DREAM. 13

[NWOWolfpack]

[broncofan]

any word on Barnett's opponent?

[NWOWolfpack]

[broncofan]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/tem ... &zoneid=13

Dream continues to remain at the top of the Japanese mixed martial arts since, recently announcing the signing of top heavyweight Josh Barnett. A longtime favorite for the defunct Pride organization, now Barnett has an opponent for his March 12 promotional debut.

Siala “Mighty Mo” Siliga, a prominent K-1 fighter with a 3-1 record in MMA, has signed to face Barnett at Dream 13, according to his manager, Steve Rusich of Triple Crown Fighters. Sports Illustrated’s Josh Gross tweeted the probable match-up earlier this week.

“It’s a tough match-up, for sure, but it’s a good high profile fight,” said Rusich.

Barnett (24-5) is riding four straight victories, but hasn’t fought in more than a year. He has been mired in the regulatory process in California after failing to gain licensure due to disputed drug test results for a planned bout against Fedor Emelianenko.

Mighty Mo has little experience in mixed martial arts, but won his first three bouts before dropping his last to Semmy Schilt. That last bout was also more than a year ago, in fact, about a month prior to Barnett’s last contest.

[Keithlewis]

[Keithlewis]

CONTROVERSIAL JOSH BARNETT RETURNS TO MMA - DREAM 13 ON HDNET LIVE FROM JAPAN

Network's LIVE coverage begins early Monday, March 22 at 3:00 a.m. ET

DALLAS (March 19, 2010) HDNet will feature exclusive coverage of "HDNet Fights: DREAM 13" early Monday morning, March 22 at 3:00 a.m. ET, LIVE from the Yokohama Arena in Japan.

MMA heavyweight "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (24-5) returns to the ring for the first time since the cancellation of his fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Barnett makes his DREAM debut against K-1 veteran Siala "Mighty Mo" Siligia. Barnett was widely considered one of the top heavyweights in the world prior to a conflict over a pre-fight drug test mandated by the California State Athletic Commission.

The main event of the evening features DREAM Featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes (7-2) defending his title versus Joachim Hansen (19-8-1). Fernandes is on a six-fight win streak, while Hansen is making is featherweight debut after an epic pair of fights with DREAM Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki.

Also on the card, boxing and MMA sensation KJ Noons (7-2) squares off against Andre "Dida" Almade (6-3-1).

"Only on HDNet will you see the return of Josh Barnett and KJ Noons to MMA action," said Andrew Simon CEO of HDNet Fights. "These two were among the best in their weight classes before their hiatuses - Barnett was a top 5 Heavyweight and KJ was the last guy to stop Nick Diaz! Also, Fernandes v Hansen should be classic."

In other action, the newly belted "Super Hulk" Ikuhisa Minowa (44-30-8) returns to action versus Jimmy Ambriz. Minowa is riding a three-fight win streak, including his most recent victory versus Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Plus: Katsunori Kikuno (12-2-2) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (16-6), Ryo Chonan (16-10) vs. Andrews Nakahara (2-1), and Cole Escovedo (15-4) brings a four-fight win streak into his fight with WEC and PRIDE veteran Yoshiro Maeda (26-7-2)

The announce team for the event is "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and Frank Trigg.

HDNet's live coverage of "HDNet Fights: DREAM 13" starts early morning
Monday, March 22, 3:00 a.m. ET/12:00 a.m. PT. HDNet will air an encore presentation of the event on Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 p.m. ET.