Kazushi Sakuraba (24-10) Vs Melvin Manhoef (21-4)
This seems to be a really one sided fight that is taking place in the very end of Sakuraba's career. Melvin Manhoef is one bad striker Sukaraba is a legend whose best years are behind him and has been badly injured in his fights. On paper this fight makes no sense until you look at the paper ($) Dream is sure to pull in off of two of their fan favorites.
Alberto's pick - Manhoef by T/KO round 1. Dream has 10 minute first rounds I hope Sakuraba does not get killed for all ten of them. My sentimental pick goes to him because of how weak Manhoef's Submission defense is.
Nelo's pick - Manhoef by KO 1st. Round. Manhoef has vicious striking and I just don't see Sakuraba weathering the storm.
Ronald "Jacare" Souza (8-1) Vs Jason "Mayhem" Miller (21-5)
This is my pick for fight of the night here, Both of these guys have excellent submissions and excellent defense. Jacare is now training with Team Couture on his Boxing skills and Wrestling and is slowly improving. Mayhem has very good stand up and is looking to make Jacare another notch in his belt of quality fighters.
Alberto's pick - Jacare by Submission (My upset pick of the night). Mayhem when it comes to big fights seems to leave his focus on making a good show rather then winning a good fight.
Nelo's pick - Mayhem by Decision. Although; Jacare has excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills Mayhem also has good Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills as well. I don't see Jacare finishing the job.
Taiei Kin (3-2) Vs Zelg "Benkei" Galesic (8-3)
This is a rematch of a K-1 Olympia Heroes Olympia in Korea last September and Zelg looks very improved over the span of his last 10 fights. His Jiu-Jitsu seems to have grown leaps and bounds ever since his loss to Dong Sik Yoon. In his last win at Dream 2, when he caught his opponent in a flying Armbar.
Alberto's pick - Zelg Galesic by T/KO. Their rematch will end the same way their last fight did with the referee stopping it and raising Zelg's hand.
Nelo's pick - Zelg Galesic TKO 1st. Round. I agree with my partner in crime. Zelg will finish the fight the same way the last time he fought Taiei Kin.
Dong Sik Yoon (4-4) Vs Gegard Mousasi (21-2)
No one in the history of MMA has had a more star studded 8 fight opponent streak then Dong Sik Yoon, Rampage, Sakuraba, Melvin Manhoef, Zelg Galesic and Murilo Bustamante. Starting his career off 0-4 seemed like a bad thing until Dong won another 4 in a row to pull him to 500.Gegard Mousasi might be one of the best Middleweights in the world no one knows about and is a dark horse candidate to win this whole tournament. Especially after he caught one of the Tournament's early favorites Pride veteran Dennis Kang in a Triangle Choke for a win at Dream 2.
Alberto's pick- Mousasi by Submission. This guy has all the tools to take this tournament if he gets passed Yoon.
Nelo's pick - Dong Sik Yoon by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1st. Round. Yoon has been on a roll since losing his first 4 fights by winning his last 4. I see that continuing as Yoon moves on.
"My upset pick of the night"
Shinya Aoki (15-2) Vs Katsuhiko Nagata (4-2)
This is a continuation of the Dream Lightweight tournament and make Aoki is looking to win the whole thing. Nagata is a decent fighter it is just to early in his career to really judge him now all around. That may be why Tournament favorite Aoki and Nagata are fighting. If Aoki wins Nagata still comes out with goos experience. If Nagata wins it gives Dream another new Japanese fan favorite fighter it can promote in the future.
Alberto's pick- Aoki by Submission. The master of the rubber guard is not going to let Nagata stand in his way of what is now perceived in Japan to be his Tournament now that he has beaten JZ Calvancante in the opening round of Dream's LW Tournament. (even if it took him 2 fights)
Nelo's pick - Shinya Aoki by Submission (Triangle Choke) 1st. Round. Aoki will wear down Nagata on the ground and work his way to the submission victory and move on in the Lightweight Grand Prix.
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