Shinya Aoki set a high standard that would be hard to follow in most world stages let alone the rest of this card, as the final Lightweight GP quarter final match set off the festivities and was then followed up by a great Middleweight GP in which an old star fell hard while newer stars keep rising.

He looks like Clark Kent, dresses like the joker and is a Superman of submissions, Shinya Aoki is a tricky foe to conquer.

Aoki vs. Nagata
Aoki began his quest with some leg strikes to the body setting up the opportunity for a takedown but Katsuhiko Nagata was able to stand only to be put down again. Aoki then patiently works his way over the legs sliding up to a full mount as Nagata embraces tightly from beneath trying to avoid the g n p. Looking like a snake with legs wrapping around his prey Aoki finally lunges forward looking for the choke but Nagata is resilient and remains collected. Aoki then brings his right leg under, around Nagata's left arm and shoulder, hooking the top arch of the foot over his throat and cranking the neck up for an amazing top mount gogoplata submission. Stop the cameras!

Overeem vs. Lee
After much controversy regarding Alistair Overeem's antics with Mirko Cro Cop, the Dutchman proved he is still a giant of MMA. With low legs kicks to set up his opponent, Overeem circled outside landing a devastating left hook right straight combination followed by a left knee to the body, sinking the Korean opponent effortlessly in under a minute. Overeem is still a scary character to be reckoned with and is refreshing to watch with his lightweight speed and various attack strengths.

Gadzhieyev vs. Ralek Gracie
Although Mirko was his original opponent while Alavutdin Gadzhiev was supposed to confront Alexander Ferrar, Ralek Gracie stepped in with zero notice to fill the gap in this show. Gadzhieyev displayed his powerful striking at the start circling outside the taller man. Gracie moves forward with frontal kicks and tries clinching going for a hip toss but winding up on the bottom and scrambling into his guard till the ref stands them. With a repeat sequence, Ralek gets the bear hug; takedown and then the full mount eventually transitioning into an armbar and a tap out.

Although Darren Uyenoyama had his moments, overall he was mastered by the janitor Hideo Tokoro.

Tokoro vs. Uyenoyama (Stealin The Show)
The Japanese janitor turned MMA star put on a serious display of stamina and technique against the young counterpart Darren Uyenoyama who came out kicking. After avoiding the initial standing attack Tokoro landed a huge knee to Darren's jaw. As the the American staggered backwards Hideo Tokoro dives in looking for a kimura into a triangle choke attempt, omaplata, armbar and then Uyenoyama smiling takes the top, all this within the first two minutes. From inside Tokoro's guard Uyenoyama tries to do some g n p but is neutralized into attempting a standing attack. Tokoro displays great jiu jitsu going for an ankle but eventually taking a couple downward knee shots and a stomp but he scrambles after looking like its gonna end, he stands and then gpulls off a beautiful hip toss. Tokoro then tries another kimura winding up on the bottom again. He defends the g n p and back on their feet Tokoro stuns his opponent and keeps coming with an aerial barrage of knees and combinations cornering Darren and pressing him into the ropes and then the canvass. Now Tokoro is the superman but Uyenoyama has a great rubber guard. They get up and Uyenoyama eats another big knee and winds up taking body shots from the ground and knees to the head until the bell. Tokoro was devastating but his opponent is very tough.

In the second the American plays it safe and ducks for the takedown. From his back Tokoro makes him eat a big foot and the referee stands them for some reason. As Uyenoyama climbs Tokoro’s torso he is slammed back to the floor as Tokoro works high. Back on their feet Uyenoyama lands a roundhouse and he then receives a right and a powerful knee. Back on the floor Tokoro is too tricky and busy avoiding the danger of the much less experienced but talented Uyenoyama as they keep scrapping back n forth till the finish.

The judges saw it correctly in the end awarding the decision to Hideo Tokoro by unanimous decision.

Gegard Mousasi took it to Don Sik Yoon, but Yoon revealed some holes in Mousasi's ground game.

Middleweight GP

Mousasi
A rising MMA star indeed, this man who first stepped in to the tail end of Pride and has been making the rounds in the world stage had a very tough challenge in Don Sik Yoon who was underestimated by the fans. Although Yoon got the initial takedown Mousasi responded well and they tumbled back to their feet as Yoon held on to and isolated the wrist with his back to Gegard Mousasi. As the referee separates them the striking battle ensues from two powerful grapplers. Mousasi lands low kicks aiming for the taped knee and then they are temporarily on the ground and then standing again. As Yoon’s leg is visibly shaken, it is back to the floor. And this sequence just keeps repeating itself until Mousasi gets him in a crucifix and starts landing knees. But Yoon vies for the top position, sinking in his hooks looking for the arm bar while Mousasi responds with knees. Yoon on the brink of victory cannot extend the arm and Mousasi breaks free. It is a very close fight as Yoon closes stronger than the Dutch Man.

The younger man looked fresher going into round two as he came out with a high kick and Yoon eats a knee going for a takedown. Exposing his back and turtling up Mousasi responds getting in leg hooks and striking until the referee pulls a stop don't move, in which Mousasi secures a figure four around the torso raining rabbit punches to the tired Korean who keeps defending while his opponents legs go numb. Mousasi is trying to ride for the easy victory perhaps realizing he can't finish the work himself, he takes it to the judges for a unanimous decision.

Galesik vs. Kin By Dislocation
This Russian Japanese encounter was brief but action packed as the aggressor without a doubt was the Russian who rushed out into battle pressing his Japanese opponent who responded with knees and a strong clinch till a break. This was the end for Taiei Kin as he ate a left high kick, then going for a mutual toss, his right arm bends outward and back at the elbow on the way down and he verbally tells the referee "no mas" in Japanese.

Jacare was able to completely frustrate MayheM's game plan.

The Big Fight
In a highly anticipated contest for American and Brazilian fans, Jason Miller and Brazilian jiu Jitsu star Ronaldo Jacare did not disappoint and delivered one that lived up to the expectation.

They both came out striking and scrambling for some sort of ground control but both men tumbled in clinched acrobatically remaining neutral against the ropes until Jacare assumed a slight comfort zone staying up high on Millers body after a trip into the half guard, to side position while trying to pass the full guard and then going for an ankle lock after a reversal by Miller. The rest of the round was a back n forth as the American tried to utilize his reach advantage going for the power shots but winding up on his back yet again. Once again the Brazilian got he full mound and was reversed eventually scrambling for another ankle and then knee lock. This sequence repeated itself as Miller showed some great bridging but got himself caught in a figure four trying to survive a Mata Leon. Finally Jacare got the full mount with the American shifting relentlessly for survival, exposing his back again as Jacare rode high looking for an arm to crank. Miller finally gets out of the tight figure four and gains side control trying to inflict damage in the corner. Brought back to the center for the final minute and a half of round one with Jacare embracing tightly from the bottom trying to avoid the Americans pass and eventual knee to head and frontal guillotine attempt.

In the first it was definitely Jacare who was going for the submissions while the American was striking, but in the second Jacare surprises and lands a beautiful right high kick which backs up the fatigued looking Miller as he clinches after dropping to a knee. Jacare tries to roll for a knee and eventually almost pushes Jason through the ropes. What ensues is Jacare testing his jabs and kicks and pressing with the clinch. Miller looking quite exhausted has no remedy for the Brazilian athlete’s well-rounded game; going for broke in the last two minutes swinging for the fences. The Brazilian remained composed avoiding the conflict and finally charging forward slamming down Miller who attempts a guillotine. Miller then becomes more ragged, escaping a side choke, but being basically schooled into the finish. It was a great athletic encounter with all three judges seeing it eye to eye unanimously for the Brazilian.

In the main event of the evening, Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba confronted the dangerous thick Dutch striker Melvin Manhoef. After an action less minute in which both men measure the danger Manhoef eventually tags Saku with a big right high kick to the mug followed by an intense attack and the finish of a legends return. This finish was somewhat similar to the quick finish KJ Noons earned in the EliteXC show, but instead the referee gave the man in the bottom a chance to respond. Although Saku tried to grasp a leg, he was already badly hurt and was finished by a knee to the head followed by elbows. A sad moment for a legend and the Japanese fans whose last hope in the GP was this man.

Over all it was a pretty exciting show with a talented middleweight division from which to expect much in the future. Will it be Manhoef who put an end to Saku’s luck? Will it be Mousasi, who is looking more and more unbeatable, although he revealed some holes? But there is still Brazilian jiu jitsu star Jacare and the Russian Galesik who seems to have displayed more luck than talent so far, and that is not to say that he lacks talent. This sets up only so many combinations for the MW GP semi finals.

After the battles subsided, it was time for the Lightweights to have their fates put up to random choosing as the semi final match ups were decided inside the ring.

With angel wings the fate of the Lightweights was chosenn on the stage after the show.

Dream.5 - 'Lightweight Grand Prix Card Is Set'
Eddie Alvarez first stormed into the MMA scene by way of Lou Neglia's Ring Of Combat, a show that has since become a Cleveland of sorts, a gateway to greater MMA shows. One fight that never happened was Eddie against Luke Cummo who was then a silent rising ninja who eventually entered the UFC octagon.

Although Eddie has never traveled through the octagon, this very wise young man who fought until recently as a welterweight is perhaps the top American lightweight in the world. He will now be facing Tatsuya Kawajiri in the semifinals of the Lightweight Grand Prix at Osaka Dome next month. Having overcome one of the toughest fighters in the tournament, Joachim Hansen in the first round, Alvarez will surely be poised for the next step towards the title. Alvarez' only loss was to "The Goat" Nick Thompson who is a species of much larger proportions who easily walks around at a near two hundred lbs.

Meanwhile it will be a clash of the old versus the new, which seems to be the stage we are currently experiencing in the evolution of MMA. With eleven wins in a row against only the best, Shinya Aoki who submitted with pure artistry in Dream.4 last weekend will be taking on another famous legend of Japanese MMA who once fought to a draw for the UFC belt against BJ Penn. Now Caol Uno will prove if he got away with the buckle or the leather, either way the odds are always against a veteran with such a long ring life and wear and tear as was witnessed in the Sakuraba defeat, although to a very different type of adversary.

Either way the stage is set and somehow it feels like it's going to be Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinja Aoki in the finals, although we surely cannot count out either Kawajiri or Uno.

DREAM.4 - 06/15/2008 : Other Photos & Official Results >>