ProphetFighting

DREAM 10 graphics plus live coverage

DREAM has released the graphics for DREAM 10:

You can get live MMA coverage of all major events including live DREAM 10 coverage at our favorite source for MMA news, MMA commentary and heavy metal–The Savage Science. They also have the best MMA blog on these here intertubes.

Live DREAM coverage at The Savage Science

The UFC + Ishii: A doomed relationship?

Up at The Savage Science:

Lyman Hoyt examines the strange and dysfunctional relationship between Japan’s gold medal winning Olympic judoka and the UFC:

Ishii + the UFC: A doomed relationship @ THE SAVAGE SCIENCE

JZ Calvan vs. Joachim Hansen at Fields Dynamite!

New article by Lyman Hoyt previewing the great New Years’ Eve matchup between Gesias “JZ Calvan” Calvancante and Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen.

JZ Calvan vs. Joachim Hansen set for New Years Eve in Tokyo @ THE SAVAGE SCIENCE

Cro Cop to fight at DREAM 6

New article on THE SAVAGE SCIENCE with breaking news about Mirko Cro Cop’s plans to fight on the DREAM 6 MMA show in Tokyo:

CRO COP TO FIGHT AT DREAM.6 AT THE SAVAGE SCIENCE

And as always props to our Eastern European correspondent Edo–check out his website BetWWX for the latest UFC odds and more!!

Cro Cop wins as DREAM debuts…

The debut card of DREAM is underway in Japan and since its nearly 4 AM here on the west coast and the only people up are either a) intoxicated b) deranged or c) MMA geeks like me I’m going to forego the play by play and go to bed. I will be doing play by play on the Pacquiao/Marquez fight tonight over at on205th.com so check that out…

Since I *am* a professional and spare no expense or hardship to fulfill my duties as a fightsport journalist I will give you the play by play of Cro Cop’s DREAM debut before I head off to go to bed. Just remember that while the other slack ass so called professional MMA journalists were sleeping I had you covered….

MIRKO CRO COP VS. TATSUYNA MIZUNO

Actually, here’s all you need to know. Mirko pounded a mudhole into Mizuno, winning by TKO in the first minute of the first round. He came out to his traditional entrance music–Duran Duran’s classic “Wild Boys”. Mirko’s comings and goings are obviously huge news in Croatia. Since we have a Croatian speaking correspondant–Edo, who holds court at BetWWX.com–I can do even better than a play by play:

It’s coming from Croatia so it takes awhile to travel through the tube that runs between Eastern Europe and the US.

If the embedded video player doesn’t work for you here’s the direct link:

Cro CopBorba Mirka Filipovića i Tatsuya Mizuna

[tags]MMA, mixed martial arts, Mirko Cro Cop, DREAM, Tatsuyna Mizuno, Series of Tubes, Japan [/tags]

Mirko Cro Cop has a new opponent…again

Croatian media reports are indicating that Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao is out as Mirko Cro Cop’s opponent at the 3/15 DREAM event to be held at the Saitama Super Arena outside of Tokyo. According to Nakao, he was threatened by Yakuza characters that if he fought Cro Cop he’d have eight of his best friends carrying him by the handles. I’m still scratching my head as to why the Yakuza would care one way or the other about Nakao but I guess I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, the latest word is that Mirko will be fighting Japanese judoka Tatusya Mizuno. The Croatian media indicates that he’s 4-2 in MMA while Sherdog has him listed at 3-2.

[tags]MMA, DREAM, mixed martial arts, Mirko Cro Cop, Yoshihiro Nakao, Tatusya Mizuno, Yakuza [/tags]

Cro Cop’s opponent for his DREAM debut….

Mirko Cro Cop’s opponent on the 3/15 DREAM debut card will be Yoshihiro Nakao aka former PRIDE fighter Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao. You’ll remember him from the infamous kiss he planted on Heath Herring during a PRIDE staredown in 2006.

Mirko: “A little over an hour ago I was contacted by DREAM officials. They informed me that my opponent on March 15 will be Yoshihiro Nakao from Japan. It was very important for me to fight as soon as possible and I’m happy that DREAM was able to find the opponent for me.”

Mirko’s 3/15 DREAM opponent @ Mirko’s Blog

Thanks to our Croatian speaking source Edo for this info…visit his website at the link below:

Go to BetWWX: Sports Betting Picks and Writeups

Here’s the video of the infamous Nakao/Heath Herring kiss…

[tags]Mirko Cro Cop, Yoshihiro Nakao, DREAM, PRIDE, MMA, mixed martial arts, Heath Herring, kiss[/tags]

Cro Cop’s opponent in DREAM debut to be Mighty Mo?

Word on the streets of Zagreb is that Cro Cop’s most likely opponent at his DREAM debut is now K-1 kickboxer Siala Siliga aka “Mighty Mo”. He’s had a credible career as a kickboxer despite losing his L4 fights though has limited experience in MMA style bouts (though he is 3-0 in them against middling opposition). Probably a perfect opponent for Cro Cop in this spot–he’s not a joke by any means but he’s also a good measuring stick: if Mirko can’t get past Mighty Mo its hard to see him returning to top form.

Mighty Mo’s career profile @ K-1

Article about Mighty Mo from the Croatian news website Javno.com (in English)

[tags]Mirko Cro Cop, K-1, MMA, DREAMS, Mighty Mo[/tags]

Dennis Kang to DREAM Middleweight GP

The Fight Network is also reporting that Dennis Kang will be among the entrants at the forthcoming DREAM middleweight GP:

Denis Kang will make his debut for the new Japan-based Dream promotion in a middleweight grand prix on Tuesday, April 29 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. “The Super Korean” said he’s optimistic the union between the Fight Entertainment Group (K-1’s parent company) and former Pride Fighting Championships officials will be for the better.

Word on the street is that Portland’s own Matt “The Law” Lindland will also be in the DREAM Middleweight GP

Kang to DREAM Middleweight GP @ The Fight Network

[tags]Dennis Kang, Matt Lindland, DREAM, MMA, Japan, mixed martial arts[/tags]

New Cro Cop interview…

Thanks to our resident Croatian speaker, Edo, for the heads up and the translation. Visit his website at BetWWX.com for all of your sports gambling advice, wagering tips and even a few free plays on tonight’s EliteXC MMA from yours truly…

Here’s Edo’s translation with the link to the original at the bottom of this post:

Interviewer:
There are some news about a new organization called Dream. How did you establish a relationship?

Mirko: People contacted me and asked if i was interested in a match. I accepted their terms and that was it. In the end, I was never hiding the fact that I prefer fighting in the ring rather then in cage, which of course doesn’t mean I won’t be back to the cage. But, I will do 3 fights for Dream. The main reason was that UFC couldn’t offer me a fight before May and I insisted for it to be March. I wanted to fight in 1-st of March and they couldn’t find an opponent so quickly and there was only an option of fighting in May. That WAS the main reason.

Interviewer:
It was really good to watch you train. You look as if you put on some muscle mass?

Mirko:
Yes, I feel very good. I’ve been training in full intensity for 6 months now. I’ve dedicated myself only to that. I’ve recovered mentally and physically. I was in a crisis last year. It simply wasn’t me. I had no desire to fight or train. I did train, I don’t need to find excuses, but there simply was no will for fighting or victory. Things have turned around now. I feel great and I can’t wait for 15th of March.

Interviewer:
What happens in heads of athletes? How do you get back after such defeats?

Mirko:
I dunno, I dunno what happens in athletes heads nor do I know the reasons that apply to myself. It’s just a motivation more to be more prepared for the next fight.

Interviewer:
Expectations in the ring? What kind of opponent do you expect?

Mirko:
Quality opponents. Among others, Dream will have fighters such as Fedor, Kharitonov, Hunt, Barnett, K-1 guys, Sefo, Lebanner, possibly Peter Aerts, so it is possible that there will be very tough competition.

Interviewer:
Say, when you had those 2 defeats against Gonzaga and Kongo, did you at any time think of perhaps leaving the whole thing behind?

Mirko:
Well, yes, immediately after in the locker room. But after a few days, the desire was only stronger. I have to say that many people asked me “Are you quitting”, “Leave it be”, both people with good intentions and bad intentions presenting themselves as good. I don’t see a reason to quit. Should Federer quit tennis because Djokovic dominated him in 3 sets? Should Federer quit because of that? Of course it is not the same to lose in tennis and ultimate fight. But in the end, it’s my head and my body and i train and fight and there is no reason to quit. I’m still young, 33 years old. For some sports I’m too old, but in fighting sport a true maturity is achieved at 35, still it depends on the person. Randy Couture managed at age of 44 to come back and take the belt and he didn’t win by lucky punches but by 5 round domination. So to be prepared for 5 rounds of ultimate fighting in fantastic. And especially in the way Randy Couture did it and at age of 44. So there’s no reason or talk about retiring. I will surely fight for few more years. I have a great motivation and I’ve dedicated myself only to that. Everyone should be on their guard for me and especially those 2 guys I lost to.

From the sound of it, Mirko has a three fight deal with DREAM. Interesting to see him mention Josh Barnett’s name among his likely opponents since he’s scheduled to fight against Yoshida in March at a World Victory Road event. This could mean a) Barnett will sign a deal with DREAM afterwards b) WVR has a working relationship with DREAM c) both d) neither or the more likely option e) Cro Cop just threw him into the mix with the rest of the PRIDE heavyweight alumni.

His comments about the conflict over the date also appear to validate the reports that Cro Cop and Dana parted on good terms.

Cro Cop interviewed on Croatian TV (in Croatian)

[tags]MMA, mixed martial arts, UFC, PRIDE, DREAM, Mirko Cro Cop, Josh Barnett[/tags]