DREAM 2: Updated Card w/JZ & Aoki

[NWOWolfpack]

Akiyama Out of Dream GP:

Yoshihiro Akiyama will miss the Dream middleweight grand prix because of a nasal fracture.

The 32-year-old judoka re-injured the serious nasal bone fracture he sustained against Kazuo Misaki on New Year's Eve, according to Dream promoter Fighting & Entertainment Group, which held a press conference Monday in Tokyo.

"Akiyama wanted to be in this grand prix by any means, even interrupting his training to fully heal up," said Dream producer Keiichi Sasahara. "But at the current state, even a slight blow will cause such heavy bleeding that will have every doctor stop the fight."

Sasahara also shot down any speculation about whether Akiyama may be given a bye to the second round in June: "Either a fighter will participate in the tournament from the first round, or he won't be in it at all. This also applies to Akiyama."

With the second round of the middleweight tournament tentatively scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, Akiyama is aiming for a return in his birth country -- regardless of whether he will receive a "sponsor nomination" in the tournament or not. Last October he scored a brutal knockout over Bushido grand prix finalist Denis Kang in his home country.

The first round of the Dream 185-pound tournament starts April 29.

Though a bout between Frank Trigg and Jacaré was announced, the American wrestler has denied in published reports that he will participate.


I wonder who he was supposed to fight?

[ArmyofDarkness]

KANG OR TAMURA ARE MY PICKS!

[broncofan]

More changes & updates!

National university freestyle wrestling champion Ian Murphy will fight Ronaldo Jacaré on Tuesday in the Dream middleweight grand prix, promoter Fighting & Entertainment Group has announced.

The 22-year-old Californian is a member of Cal State Fullerton's wrestling program and was ranked No. 1 in the Pac-10 in 2006. Although Murphy has several hundred wrestling matches under his belt, the fight against Jacaré, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu master, will be his MMA debut.

Event producer Keiichi Sasahara said a verbal agreement to participate in the tournament had been reached on the phone with Frank Trigg, but then the 35-year-old former Icon Sport middleweight champion "suddenly reconsidered his participation."

After being announced as a participant in the middleweight tournament, Trigg told media a visa wasn't secured and communication with the Japanese promotion ended without a deal being completed.

The April 29 card is now complete with seven tournament fights. "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef will have the chance to move up to the next round as well. The Dutch knockout specialist will take on Ralek Gracie at Dream 3 on May 11 with the final quarterfinal berth on the line, provided he makes it unscathed out of Saturday's kickboxing mega fight against Remy Bonjasky. Manhoef confirmed the bout at the news conference for this weekend's K-1 World Grand Prix in Amsterdam.

Finally the bout order for Tuesday's event at the Saitama Super Arena was arranged. Kazushi Sakuraba will square off with Andrews Nakahara in the main event, and Denis Kang and Gegard Mousasi fight in the penultimate bout. Shinya Aoki and Gesias Calvancante will open the show with their lightweight grand prix backlog fight.

http://www.sherdog.com