Note: fights subject to change

DREAMS mixed martial arts is finally a reality and the first round of Lightweight Grand Prix kicks off the organizations inaugural event. For a mixed martial art fan this is a great card with some the best lightweight fighters in the world.  This tournament is so stacked that an argument can be made that at least 5 of the top 10 lightweights in the world will be participating. Also Mirko Cro Cop will make his return back to Japan after a very disappointing stay in the UFC.

DREAMS will kick off with their 14 man tournament which includes Shinya Aoki, Gesias Calvancanti, Andre Dida, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Caol Uno, Joachim Hansen, Luiz Buscape, Artur Oumakhanov, Koutetsu Boku, Jung Bu-Kyung, Kazuyuki Miyata, Kultar Gill and former Bodog Fight champion Eddie Alvarez at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

Now that the match ups are set the next step to is to handicap the winners for the first round of Lightweight Grand Prix.

If what would be a headline for any mixed martial arts fight is the much anticipate fight between Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki (11-2) versus the powerful JZ Gesias Calvancanti (14-1-1).

Shinya Aoki vs JZ Calvancanti

In MMA terms this is as big a fight as you can get. Shinya Aoki loves to fight and is one of the best hybrid fighters in the world to incorporate both Judo and Brazilian jujitsu. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in Judo. Aoki is on of the most exciting fighters in the world with incredible flexible and amazing grappling skills. He has been able to use and submit people with various arm bars and is one of the best arm bar practitioners in the world. He will be fighting JZ Calvancanti who is so powerful and has such great BJJ skills. He currently trains with American Top Team and has some of the most powerful stand up skills in the lightweight division.

As a MMA bettor I have to go with JZ who is much more powerful than Aoki. Even though Aoki is better technically I don’t think he will be able to catch JZ in his arms bars or in a submission. Aoki has not fought a fighter with as big a frame as JZ as most of his opponents have had smaller frames where he has been able to catch his opponents in an arm bar or triangle. He just won’t have the power to apply his famous Wakigatame due to JZ’s wider frame. JZ will just post up and be able to get out of anything Aoki throws at him. Yes Akoi has fought bigger fighters like Roger Gracie but that was only in pure grappling competitions and JZ just has too much striking ability for Aoki. 

I think JZ in two years will be a top 3 pound for pound fighter. He is just that good. He is a smaller version of Matt Hughes with more grappling and striking ability. JZ Calvancanti will be able to control the fight and dictate the fight with his stand up striking. Aoki will want to take this fight to the ground but he will be out muscled and JZ has the ability and experience on the ground. If this fight goes to the ground JZ has the power and strength to hold Aoki for a break by the ref or he will be able to stall the fight and frustrate Aoki.

Aoki has not fought any fighter with the size and body frame the JZ has. He has primarily fought Japanese MMA fighters who have a smaller bone structure and I think this will be the factor in this fight. JZ Calvancanti will win this fight in the stand and I predict a second round knock out of Aokji.

Too much power for Aoki to handle

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Black Mamba Kultar Gill

The Black Mamba (9-6) is an exciting fighter with great Muay Thai striking skills. He has some great stand up but he is way overmatched in the ground game. Kultar Gill is an Indo Canadian fighter that trains with the Revolution Martial Arts in Vancouver Canada. He will be fighting Tatsuya Kawajiri (20-4-2) who is generally considered to be ranked top 3 in the lightweight division and ranked 9th by us. He has fought and beaten some top MMA fighters like Luiz Azeredo, Per Eklund, Chris Brennan, Charles Bennett, Joachim Hansen, Vitor Ribeiro, and Carl Uno. He has also fought and lost to Gilbert Melendez and Takanori Gomi who are pound for pound some of the best fighters in the world. Tatsuya “The Crusher” Kawajiri will overpower Black Mambo with his superior wrestling strength. Once this fight goes to the ground it will be over quick.

Black Mamba does have a punchers chance but he will not be able get the distance and use his kicks he is known for. Black Mamba just hasn’t gotten the training and training partners to compete with The Crusher’s strength and grappling skills.  
 
All six of Black Mambas loses have been by submission. Make it seven.

Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Luiz "Buscape" Firmino

Kazuyuki Miyata (5-6) is going to have a tough time with Luis Buscape who is a very good grappler and BJJ fighter. Miyata has fought some of the best fighters in his weight division but when he fights top level competition he does not seem to shine or step up. He has loses to Joachim Hansen, Vitor Ribeiro, Norifumi Yamamoto, Genki Sudo and Royler Gracie. Buscape also has not been able to step up when he fights higher level competition with loses to Tatsuya Kawajiri and Luiz Azeredo so both fighters will be looking to take their fight game to a higher level.

Firmino has better submission skills and this fight will be a ground fight. Miyata is a wrestler that has not been able to transition his fight game to include and defend grapplers. All of his fights he has lost by submission and he will be fighting a very good grappler in Buscape.

Buscape wins by submission

Joachim Hansen vs Koutetsu Boku

I love Joachim “Hell Boy” Hansen (16-6-1) in this fight versus Boku (13-4-1) Hansen has incredible striking ability and is one of the best strikers in his weight class. One of his most underrated skills is his ground game. He has fought the best of the best like Shinya Aoki, Rumina Sato,  Luiz Azeredo, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Hayato Sakurai, Yves Edwards,  and  Caol Uno. He has one of the few wins over JZ Gesias Calvancanti and Takanori Gomi.

Kotetsu is a good fighter but does not have the striking ability to stand and trade with Hell Boy Hansen and his ground game will not overwhelm him either. If you look at Kotetsu MMA fight record, most of his fights go to decision which means he is not a finisher.

Look for Hell Boy Hansen to come out swinging and press the action for a first round knock out over Koutetsu. Betting wise Hansen should be a huge favorite so I would lay off this bet.

Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Jung Bukyung

Ishida should be a big favorite in this fight against Jung Bukyung. The Endless Warrior is (16-3-1) and is a top ten lightweight fighter. He has wins over Gilbert Melendez and Marcus Aurelio and is considered one of the best wrestlers in the division. He will be fighting Bukyung, who took home the silver medal in Judo at the 2000 Sydney Games but his stand up skills are no where near Ishidas’ and once this fight goes to the ground Ishida will be able to hold Bukyung for a ground and pound.

Bukyung just doesn’t have the martial experience as a mixed arts fight as of yet. He fought Shinya Aoki at Yarennoka last December when JZ had to pull out due to a knee injury. He still needs time in the ring to mature.

Look for Ishida to expose Bukyung once this fight goes to the ground.

Katsuhiko Nagata vs Autur Oumakhanov

Oumakhanov is a big puncher and swings for the fences and I actually like him in this fight. I think he has more than a punchers chance and will surprise Nagata. I think Oumakhanov is a smaller version of Igor Vovchanchyn and has the strength and power to hurt Nagata in the stand up. If Oumakhanov keeps this fight standing and is able to avoid Nagata shoot attempts he should be able to hurt Nagata.

Nagata is a wrestler but his stand up and grappling skills are average. He will try to stand up and trade with Oumakhanov but that will be a mistake.

Look for Oumakhanov to shock the world with a first round KO of Nagata

Andre "Dida" Amade vs Eddie Alvarez

Andre "Dida" Amade is a very big puncher and he will be fighting former Bodog Fight champion Eddie Alvarez (12-1) Alvarez is a very big puncher with better striking and strength than Dida. Dida has the advantage in kicking as he comes from the famous Chute Boxe fight club. Dida does have a better ground game but both fighters will want to stand up and fight.

Alvarez should be a underdog in this fight but I like his power and striking ability. He has a very fast pressing attack and will move in to avoid Dida’s kicks. Yes Dida has fought better fighters like Gesias Calvancante, Caol Uno but I think this fight will turn into a stand up fight.

Take Alvarez to dominate with his technical superior striking skills for an upset victory over Dida.

Hayato Sakurai vs Hidetaka Monma

Hayato Sakura (31-7-2) is a top ten lightweight fighter and he will be fighting Hidetaka Monma (14-7-3). Hidetaka Monma has a weak chin and Sakura is a very heavy puncher. He has so much experience in the ring and there is nothing Monma has that will surprise Mach Sakura.

Hayato Sakurai will be able to dominate in the stand up and Sakurai has that small compact frame that will make it hard for Monma to submit him.

Look for Sakura to win by decision

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