DREAM 15 Live Results and Sleep Deprived Rambling

Ok, to start with, I know I mentioned some of these fights in my MMA You Want To Watch story on Monday.  Well, honestly, I'm not real sure who exactly Mousasi is fighting now.  First, Jake O'Brien missed weight.  Supposedly, DREAM asked Ricco Rodriguez to step in.  Rodriguez was supposed to fight Overeem tonight, but everyone except FEG knew Overeem wasn't fighting this weekend.  So then I see the news that Rodriguez isn't fighting Mousasi, and O'Brien is back in the fight.  This whole experience is a bigger clusterf*** than the M-1 debacle that also livened up the week.  Since I have no idea what is truth and what is rumor at this point, I'm just going to run my coffee directly into my veins, try not to wake anyone else in the house, and watch some great fights.  War Aoki, Omigawa, Manhoef, Mousasi!! 

Rumored Offical fight card for DREAM 15:

Shinya Aoki (23-5) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5) 

Katsunori Kikuno (13-2) vs. Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante (14-3)

Gegard Mousasi (28-3) vs. Jake O'Brien (13-3)

Tatsuya Mizuno (7-5) vs. Melvin Manhoef (24-7)

MIchihiro Omigawa (10-8) vs. Young Sam Jung (0-2)

Mitsuhiro Ishida (18-6) vs. Daiki "DJ.taiki" Hata (11-6)

Kazuhiro Nakamura (14-10) vs. Karl "Psycho" Amoussou (11-2)

    Before the event actually begins, I would like to say that, while I am officially pulling for Aoki to win tonight (this morning), I was absolutely bowled over by this pic of Kawajiri on Head Kick Legend:

Ok, now that that's out of the way, the show is beginning!

Well, looks like no white cage tonight.  And unfortunately, Frank Trigg is sharing commentation duties with Schiavello.  I have nothing against Trigg, but he talks too fast and it's hard to follow him. 

Wow, apparently O'Brien went from 226 to 212lbs basically overnight.  He is fighting tonight, it's going to be at a catchweight since O'Brien is still over.  But if he dropped that much weight that quick I wonder what kind of fight it's going to be.  He's going into the fight with a yellow card, which means he's already lost 10% of his fight purse.

Wow, the intro was relatively simple this time around.  Lots of kids shown for some reason.  They're introducing all the fighters, and I'm reminded how much I love Lenne Hardt with her insane screaming. 

Ok, finally, first fight. 

Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Karl Amoussou

Round one:  Wow, early agression by Amoussou with several kicks to the body and legs.  Now some good punches.  Nakamura gets a takedown, has Amoussou on his back.  He can't do much in Amoussou's guard, though.  He lands the occasional elbow but Amoussou is keeping him pretty tied up.  Wow, some crazy scrambling, and they're back on their feet.  Now a decent flurry from Nakamura, but Amoussou isn't fazed.  Amoussou tries a takedown but ends up on his back again.  Nakamura with a bit of ground and pound, the longer this round goes the more of those strikes and elbows are hitting.  Amoussou is throwing some shots from his back, but they don't seem to be doing much.  Both guys look tired, this 10 minute first round is really taking it's toll on them.   Well, with a minute and a half left in the round, the ref stands them up and I think he yellow cards Amoussou.  Now both men are throwing good shots.  Amoussou lands a nice knee to Nakamura's face.  They clinch for a bit, and the round is over.  Nakamura totally controlled that round.

Round two:  Both fighters are tired.  Amoussou goes for a jumping knee that misses and looks like crap. Nakamura goes for a single and gets the takedown, and we're back on the ground again.  Oh, triangle attempt from Amoussou, but it's not working.  Back to guard for Amoussou.  Ground and pound from Nakamura.  Amoussou tries for a kimura but lets it go almost immediately.  It almost gets exciting, then they're back with Nakamura in Amoussou's guard punching him in the face.  Ref stands them up again, and yellow cards Nakamura this time.  Nakamura lands a nice shot to the body, a good punch, and Amoussou almost gets him with a guillotine... but no.  And they finish out the round on the ground.  Another round for Nakamura, I'd say.  And the judges say... Nakamura!  Yeah, that was pretty obvious.

Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. DJ.taiki

Round one:  Wow, nice hook then straight to takedown from Ishida.  He moves from half guard to side control fairly easily.  Now he's got an arm triangle, but it's not really locked in.  taiki is out of it, Ishida landing some nasty punches.  Now Ishida with an armbar attempt, but taiki spins like crazy and gets out of it.  Now they're up, and Ishida  takes a couple of kicks to the body.  taiki tries another kick and Ishida catches it, back to the ground.  Ishida with some good shots from taiki's guard.  taiki back to his feet, but Ishida takes him down again and gets side control.  Too close to the ropes, the ref moves them back toward the middle.  Ishida works his way to half guard, then back to side control.  More punches to taiki's head.  taiki gives up his back, Ishida takes him down again... and is in taiki's guard.  Wow, I'm losing track of how many times taiki gets up and Ishida takes him back to the ground.  Ishida takes taiki's back again, then moves back to side control.  What? Schiavello just said Ishida is showing more control than an episode of Get Smart...  and the round is over. 

Round two:  Well, it went to the gound immediately.  taiki is now throwing some nice shots from his back, and manages to cut Ishida.  Sweet upkicks from taiki too.  But Ishida takes his back again.  Now Ishida has the mount, finally.  But he's just laying there.  I'm waiting for the yellow card.  Now, some punches to taiki's head.  taiki lands a nice upkick, and he's on his feet!  A nice punch... then Ishida takes him down again.  Vicious punches from both men on the ground.  Ishida's ear is cut badly.  More punches, then the fight is over.  There is no way Ishida lost this fight.  Yep, and the judges agree.  Ishida by decision.

Michihiro Omigawa vs. Young Sam Jung

Jung's tattoos are amazing.  Love them.

Round one:  Omigawa is crazy energetic.  He's throwing some good punches, not many landing though.  Oh, Jung is down, Omigawa hit him with several hard shots and put him on the ground.  Omigawa is holding him on the ground, then turns into a guillotine!  Jung manages to get to his feet, and Omigawa is still holding him.  Finally Omigawa lets go, he's back into Jung's guard and landing shots.  Jung goes for an armbar! Omigawa spins out though, and back into Jung's guard.  The ref stands them up, and yellow cards Jung.  Omigawa is now landing tons of shots to the face and body, and Jung goes back to the ground with Omigawa on top of him.  Omigawa in side control throwing shots to the body.  He has a choke... and Jung taps!!  Omigawa wins by submission!!

Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Melvin Manhoef

One of the best parts of watching a Manhoef fight is watching him getting psyched up beforehand.  It's freakin' great, with his coach yelling at him until he starts yelling back.  It's like watching Bruce Banner turn into the Hulk.

Round one:  Mizuno looks a little jerky.  Manhoef lands a couple of good punches.  Mizuno is rocked but goes for a takedown.  Doesn't work.  And Manhoef is back to doing what he does, hitting him hard.  Mizuno manages to get Manhoef to the ground finally.  Mizuno with an armbar attempt but he loses it.  Manhoef stands back up, they're both on their feet, but Mizuno is trying for another takedown.  It's tough but he gets it, and Manhoef is on his back.  Mizuno lands some ugly punches to the head.  Now some body shots, and Mizuno gets the mount... and loses it, moving to side control.  Mizuno is trying for a kimura, but Manhoef gets loose.  He's trying for it again, and landing knees to the head (which still looks odd to my American self).  Manhoef needs to get up but just can't.  Armbar attempt, and Manhoef gets out of it!  Now they're up again, and Mizuno is throwing punches, Manhoef is down!  He's not responding, but the ref doesn't stop it. Mizuno has the arm again, he's twisting it... Manhoef tapped!!   Mizuno wins by submission.  I'm sad. Great freakin' fight, though.

Jake O'Brien vs. Gegard Mousasi

Round one:  O'Brien looks like hell on toast, but I can't remember if that's how he normally looks or not.  Mousasi, however, looks fantastic.  Ok... O'Brien goes for a takedown first thing, but Mousasi manages to work it into a guillotine... and O'Brien freakin' taps!!!  Holy crap!!  That was great, but far too short.  I am, however, more convinced than ever that it wasn't Mousasi we saw fight King Mo in Nashville.  There was a pod under that cage.  Go watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers, you'll understand.

Intermission time, as if it wasn't hard enough to stay awake. 

Almost time to restart, and for some reason Caol Uno is coming to the ring while a crappy cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit plays.  He is announcing that he is going to drop to featherweight and fight for DREAM one more time, and he says it might be his last fight.  Interesting.  He'll be fighting at DREAM 16 in September.

Katsunori Kikuno vs. Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante

Cavalcante trains with ATT, so he's got my vote already.  And he just hopped the top rope to get into the ring.  Nicely done.  Kikuno comes in to a crappy cover of We Are the World.  Hrm.  Not what I would have picked to get psyched for a fight, but oh well.  I just realized how tired I am because I'm really rambling now.  Sorry.

Round one:  JZ throws a few nice shots and tries a kick, but Kikuno catches it.  They clinch and JZ with a nice knee to the chest.  The ref finally breaks up the clinch and restarts them.  JZ catches a kick from Kikuno, they clinch again, another knee from JZ.  Again the ref restarts them.  JZ gets a takedown and goes to side control immediately.  Kikuno manages to get to his feet.  Kikuno's hands look lazy.  Nice kick from Kikuno, blocked by JZ.  And Kikuno lands a nice shot to the jaw of JZ.  JZ trying for a takedown, gets it and gets half guard.  Nothing really happening right now except a couple of body shots from JZ.  JZ tries to get the mount and Kikuno spins to his feet.  They're tied up again, in the corner, and the ref restarts.  JZ lands a punch that puts Kikuno on one knee for a second, then he's back up.  Now Kikuno gets the takedown, and JZ is on his back...  and the ref moves them away from the ropes.  Kikuno lands some body shots, and JZ is working on a sub for a moment then back to closed guard.  Both men land some good punches, then JZ is back up and the fight is back on it's feet.  Kikuno tries some kicks but can't connect with them.  Another kick to the body by Kikuno, and that one lands.  They clinch again against the ropes, and the round ends.  I would have to say Kikuno did more that round but I don't trust my own judgement right now. 

Round two: JZ with a nice right, Kikuno kicks to the body and JZ catches it and takes him down.  JZ gets the mount and Kikuno can't shake him.  Now Kikuno spins and gives up his back, JZ has a choke but can't sink it tight enough.  He lets it go but still has Kikuno's back.  Now JZ has a body triangle, and tries for the rear naked again but Kikuno is holding his wrists.  JZ is not giving up his hold, even when Kikuno stands and tries to shake him off.  Back to the body triangle and attempted choke.  Kikuno stands again and tries to get JZ off of him, and finally gets loose and stands up... just in time for the round to end.  Dunno how the scoring will go, but I don't think JZ did enough in round 2 to win it.  Split decision, and it goes to JZ!  I'm surprised, but happy. 

Shinya Aoki vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri

This one is for the DREAM lightweight championship. And no magic pants on Aoki tonight (this morning). 

Round one: Aoki shoots immediately, and gets Kawajiri's leg... he's got him tight, but Kawajiri is kicking Aoki in the face.  Aoki isn't letting go.  He's twisting the foot badly.  Kawajiri looks like he's hurting... and he taps!!!  Aoki by submission!  Good lord, I don't think that a single standing punch was thrown in that fight.  Aoki's face is beat up from those nasty kicks, though.  

After the fight, Aoki announced that he's getting married.  His gf is in the crowd, she's adorable but she's super embarrassed to have the camera on her.  So much sweetness from the man who pulled a Sakuraba on his opponent, and held that sub for as long as it took.  Kawajiri had to be helped out of the ring.    Aoki also just announced that he will be fighting Melendez again in DREAM 16...  I thought Melendez was out until like December or something, and was then maybe going to fight Alvarez?  It's late, I'm confused. 

Great fights tonight, worth losing sleep for, but I've lost enough now and it's time for bed.  Night all!!