If you're a fan of MMA, you'll be watching the UFC on Versus Sunday night. But if you're a truly hard-core, bordering on obsessive fan of MMA, you'll be watching Dream on HDNet in the wee hours of Monday morning. For the hard-core among our readers, we've got the full Dream.13 preview and predictions below.
What: Dream.13
When: Monday, 3AM ET
Where: Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan
Predictions:
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Joachim Hansen
The main event is a very good fight between Fernandes, who won Dream's featherweight Grand Prix in 2009, and Hansen, who won Dream's lightweight Grand Prix in 2008. I love Hansen as a striker and think he could revitalize his career by moving down to featherweight, but until I see evidence that he knows how to stop a takedown, I can't pick him to beat someone who's as good on the ground as Fernandes.
Pick: Fernandes
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Kikuno is a powerful puncher who should bounce back from his loss to Eddie Alvarez at Dream.12.
Pick: Kikuno
KJ Noons vs. Andre Dida
I'm very excited for the return to MMA of Noons, the former EliteXC lightweight champion who left the sport to pursue a career as a professional boxer. Dida hasn't won a fight in two and a half years, and I don't think he'll win one on Monday, either.
Pick: Noons
Ryo Chonan vs. Andrews Nakahara
Chonan will always be best known for beating Anderson Silva in 2004. But Nakahara, a karate specialist, should beat him on his feet.
Pick: Nakahara
Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Jimmy Ambriz
Minowaman is fighting for the first time since winning the Super Hulk title on New Year's Eve. Ambriz is fighting for the first time since being rejected as a laughably weak opponent for Bobby Lashley. This should be an easy win for Minowa.
Pick: Minowa
Cole Escovedo vs. Yoshiro Maeda
Both of these guys have previously fought in the United States under the WEC banner. I like Maeda to take a decision.
Pick: Maeda
Josh Barnett vs. Siala "Mighty Mo" Siligia
Barnett's presence makes this the fight that will get the most attention among American fans. He hasn't fought since his positive steroid test cost fans the chance to see him take on Fedor Emelianenko and cost the Affliction promotion its very existence. They're easing Barnett back into fighting by giving him Mighty Mo as an opponent, and Barnett should win handily.
Pick: Barnett
Dream.13 Preview and Predictions
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3/21/2010 5:13 AM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
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Read More: DREAM HDNet Dream.13
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I'm actually looking forward to mighty mo fighting now in mma. Josh barnett should win easy with his agressive takedown and smothering game, no way he stands and gives mo a chance to club him with the huge overhand right.
Win, lose or draw for mo, I wanna see him fight ray mercer. I appreciate the ground game in mma, but still can't stand to watch guys overpower their opponents with the wrestling crap. And I probably never will. I agree with kj noons. Every fight starts standing up. Usually fighters go for the takedown when they're hurt, or afraid cause they know they're gonna get hurt in the standup. Boxing, kickboxing and all striking is the most exciting aspect of the sport, every fighter should get a ko bonus in every org and submissions are cool if they're necessary. Any fight that goes to a decision should be a draw. Its time to weed out the boring wrestling in mma. And fighters should be given a finishing bonus too everywhere in the world. There should be no more judging in mma, get them out of there, you either finish your opponent or you draw. Unless the judges wanna start using all 10 points in the 10 point must system. Score a round 10-5 if a fighter dominated.
Id like to see kj noons win by impressive ko. That would be great for my precious sf. If noons does well, eventually we'll get to settle things between noons and diaz.
If u don't like wrestling go watch k1 or boxing. Ur no mma fan.
If u don't like wrestling go watch k1 or boxing. Ur no mma fan.
thats weak, if someone doesn't like wrestling, they should not watch wrestling.
you have to have judges and i love wrestling but i totally agree i hate when someone takes you down and does nothing with it if you take someone down and the guy gets up with know dameage it should not be a point but good ground and pound and good subs i love
and thank god for dvr its the best
pip man ur really starting to lose me homie
in hockey if a team is winning 6-0 after the first period and the other team scores a goal in both the next two periods then the score in 6-2 and the first team wins. but in mma the other team wins. the scoring system is not effective, they need to score close rounds 10-10 and use all 10 points for the loser of the round depending on how they did. sheit, score the first 2 rounds for scott smith vs cung le 10-1 rounds. makes more sense. and there needs to be a worldwide recognized set of rules for the cage and the ring now with all the co-promotions happening in japan and usa.
and yellow cards. i like how the refs in japan have more control of the pace of fights. and microphones too. HIYE!