DREAM (mixed martial arts)

Infobox Company
company_name=DREAM
company_logo=
company_type=Private
foundation=February 13th, 2008
founder=Sadaharu Tanigawa (President of FEG)
location_country=Japan
location_city=flagicon|JPNTokyo
key_people=Keiichi Sasahara, Head and Matchmaker
Daisuke Sato, Productions Director
industry=Mixed martial arts promotion
parent=Fighting and Entertainment Group
company_slogan=
homepage=http://www.dreamofficial.com

DREAM is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group and co-produced with the former PRIDE executives from Dream Stage Entertainment. It is the sister promotion of K-1 kick boxing. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, HERO'S. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from PRIDE FC broadcasts, including fight introducer Lenne Hardt. In America, the promotion is aired on Mark Cuban's HDNet.

History

Pride FC's buyout and Yarennoka!

After the Zuffa buyout of PRIDE FC, the former Dream Stage Entertainment executives put on a collaborative New Year's Eve mixed martial arts show with Shooto, M-1 Global, and the Fighting and Entertainment Group, called "Yarennoka!". This show was intended to be a farewell show of PRIDE FC. However, due to its success and further petitioning by Japanese MMA fans, the FEG and the former DSE staff decided to combine their efforts and form a new Japanese promotion.

HERO's dissolution and DREAM's emergence

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. [ [http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5691&zoneid=1 K-1's NEW DREAM INCLUDES CRO COP - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more ] ] . Another notable announcement was DREAM's partnership with M-1 Global, who confirmed that they would allow the last Heavyweight Champion of PRIDE FC (and the winner of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix), Fedor Emelianenko, to fight in their events (although Emelianenko's future with the company became unclear after Fedor later parted way with M-1 Global) [ [http://secure.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=11698 Fedor’s Free Agency Fallout ] ] . Emelianenko was present at the DREAM press conference to promote the alliance between the two shows. [http://www.sherdog.com/news/pictures.asp?n_id=11302 ‘Dream’ Come True? New Promotion Announced ] ]

Partnership with HDNet

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. All future DREAM events will be airing on HDNet as a part of the network's HDNet Fights series. [ [http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6167&zoneid=13 MARK CUBAN'S HDNET TO AIR JAPAN'S DREAM - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more ] ]

Partnership with EliteXC

On May 10 2008 DREAM announced a working partnership with US promotion EliteXC. The two groups intend to share fighters (Eddie Alvarez and Nick Diaz have both already participated in DREAM events while Kazuo Misaki and Mitsuhiro Ishida have competed for EliteXC) and eventually co-promote shows.cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6248&zoneid=13|title=PRO ELITE & DREAM ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP|year=2008
accessdate=2008-06-11|publisher=MMAWeekly]

Rules

Weight classes

DREAM has 6 weight classes. Unlike HERO's, each weight class will have a champion with a defendable title.
* 63kg/139lb - Featherweight
* 70kg/154lb - Lightweight
* 76kg/168lb - Welterweight
* 84kg/185lb - Middleweight
* 93kg/205lb - Light Heavyweight
* +93.1kg/+205lb - Heavyweight

Round length

* 10 Minute First Round
* 5 Minute Second Round

Judging

* Fights will be judged in their entirety by three judges, not on a round by round 10-point must basis (more common to North American promotions).
* A winner will always be declared, draws are not possible.

Fouls and violations

* Stomps and soccer kicks to the head of a grounded opponent are not allowed (unless both fighters are on the ground), but they are allowed to the rest of the body.
* Elbows to the head are not allowed (neither in standing or ground position).
* If there is a 15 kg or more weight difference between the fighters, knees to the head of a grounded opponent are not allowed.
* Ground position in DREAM means a three point position (both feet and one hand). If a fighter has, for example, both knees and one hand on the floor facing the mat, then no kicks to the head are allowed.

Tournament substitutions

* In case of a "No Contest" or injury, the fighter who can continue will go through to the next round, if neither fighter is able to continue the promoter will choose a fighter to go through.

Notable fighters

Current champions

External links

* [http://www.dreamofficial.com DREAM Official Website]

References