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Dream (mixed martial arts)#Events

{{short description|Mixed martial arts organization}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Dream11

| logo = Drmlogo.JPG

| type = Private

| foundation = {{start date|2008|02|13}}

| defunct = {{End date|2012|06|03}}; revived: {{Start date|2012|10|25}}

| founder = Sadaharu Tanikawa (President of FEG)|

| predecessor = Pride

| successor = Rizin

| location_country = Japan

| location_city = Tokyo

| key_people = Keiichi Sasahara, Head and Matchmaker
Daisuke Sato, Productions Director

| industry = Mixed martial arts promotion

| parent = Real Entertainment Co. Ltd.

| homepage = {{URL|http://www.dreamofficial.com}}

}}

Dream (styled DREAM in capitals) was a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group.

Dream replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. It retained many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC broadcasts, including fight introducer Lenne Hardt.

They promoted over 20 shows highlighting Japanese and international talent, establishing or enhancing the careers of fighters such as Shinya Aoki, Gesias Cavalcante, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Ronaldo Jacaré, Eddie Alvarez, Jason Miller, Kazushi Sakuraba, Gegard Mousasi and Alistair Overeem.

History

{{more citations needed|section|date=July 2023}}

=Formation=

After Zuffa acquired Pride, former Dream Stage Entertainment executives put on a collaborative New Year's Eve mixed martial arts event with Shooto, M-1 Global, and the Fighting and Entertainment Group, called Yarennoka!. While the event was intended to be a farewell show for Pride, its success and further petitioning by Japanese MMA fans prompted the FEG and the DSE staff to combine their efforts and form a new promotion.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Their new promotion was confirmed on February 13, 2008, along with Hero's dissolution. All of Hero's' fighters were confirmed (such as Hero's champions Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Akiyama and JZ Calvan) to be part of the new promotion along with the additions of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, Shinya Aoki, Kazushi Sakuraba, Mitsuhiro Ishida, and Hayato "Mach" Sakurai.{{cite web |url=http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5691&zoneid=1 |title=K-1's new Dream includes Cro Cop |publisher=Mma Weekly |date=February 13, 2008 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203015848/http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5691&zoneid=1 |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }} Another notable announcement was Dream's partnership with M-1 Global, who confirmed that they would allow the last Heavyweight Champion of Pride (and the winner of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix), Fedor Emelianenko, to fight in their events. Emelianenko was present at the Dream press conference to promote the alliance between the two shows.{{cite web|first=Tony |last=Loiseleur |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/pictures.asp?n_id=11302 |title='Dream' Come True? |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=February 13, 2008 |access-date=February 25, 2009}}

=Partnerships=

On May 2, 2008, Dream aired for the first time in the United States with a repeat of Dream 1 on HDNet. A repeat of Dream 2 was aired the following day, while Dream 3 was aired live on May 11. The promotion's later events would air as a part of the network's HDNet Fights series.{{cite web |url=http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6167&zoneid=13 |title=Mark Cuban's HDNET to air Japan's Dream |publisher=Mma Weekly |access-date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203015853/http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6167&zoneid=13 |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }}

On May 10, 2008, Dream announced the working partnership with US promotion EliteXC. The two groups intended to share fighters and eventually co-promote shows. However, with EliteXC went bankrupt before the alliance could materialize.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6248&zoneid=13|title=PRO ELITE & Dream ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP|year=2008|access-date=June 11, 2008|publisher=MMAWeekly|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527113043/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6248&zoneid=13|archive-date=May 27, 2008}}

On August 5, 2009, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that the two promotions had signed a formal alliance, in-which the two organizations will exchange fighters.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=9288&zoneid=2|title=Strikeforce and Dream Formalizing "Alliance"|year=2009|access-date=August 5, 2009|publisher=MMAWeekly}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On, November 23, 2011, sources close to ONE Championship announced a new alliance with Dream to copromote shows and participate in fighter exchange.{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/11/28/dream-one-fc-announce-deal-to-co-promote-events-exchange-talen/|title=Dream, One FC Announce Deal to Co-Promote Events, Exchange Talent|date=November 28, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2011|publisher=mmafighting.com}}

On January 17, 2012 ProElite announced a partnership with Dream to copromote shows and exchange fighters.{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/17/proelite-to-partner-with-dream/|title=ProElite to Partner With Dream|date=January 17, 2012|access-date=January 17, 2012|publisher=mmafighting.com}}

=Cease of business operations=

On May 16, 2012, Sadaharu Tanikawa officially declared the bankruptcy of FEG.[http://www.muaythaitv.com/pages/news/news.php?s_id=2289 FEG's bankruptcy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609075703/http://www.muaythaitv.com/pages/news/news.php?s_id=2289 |date=2012-06-09 }}, May 17, 2012, Muay Thai TV The promotion began to be managed by its proper parental company Real Entertainment Co. Ltd. and as of June 3, 2012, Dream has effectively gone out of business.{{cite web |url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/the-dream-is-gone-japanese-mma-promotion-runs-out-of-viable-options|title=The Dream is Gone; Japanese MMA Promotion Runs Out of Viable Options|date=June 3, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2012|publisher=mmaweekly.com}}

The promotion's final show, "Dream.18: Special NYE 2012", was announced for December 31, 2012, under the financial backing of kickboxing promotion Glory Sports International. The event promoted mixed martial arts and kickboxing bouts at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, carrying on the tradition of fight events every New Year's Eve.{{cite web|first=Josh |last=Gross |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/8551353/glory-sports-international-revives-new-year-eve-fight-event-japan |title= GSI fight card set for Dec. 31 in Japan |publisher=ESPN.com |date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}

Rules

=Weight classes=

Dream had 7 weight classes. Unlike Hero's, each weight class had a champion with a defendable title.

  • Bantamweight – {{convert|61|kg|lb|0}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Dream-Fight-For-Japan-Bantamweight-Tournament-Bracket-Set-31784 |title=‘Dream: Fight For Japan’ Bantamweight Tournament Bracket Set |last=Loiseleur |first=Tony |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2011-04-20 |access-date=2011-04-20}}
  • Featherweight – {{convert|65|kg|lb|0}}
  • Lightweight – {{convert|70|kg|lb|0}}
  • Welterweight – {{convert|76|kg|lb|0}}
  • Middleweight – {{convert|84|kg|lb|0}}
  • Light Heavyweight – {{convert|93|kg|lb|0}}
  • Heavyweight – no upper limit

=Round length=

  • There were three 5-minute rounds.

=Judging=

  • Fights were to be judged in their entirety by three judges, not on a round-by-round ten-point-must basis (more common to North American promotions).
  • A winner was always to be declared, as draws were not possible.

=Attire=

Dream allowed fighters latitude in their choice of attire, but open finger gloves, a mouthguard and a protective cup were mandatory. Fighters were allowed to use tape on parts of their body or to wear a gi top, gi pants, wrestling shoes, kneepads, elbow pads, or ankle supports at their own discretion, though each had to be checked by the referee before the fight.

=Fouls and violations=

  • Stomps and soccer kicks to the head of a grounded opponent were not allowed (unless both fighters were on the ground), but they were allowed to the rest of the body.
  • Elbows to the head were prohibited.
  • If there was a {{convert|15|kg|lb|0}} or more weight difference between the fighters, knees to the head of a grounded opponent were not allowed.
  • A grounded opponent was defined as one in a three-point position. If a fighter had, for example, both knees and one hand on the floor facing the mat, then no kicks to the head were allowed.
  • Strikes to the back of the head were not allowed.

=Tournament substitutions=

  • In case of a "no contest" or injury, the fighter able to continue would go through to the next round; if neither fighter was able to continue, the promoter would choose a replacement fighter to go through.

Final champions

{{main|List of Dream champions}}

class="wikitable"
Division

! Upper weight limit

! Champion

! Since

! Title Defenses

Heavyweight

| Unlimited

| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Alistair Overeem

| December 31, 2010 (Dynamite!! 2010)

|

Light Heavyweight

| {{convert|93|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Gegard Mousasi

| September 25, 2010 (Dream 16)

| 1

Middleweight

| {{convert|84|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Gegard Mousasi

| September 23, 2008 (Dream 6)

|

Welterweight

| {{convert|76|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Marius Zaromskis

| July 20, 2009 (Dream 10)

| 1

Lightweight

| {{convert|70|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Japan}} Shinya Aoki

| October 6, 2009 (Dream 11)

| 2

Featherweight

| {{convert|65|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Japan}} Hiroyuki Takaya

| December 31, 2010 (Dynamite!! 2010)

| 2

Bantamweight

| {{convert|61|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Bibiano Fernandes

| December 31, 2011 (Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoko 2011)

| 0

=Tournament finalists=

class="wikitable" border="1"
Year

! Weight Division

! Champion

! Finalist

2008

|Lightweight || {{flagicon|Norway}} Joachim Hansen || {{flagicon|Japan}} Shinya Aoki

2008

|Middleweight || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Gegard Mousasi || {{flagicon|Brazil}} Ronaldo Souza

2009

|Welterweight || {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Marius Zaromskis || {{flagicon|USA}} Jason High

2009

|Featherweight || {{flagicon|Brazil}} Bibiano Fernandes || {{flagicon|Japan}} Hiroyuki Takaya

2009

|Superhulk (openweight)|| {{flagicon|Japan}} Ikuhisa Minowa || {{flagicon|Cameroon}} Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

2010

|Light Heavyweight || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Gegard Mousasi || {{flagicon|Japan}} Tatsuya Mizuno

2011

|JP Bantamweight || {{flagicon|Japan}} Hideo Tokoro || {{flagicon|Japan}} Masakazu Imanari

2011

|Bantamweight || {{flagicon|Brazil}} Bibiano Fernandes || {{flagicon|USA}} Antonio Banuelos

Notable fighters

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Bantamweight=

=Featherweight=

=Lightweight=

{{col-2}}

=Welterweight=

=Middleweight=

=Light Heavyweight=

=Heavyweight=

{{col-end}}

Events

In America, the promotion was aired on HDNet.{{cite web |url=http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/column/200802/at00016352.html |title=新格闘技イベント「Dream」誕生！ミルコの参戦も決定3.15さいたまで旗揚げ、総勢23選手が会見に出席 |publisher=Sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp |date=2008-02-14 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217230708/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/column/200802/at00016352.html |archive-date=February 17, 2008 }}

class="sortable wikitable succession-box" style="font-size:90%;"
scope="col" | #

! scope="col" | Event Title

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Arena

! scope="col" | Location

! scope="col" | Attendees

! scope="col" | Broadcast

align=center| 24

| Dream 18{{cite web |url=http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/news/63 |title='GLORY teams up with Dream to stage 'Dream 18 - Special NYE 2012'|publisher=GLORYWorldSeries.com |date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2012-10-24}}

| {{dts|2012|December|31}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 10,651

| SkyPerfect

align=center| 23

| Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011

| {{dts|2011|December|31}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 24,606

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 22

| Dream 17

| {{dts|2011|September|24}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 9,270

| HDNet

align=center| 21

| Dream: Japan GP Final

| {{dts|2011|July|16}}

| Ariake Coliseum

| Tokyo, Japan

| 8,142

| HDNet

align=center| 20

| Dream: Fight for Japan!

| {{dts|2011|May|29}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 6,522

| HDNet

align=center| 19

| Dynamite!! 2010

| {{dts|2010|December|31}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 26,729

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 18

| Dream 16

| {{dts|2010|September|25}}

| Nippon Gaishi Hall

| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

| 9,304

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 17

| Dream 15

| {{dts|2010|Jul|10}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 13,028

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 16

| Dream 14

| {{dts|2010|May|29}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 12,712

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 15

| Dream 13

| {{dts|2010|March|22}}

| Yokohama Arena

| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

| 13,712

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 14

| Fields Dynamite!! The Power of Courage 2009

| {{dts|2009|December|31}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 45,606

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 13

| Dream 12: Cage of Dreams

| {{dts|2009|October|25}}

| Osaka-jo Hall

| Osaka, Osaka, Japan

| 10,112

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 12

| Dream 11: Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round

| {{dts|2009|October|6}}

| Yokohama Arena

| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

| 14,039{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/aoki-subs-hansen-fernandes-wins-dream-gp-20173|title=Aoki Subs Hansen; Fernandes Wins Dream GP|author=Tony Loiseleur}}

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 11

| Dream 10: Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round

| {{dts|2009|July|20}}

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| Saitama Super Arena

| 11,970[http://sherdog.com/news/news/dream-run-zaromskis-wins-grand-prix-18622 Dream Run: Zaromskis Wins Grand Prix]

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 10

| Dream 9: Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 Second Round

| {{dts|2009|May|26}}

| Yokohama Arena

| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

| 15,009

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 9

| Dream 8: Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 First Round

| {{dts|2009|April|5}}

| Nippon Gaishi Hall

| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

| 9,129

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 8

| Dream 7: Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 First Round

| {{dts|2009|March|8}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 19,528{{cite web |url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8342&zoneid=13 |title=HELLO JAPAN! SHINYA AOKI WINS AT Dream 7 |last=DiPietro |first=Monty |date=March 8, 2009 |publisher=MMAWeekly.com |access-date=March 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311005941/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8342&zoneid=13 |archive-date=March 11, 2009 }}

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 7

| Fields Dynamite!! 2008

| {{dts|2008|December|31}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 25,634

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

align=center| 6

| Dream 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round

| {{dts|2008|September|23}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 20,929

| SkyPerfect; HDNet

align=center| 5

| Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round

| {{dts|2008|July|21}}

| Osaka-jo Hall

| Osaka, Osaka, Japan

| 11,986

| SkyPerfect; HDNet

align=center| 4

| Dream 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round

| {{dts|2008|June|15}}

| Yokohama Arena

| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

| 14,037

| SkyPerfect; HDNet

align=center| 3

| Dream 3: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round

| {{dts|2008|May|11}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 21,789

| SkyPerfect; HDNet

align=center| 2

| Dream 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round

| {{dts|2008|April|29}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 21,397

| SkyPerfect; HDNet

align=center| 1

| Dream 1: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round

| {{dts|2008|March|15}}

| Saitama Super Arena

| Saitama, Saitama, Japan

| 19,120

| Tokyo Broadcasting System; HDNet

Event locations

  • Total event number: 24

These cities have hosted the following numbers of Dream events as of Dream 18:

  • {{flagicon|JPN}} Japan (24)

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

: Saitama – 15

: Yokohama – 4

: Nagoya – 2

: Osaka – 2

: Tokyo - 1

{{div col end}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.dreamofficial.com}}

{{MMA organizations}}

{{Dream Championships}}

{{Dream Events}}

Category:2008 establishments in Japan

Category:Organizations established in 2008

Category:Defunct mixed martial arts promotions

Category:Mixed martial arts events lists

Category:2012 disestablishments in Japan

Category:Organizations disestablished in 2012

ja:DREAM (格闘技イベント)