted his leaving the promotion. The former Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Absolute Division Champion and King of the Cage (KOTC) Middleweight Champion is already in talks with several promotions, including DREAM and Affliction, for a new deal.

During his time with the UFC, Lister amassed an impressive 4-2 record with wins over fighters like Jeremy Horn and Alessio Sakara, with his only losses coming against Nate Marquardt and Okami in his last bout. However, he has not been a fan favorite due to his reliance on his grappling. He's won nine times by submission but never won by KO or TKO since debuting in September 2000. Eight of of Lister's 19 career fights have gone the distance.

With his release from the UFC, Lister is not looking to sit out for very long. He wants to return soon with a new promotion.

The grappling guru is also looking for a shot at a fighter such as Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza or possibly the new Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago to get back in against top competition and prove his meddle as one of the top submission artists in mixed martial arts.

What an entertaining show on the New Year's Eve when FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008 comes to us live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

Here are the official results for the event:

• Opening Fight: K-1 KOSHIEN Reserve Fight/K-1 KOSHIEN Rules: Taishi Hiratsuka (Japan/Chubu Area 3rd Place) def. Daizo Sasaki (Japan/Kanto Area 2nd Place) by KO at 1:00 of Round 2

• Fight #1: DREAM Rules: MINOWAMAN (Japan) def. Errol Zimmerman (Suriname/Golden Glory) by submission (ankle hold) at 1:01 of Round 1

• Fight #2: K-1 KOSHIEN Semifinal/K-1 KOSHIEN Rules: Koya Urabe (Japan/Kanto Area 1st Place) def. Ryuya Kusakabe (Japan/Chubu Area 1st Place) by TKO at 2:29 of Round 3

• Fight #3: K-1 KOSHIEN Semifinal/K-1 KOSHIEN Rules: HIROYA (Japan) def. Shota Shimada (Japan) by unanimous decision

• Fight #4: K-1 Rules: Artur Kyshenko (Ukraine/Captain Odessa) def. Yoshihiro Sato (Japan/FULLCAST/Nagoya JK Factory) by split decision

• Fight #5: DREAM Rules: Daisuke Nakamura (Japan/U-FILE CAMP.com) def. Hideo Tokoro (Japan/Team ZST) by submission (armbar) at 2:43 of Round 1

• Fight #6: DREAM Rules: Andy Ologun (Nigeria/Team Ologun) def. Yukio Sakaguchi (Japan/Sakaguchi Dojo Yokohama) by KO at 3:52 of Round 1

• Fight #7: K-1 KOSHIEN Final/K-1 KOSHIEN Rules: HIROYA (Japan) def. Koya Urabe (Japan/Kanto Area 1st Place) by unanimous decision

• Fight #8: DREAM Rules: Bob Sapp (USA/Team Beast) def. Kinniku Mantaro by TKO at 5:22 of Round 1

• Fight #9: DREAM Rules: Semmy Schilt (Holland/Seido Kaikan) def. Mighty Mo (USA) by submission (triangle choke) at 5:31 of Round 1

• Fight #10: DREAM Rules: Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (Japan/Mach Dojo) def. Katsuyori Shibata (Japan/ARMS) by TKO at 7:01 of Round 1

• Fight #11: K-1 Rules: Tatsuya Kawajiri (Japan/T-BLOOD) def. Kozo Takeda (Japan/Jiseikan) by KO at 2:47 of Round 1

• Fight #12: K-1 Rules: Alistair Overeem (Holland/Golden Glory) def. Badr Hari (Morocco/Show Time) by KO at 2:02 of Round 1

• Fight #13: DREAM Rules: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Croatia/Cro Cop Squad) def. Choi Hong-man (Republic of Korea) by KO at 6:32 of Round 1

• Fight #14: K-1 Rules: Gegard Mousasi (Holland/Red Devil International) def. Musashi (Japan/Seido Kaikan) by KO at 2:32 of Round 1

• Fight #15: DREAM Rules: Melvin Manhoef (Holland/Show Time) def. Mark Hunt (New Zealand/Oceania Super Fighter Gym) by KO at 0:18 of Round 1

• Fight #16: DREAM Rules: Shinya Aoki (Japan/Paraestra Tokyo) def. Eddie Alvarez (USA/Fight Factory) by submission (heel hold) at 1:32 of Round 1

• Fight #17: DREAM Rules: Joachim Hansen (Norway/Frontline Academy) vs. Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante (Brazil/American Top Team) was canceled*

• Fight #18: DREAM Rules: Kiyoshi Tamura (Japan/U-FILE CAMP.com) def. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan/Laughter7) by unanimous decision

*Hansen didn't pass a pre-fight medical examination, reportedly due to a recent hospitalization for a head injury.

The K-1 Dynamite!! bout on New Year's Eve between Shinya Aoki (picture) and Eddie Alvarez will determine the first ever World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Lightweight Champion.

With just a few days to go before the show, it's been made official by press release that WAMMA will recognize the winner of the bout between Aoki and Alvarez as their lightweight champion. The press release also states that the winner will not receive the physical belt at the event, but it will be presented to them in a ceremony at a later date.

"New Year's Eve is rich in both history and tradition for combat sports in Japan," WAMMA Chief Operating Officer Michael Lynch said. "FEG officials have put together an amazing night of fights and WAMMA is looking forward to recognizing the winner of the Aoki versus Alvarez fight as our first ever lightweight champion."

Aoki and Alvarez would have met in the finals of the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix 2008, but Alvarez sustained an eye injury in his win earlier that night against Tatsuya Kawajiri. This brought in Joachim Hansen, who won the reserve bout, to step in for Alvarez. Hansen then defeated Aoki by TKO to become the first DREAM Lightweight Champion.

In the WAMMA rankings, Aoki is ranked number two in the lightweight division while Alvarez is ranked number three. UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn is ranked number one.

"WAMMA's board of directors supports the WAMMA pollsters in their recognition of BJ Penn as the number one rated lightweight fighter in the world," Lynch said. "However, Penn has not fought since May 24 and isn't scheduled to compete again until January 31. His January 31 fight will be contested at welterweight against Georges St. Pierre for the UFC's 170-pound crown. If Penn wins, UFC President Dana White has already stated that Penn's next fight will be a welterweight title defense against Thiago Alves. Needless to say, Penn's future as a regular competitor in the lightweight division is uncertain."

Lynch continued by saying that if Penn's returns to lightweight, WAMMA would approach the UFC to facilitate a fight between Penn and the WAMMA Lightweight Champion. However, that's only wishful thinking as the UFC has strongly opposed cooperating with WAMMA.

WAMMA is an independent sanctioning organization for mixed martial arts, with their own fighter rankings and championships. Earlier this year, Fedor Emelianenko became the first and only current WAMMA titleholder when he submitted Tim Sylvia in 36 seconds at Affliction: Banned. Fedor holds the WAMMA heavyweight title.

Bob Sapp fought a comedian at last year's Dynamite!! New Year's Eve event, and he will return this year with an even more unlikey opponent, which is a cartoon character.

FEG, the parent company of K-1 and DREAM, announced today that Sapp will take on a fighter under DREAM rules by the name of Kinniku Mantaro, a character out of the manga and anime series "Ultimate Muscle".

The fighter portraying Mantaro is a heavyweight that has been training at Kazushi Sakuraba's gym.

Only two days after Satoshi Ishii made it clear his interest in fighting for the UFC, UFC President Dana White has extended his hand to the 2008 Olympic judo gold medalist.

According to a report on Nikkan Sports, White released a statement two days ago through WOWOW, which televises UFC events in Japan, saying that Ishii has the potential to become a great mixed martial arts fighter. White applauded Ishii's decision to fight in the UFC and invited the judoka to Las Vegas to watch UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 on December 27, to which Ishii has accepted.

Ishii said on Wednesday that he wants to fight for the UFC instead of DREAM and plans to go in March to train with the American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida for his mixed martial arts debut sometime late 2009.

TOKYO (AFP) — Japan's Olympic judo heavyweight champion Satoshi Ishii plans to join the US-based Ultimate Fighting Championship next year, bypassing domestic competitions.

The 21-year-old university student disappointed Japan's judo circles last month when he announced a switch to the cash-laden world of mixed martial arts three months after his gold-medal feat in his Olympic debut in Beijing.

"I have had UFC on my mind as my ultimate goal," Ishii was quoted as saying by the Nikkan Sports daily Wednesday.

"I had thought about fighting a few matches in Japan at first. But if this were train travel, my credentials would be an express ticket. I wonder why I should bother to go by a slow train," he said.

Ishii said UFC was "what (US) Major Leagues are to baseball."

"There are many strong fighters in the heavyweight rank. I think it's the real thing."

But Ishii, due to graduate from Tokyo's Kokushikan University in March, said he had not yet started talks with UFC.

UFC, packaged as a no-holds-barred sport with matches fought in a octagonal caged ring, is considered the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world with growing popularity worldwide via television.

"I want to go to the United States around next March and make sure I can get used to the environment and go on without accumulating stress," he told the daily. "I'll make my debut next summer or autumn at the earliest."

Ishii, relatively small for a judo heavyweight at 181 centimetres (six feet) and 110 kilograms (240 pounds), has long expressed his wish to compete in mixed martial arts, which combines techniques from judo, karate, kick-boxing and wrestling.

He had been reportedly lured by DREAM and other Japanese mixed martial arts organisations.

Ishii was one of the only two Japanese who made the podium in men's judo as Japan registered a record-low Olympic medal haul in the sport at the Beijing Games.

Japan's judo establishment fears that Ishii, who has irritated judo purists with his no-holds-barred style, could inspire others to follow him into a sport full of colourful figures, in which his earnings could easily top 100 million yen (one million dollars) per match. (AFP)

Three-time K-1 World Grand Prix and current K-1 Super Heavyweight Champion Semmy Schilt will return to fighting under MMA rules on the big stage at FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008 on New Year's Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Schilt (25-14-1 in MMA) has found greater success in K-1 but has had an extensive career as a mixed martial artist. Beginning with Pancrase, Schilt moved onto the UFC and then PRIDE FC. His last major MMA appearance was at a K-1 HERO'S event in August 2006, where he won via triangle choke against Kim Min-soo. He fought in January of this year, knocking out a relatively unknown opponent at an event in Serbia.

In one of the three bouts added on Tuesday to the card, Schilt will face fellow K-1 fighter Mighty Mo. Mighty Mo, a Samoan-American kickboxer, has only three professional MMA bouts to his credit, winning all three by TKO or KO, and this will mark his first MMA action in a year and a half. Schilt and Mighty Mo have fought before under K-1 kickboxing rules. Schilt defeated Mo by decision in a K-1 Super Heavyweight title bout in June 2007.

The other two additions are Yoshihiro Sato vs Artur Kyshenko in a K-1 bout and Hideo Tokoro vs Daisuke Nakamura in a MMA bout.

There are also two previously announced high profile lightweight MMA bouts on the card. Joachim Hansen, who won the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix earlier this year, will fight Gesias Calvancante and Shinya Aoki will square off with Eddie Alvarez.

Here is the current fight card for FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008:

• Semmy Schilt vs Mighty Mo (DREAM rules)

• Hideo Tokoro vs Daisuke Nakamura (DREAM rules)

• Yoshihiro Sato vs Artur Kyshenko (K-1 rules)

• Jerome LeBanner vs Mark Hunt (DREAM rules)

• Shinya Aoki vs Eddie Alvarez (DREAM rules)

• Kozo Takeda vs Tatsuya Kawajiri (K-1 rules)

• Musashi vs Gegard Mousasi (K-1 rules)

• Kazushi Sakuraba vs Kiyoshi Tamura (DREAM rules)

• Joachim Hansen vs Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante (DREAM rules)

• HIROYA vs Shota Shimada (K-1 KOSHIEN Semifinal/K-1 rules)

• Ryuya Kusakabe vs Koya Urabe (K-1 KOSHIEN Semifinal/K-1 rules)

• Winner of HIROYA/Shimada vs Winner of Kusakabe/Urabe (K-1 KOSHIEN Final/K-1 rules)

One of the biggest friends of Gesias Cavalcante in American Top Team, Jorge Santiago is training for his fight at Sengoku, in January, when he takes a shot against Kazuo Misaki for the middleweight title. Set to fight in Japan in January 4th, Jorge Santiago will follow Gesias in his fight at K-1 Dynamite, against Joachim Hansen, champion of the DREAM lightweight GP.

"Gesias is a monster! He's training in a way that sometimes I don't know where he takes so energy (laughs). He's training to don't happen any surprises at the fight, he's with the ground, striking and wrestling well-trained… You can wait that he'll give a great show," guarantees Santiago, that discards the ambience of revenge between the fighters, that faced themselves in Shooto, in 2004, and finished with victory of the Norwegian. "I don't see it like a revenge, but like a new meeting. Gesias in that time was very young, that was his third professional fight and, of that time for now, he has changed a lot, like Hansen did."

If in the first meeting between the fighters Hansen won, Jorge has not doubts in his bets. "I can tell you certainly that the fight will be completely different. If somebody tells me that Hansen is two times better today, I can assert you that Gesias is ten times better than before (laughs)," guarantees Jorge, who continues in Japan after the fight of Gesias, to fight with Misaki in Sengoku and still support the team partner Antônio Bigfoot against Yoshihiro Nakao, in the same night.

Taken from: tatame.com

In the ever expanding "quest for the best" ADCC Championships is proud to announce that two of the World's top fighters have agreed to compete in the 2009 ADCC event. ADCC is proud to announce that PRIDE and Affliction Champion Fedor Emelianenko, widely considered the World's best fighter and 2008 DREAM Middleweight Champion Gregard Mousassi are set to compete in ADCC 2009. ADCC Europe President Marko Leistén confirmed the fighter's presence after a meeting with the two fighters manager Aby Echteld in Holland 8th November.

Fedor Emelianenko, after conquering the world of MMA, wants to show the world he is also the best submission grappler in the world. Fedor want to make history and expand on the pioneer spirit of what Mark Kerr did in the late 90's when he was the Champion of PRIDE and became the weight and Absolute Champion of ADCC and went on to defend his title in the Superfights for 2 editions.

Mousassi, the winner of the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix where he defeated former World ABJJ Absolute and ADCC Middleweight Champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in the final, also wants to test his ground skills against the top names in Submission Grappling. This sets up some humongous possible match-ups such as a re-match with "Jacare" or facing current ADCC Middleweight Champion and rising UFC star Demian Maia.

World lead organizer Guy Neivens was ecstatic with the addition: "At the top of my wish list I was one name: Fedor Emelianenko! And not only we got him but we also added another world star in Gregard Moussassi. It is a testament to the level and prestige of our conversation that the world's best continue to want to test themselves in our events." And he continued: "We couldn't be any happier. Now it is time for the rest of the world's best fighters to step up to the challenge!"

Taken from: adcombat.com

Satoshi Ishii, the Beijing Olympic gold medalist in the men's over 100 kg judo division, announced on Monday that he has started his career as a professional mixed martial arts fighter.

"I'm a professional fighter from today," the 21-year-old judoka said at a press conference on Monday, where he made an official announcement about his new career. "To become the strongest of the world's six billion people has been my dream since I was little. I think mixed martial arts is the toughest combat sports."

Finally putting an end to all the commotion regarding his retirement from judo, Ishii showed no regret about his decision. He revealed that he had decided to quit judo before he was chosen as a representative for the Beijing Olympics. "You only get one life, and I don't want to have any regrets. I will start as a beginner in mixed martial arts," said Ishii.

Although Ishii said he had yet to decide on when to debut and which MMA organization to join, he is expected to take part in the DREAM fighting event alongside his high school senior Yoshihiro Akiyama.