411's DREAM.17: World Bantamweight GP Report 9.24.11

Posted by Mark Radulich on 09.24.2011

Shinya Aoki defeated Rob McCullough via first round submission. Tatsuya Kawajiri made a successful debut a featherweight by submitting Joachim Hansen in the third round. Yan Cabral defeated Kazushi Sakuraba via second round submission. Antonio Banuelos, Bibiano Fernandes, Masakazu Imanari and Rodolfo Marques all moved on to the semifinal round of the DREAM Bantamweight GP. Check out 411’s complete DREAM.17: World Bantamweight GP report for all the details!

DREAM.17: World Bantamweight GP
9.24.11
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan

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MAIN CARD (HDNet)
• Champ Shinya Aoki (69.8 kg/153.9 lb) vs. Rob McCullough (69.8 kg/153.9 lb) – Non-Title Bout
• Joachim Hansen (65 kg/143.3 lb) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (64.9 kg/143.1 lb)
• Takeshi Inoue (65 kg/143.3 lb) vs. Caol Uno (64.9 kg/143.1 lb)
• Yan Cabral (76 kg/167.6 lb) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (75.8 kg/167.1 lb)
• Willamy Freire (69.4 kg/153 lb) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (70 kg/154.3 lb)
• Gerald Harris (84 kg/185.2 lb) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (83.8 kg/ 184.7 lb)
• Antonio Banuelos (61 kg/134.5 lb) vs. Hideo Tokoro (61kg/134.5 lb) - bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal
• Bibiano Fernandes (60.8 kg/134 lb) vs. Takafumi Otuska (60.8 kg/134.1 lb) - bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal
• Masakazu Imanari (60.8 kg/134 lb) vs. Abel Cullum (61 kg/134.5 lb) - bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal
• Rodolfo Marques (61 kg/134.5 lb) vs. Yusup Saadulaev (60.8 kg/134 lb) - bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal
• Baru Harn (115 kg/253.5 lb) vs. Ikuhisa Minowa (87 kg/191.8 lb)

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INTRODUCTION:

We are live in Saitama, Japan!

Tonight's commentary team is Michael Schiavello and Frank Trigg.

OPEN WEIGHT BOUT: Baru Harn (115 kg/253.5 lb) vs. Ikuhisa Minowa (87 kg/191.8 lb)

ROUND ONE: After 30 minutes we are FINALLY ready to begin an actual match…yeesh, talk about over produced. Minowaman shoots for a single and takes Harn down. Minowaman has side control. Minowaman elbows Harn in the upper thigh and waist. He then transitions to full mount. Minowaman transitions to a loose arm bar. He gives that up to look for a different submission from side control. Minowaman moves to the north-south position and then back to side control. Minowaman finishes Harn off with a side neck crank in the ta-da nick of time.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Ikuhisa Minowa by submission (side neck crank) at 4:29 of round 1.

bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal bout: Rodolfo Marques (61 kg/134.5 lb) vs. Yusup Saadulaev (60.8 kg/134 lb)

ROUND ONE: Saadulaev comes out to "I Did It My Way," by Frank Sinatra…insert joke here. Both men exchange kicks. Saadulaev shoots for a takedown. Marques throws his legs up and catches Saadulaev in a triangle. Saadulaev gets himself free and stands up. They clinch and Marques is taken down again. Marques looks for a toe hold or a knee bar. Saadulaev tries to take Marques' back but he reverses, takes Saadulaev's back and then forces him to the mat. Marques works from half guard. Marques delivers a series of hammerfists, but most are not getting through. The round ends with Marques finally landing one hammerfist.

SCORECARD: Marques 10-9

ROUND TWO: Marques lands a leg kick. Saadulaev returns with a left hook and then shoots for another takedown. Saadulaev works from half guard. Marques gets a full sweep and is now in side control. Marques has a an arm triangle. He moves to more of a neck crank and when he can't get that he proceeds to smash Saadulaev in the face. Marques moves to full mount. Saadulaev reverses, however there's not enough action for the ref so he stands them up. Marques misses with a combination of punches and is taken down again by Saadulaev. Marques attempts a toe hold and then an omaplata.

SCORECARD: Marques 10-9

ROUND THREE: They go right to the ground again, this time with Marques on top. Marques transitions into full mount. He postures up and now comes the ground and pound. Saadulaev rolls out from under mount and grabs an ankle lock. Marques changes position to take the pressure off of his foot and ankle. They are at a standstill so the ref stands them up. Marques lands a hard left cross. Saadulaev shoots for a takedown but Marques sprawls. Saadulaev tries again and gets it this time. However, Marques grabs for one last submission before the clock runs out.

SCORECARD: Marques 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – Rodolfo Marques by unanimous decision.

bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal bout: Masakazu Imanari (60.8 kg/134 lb) vs. Abel Cullum (61 kg/134.5 lb)

ROUND ONE: Cullum goes right for a takedown and puts Imanari on his butt. Imanari goes for an omaplata. Cullum lands a few punches from guard. Imanari attempts an arm bar and then a triangle. Cullum stands and slams (sort of) Imanari down, freeing himself from the triangle. Cullums lands to shots in the chest. Imanari attempts another submission from the back. He positions himself out from under Cullum and nearly finishes him with a shoulder lock. Cullum defends and put Imanari on his back. Cullum grinds out the clock.

SCORECARD: Imanari 10-9

ROUND TWO: Cullum goes for an immediate takedown and we're right back to where we left off. They are trading strikes on the ground. Cullum pounds on Imanari's face and chest. Cullum is taking advantage of Imanari's lack of submission attempts for this round. More shots from Cullum but it's not enough for the ref so they are stood up. They go back to the ground and Imanari tries for another arm bar. Cullum defends and resumes the ground and pound offense to end the round.

SCORECARD: Cullum 10-9

ROUND THREE: Imanari lands a clean left hook. Cullum hits a body shot on Imanari. Imanari and Cullum go to the ground again and after 106 attempts finally finishes Cullum off with an armbar.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Masakazu Imanari by submission (armbar) at 0:46 of round 3.

bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal bout: Bibiano Fernandes (60.8 kg/134 lb) vs. Takafumi Otuska (60.8 kg/134.1 lb)

ROUND ONE: This one starts off fast and furious. Otsuka and Fernandes trade punches and kicks until Fernandes ducks a hook and takes Otsuka down. He immediately takes his back and then it's hop, skip and a jump to a rear-naked choke finish.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Bibiano Fernandes by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:41 of round 1.

bantamweight grand-prix quarterfinal bout: Antonio Banuelos (61 kg/134.5 lb) vs. Hideo Tokoro (61kg/134.5 lb)

ROUND ONE: Both men are slow to start off and are having some difficulty finding their range. Both are jabbing but neither is landing anything of significance. Tokoro lands a leg kick. Tokoro has spent the majority of the round circling away from Banuelos. They trade leg kicks. Banuelos is starting to land some punches. They are both admonished by the ref. Banuelos lands an overhand right. Tokoro lands a kick in the face. Tokoro's takedown attempt is stuffed.

SCORECARD: Banuelos 10-9

ROUND TWO: Tokoro comes out jabbing. Banuelos throws a punch and nearly falls over. They exchange power punches. Leg kicks from Banuelos. Tokoro lands a kick in the liver. Tokoro lands a leg kick that stumbles Banuelos. Banuelos smashes Tokoro and knocks him down. Another chopping leg kick from Tokoro. Tokoro lands a left hook. Tokoro hits a step through knee. Banuelos counters and drops Tokoro. Banuelos nails him again and ends the round taking Tokoro's back.

SCORECARD: Banuelos 10-9

ROUND THREE: Tokoro shoots for another takedown but Banuelos sprawls. However, despite defending the takedown Tokoro keeps him on the ground and begins working his submission game from the bottom, which is not good for Banuelos. The ref repositions them in the center but doesn't stand them up (cage > ring). Banuelos escapes and stands up but gets smacked for his troubles. Tokoro kicks Banuelos in the back of the head. Now Banuelos is circling away. Banuelos tackles Tokoro. Tokoro attempts a heel hook but Banuelos rolls through and ends up taking Tokoro's back. The round ends with Banuelos in control.
SCORECARD: Banuelos 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – Antonio Banuelos by split decision.

Middleweight bout: Gerald Harris (84 kg/185.2 lb) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (83.8 kg/ 184.7 lb)

ROUND ONE: Harris and Nakamura go punch for kick to start off. Nakamura clinches with Harris against the ropes. Knee to the body from Harris. Harris has Nakamura against the ropes now. Harris lands a few shots in the corner before backing off. Nakamura slides and delivers a right hand. Harris clinches and then releases. They trade high kicks. Flying knee from Harris ends with Nakamura being pressed into the corner. The ref puts them back in the center. Harris delivers a few more knees to the body. Harris hits another combination of punches to end the round.

SCORECARD: Harris 10-9

ROUND TWO: Harris clinches with Nakamura and works him over in the corner. They release and he does it again. Nakamura reverses the pressure and takes Harris down. Harris stands back up again. Harris is trying for a clean single leg takedown. After about an hour he finally gives it up. I stand corrected as he shoots once again for a single leg. Harris with a knee in the belly. The ref stands them up. They trade strikes before Harris ties Nakamura up again. Harris lifts from Nakamura's waist and takes him down to end the round.

SCORECARD: Harris 10-9

ROUND THREE: Nakamura lands an inside leg kick. He comes forward and now he's the one pushing Harris into the corner. Harris reverses and we are back where we've been the entire fight. Mercifully the ref stands them up. Harris eventually gets a double leg takedown. Nakamura stands up but is pressed into the corner. The ref stands them up (and there was much rejoicing). There's a short trade before Harris shoots for a single leg. The most entertaining aspect of this particular fight is Schiavello trying to convince us that anyone can still take this fight. What a salesman. Harris picks Nakamura up and slams him down (despite the blatant rope grab) to end the fight.

SCORECARD: Harris 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Gerald Harris by split decision.

Yeah, nobody really won that one, certainly not the folks who had to sit through it. Yeesh.

Lightweight bout: Willamy Freire (69.4 kg/153 lb) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (70 kg/154.3 lb)

ROUND ONE: They exchange kicks. Kitaoka shoots for a single leg. Freire is staying up long enough to reposition himself so that we he does go down he can attempt a guillotine. Kitaoka works from half guard. Kitaoka stands up but he won't let Freire up. Freire scrambles but Kitaoka takes his back. The ref stands them up. Kitaoka shoots for another takedown. Freire backs him up against the ropes. Freire breaks free and lands a pair of leg kicks. Kitaoka is circling away. Kitaoka kicks and then gets a takedown to end the round.

SCORECARD: Kitaoka

ROUND TWO: After some flicking and pawing Kitaoka shoots for a double leg. Freire remains vertical but is pressed against the ropes. The ref breaks them up. They exchange high kicks. Freire starting to throw more kicks but Kitaoka attempts another takedown. Freire defends and stays standing. The ref stands them up. Freire misses the flying knee. Another shoot-sprawl sequence but Freire catches Kitaoka with a knee. Kitaoka may be winning the fight but his thigh looks like uncooked beef.

SCORECARD: Kitaoka

ROUND THREE: Kitaoka shoots for a takedown and Freire reverses it, landing on top of Kitaoka. Kitaoka attempts a guillotine but Freire gets away. The ref stops the action due our very first not shot of the night. Kitaoka shoots for a double and then switches to a double (as he's done for over 10 minutes now). They trade leg kicks. LOL Freire just got yellow carded for stalling. Sigh. Freire seems to be awake now and he's throwing more strikes. He wallops Kitaoka and drops him. They stand back up. It's a back and forth affair but Freire can't wrest victory from the jaws of defeat.

SCORECARD: Kitaoka

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Satoru Kitaoka by split decision.

I'm not sure what to think about 3 split decisions in a row…very peculiar.

Welterweight bout: Yan Cabral (76 kg/167.6 lb) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (75.8 kg/167.1 lb)

ROUND ONE: Cabral backs Sakuraba against the fence. Cabral kicks at Sakuraba's leg. Sakuraba counters with punches. Cabral takes Sakuraba down. Sakuraba escapes and they are back on their feet. Cabral ties up Sakuraba in the corner. Cabral takes Sakuraba down with a back trip. Sakuraba tries to roll out from under Cabral but Cabral is sticking with him. Cabral hammers on Sakuraba's face. Cabral flattens out Sakuraba and works from half guard. Cabral gets side control and puts a knee on his belly. Cabral hammers Sakuraba with punches. Cabral ends up back in full guard.

SCORECARD: Cabral 10-9

ROUND TWO: Cabral looking for an opening to KO Sakuraba. Sakuraba returns with a high head kick. Sakuraba unleashes a series of punches but Cabral ties him and takes him down. Cabral is in side control. Cabral locks in an arm triangle and finishes the Gracie Hunter.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – Yan Cabral by submission (arm triangle) at 2:42 of round 2.

Well at least he kept his ear this time. In all seriousness, Sakuraba is a legend and deserves to be treated as such. Nothing more needs to be said.

Featherweight bout: Takeshi Inoue (65 kg/143.3 lb) vs. Caol Uno (64.9 kg/143.1 lb)

ROUND ONE: Inoue lands a series of kicks. Swing and a miss from Uno. Uno shoots for a takedown but Inoue defends. They clinch and Uno lands a glancing blow. Uno scores with a right hand. Inoue smashes Uno and knocks him down. Uno scrambles back to his feet. Uno hits high head kick. Inoue with a hard right hand. Inoue lands a head kick that sends Uno down like a redwood tree. Seriously, he had no clue what hit him.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Takeshi Inoue by KO at 4:17 of round 1.

Featherweight bout: Joachim Hansen (65 kg/143.3 lb) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (64.9 kg/143.1 lb)

ROUND ONE: They start of trading punches. Hansen catches Kawajri with a high left round kick. Kawajiri is stunned. Hansen jumps on him. Kawajiri reverses and gets top position. Kawajiri has and then loses side control. Hansen hammers Kawajiri from the bottom. The ref stands them up. Kawajiri takes Hansen down after a series of jabs. While trying to pass guard Hansen slides out and takes Kawajiri's back. Kawajiri stands up. Hansen stays on his back. Kawajiri grabs an arm and forces Hansen down. Hansen is in danger of being submitted with a kimura. Hansen escapes, bludgeons Kawajiri and gets mount before the round ends.

SCORECARD: Kawajiri 10-9

ROUND TWO: The fighters trade kicks. Kawajiri gets a takedown. Kawajiri gets his arm free and attempts to pass the guard. Hansen looks to be trying to shrimp out. Kawajiri can't seem to get out of Hansen's half guard. Hansen moves Kawajri into full guard. Hansen tries for an armbar. Kawajiri passes into side control and attempts an arm triangle. Realizing he's not going to get it he quickly gives it up and resigns himself to pounding on Hansen to end the round.

SCORECARD: Kawajiri 10-9

ROUND THREE: Hansen is tattooing Kawajiri's chin. Kawajiri ties him up and slows down his offense. Hansen strikes back and drops Kawajiri to one knee. Kawajiri dives for Hansen's waist and takes him down. Kawajiri locks up that elusive arm triangle. Hansen looks to be going night-night. Hansen taps out making this a successful featherweight debut for Kawajiri.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER - Tatsuya Kawajiri by submission (arm triangle) at of round 3.

Non-Title Lightweight bout: Champ Shinya Aoki (69.8 kg/153.9 lb) vs. Rob McCullough (69.8 kg/153.9 lb)

ROUND ONE: Aoki shoots and McCullough sprawls. Aoki forces him down. Aoki hammers McCullough and attempts a guillotine. McCullough escapes but Aoki stays in half guard. McCullough gets back to his feet but Aoki takes him down again. Aoki tenderizes McCullough's face with palm strikes. Aoki gets side control. McCullough spins over and Aoki takes his back. Aoki knees him in the head (while on the ground?) and then finishes him off with a rear-naked choke. WAR AOKI!!!

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – Shinya Aoki by submission at 4:57 of round 1.

Well that does it for this edition of live coverage on 411. As I've stated before I'll be out of pocket starting tonight and for most of October. However, I will pop in for coverage duties on October 7th for MFC 31 on HDNet and on October 14th M-1 Global on Showtime. Until then, enjoy the return of Larry Csonka to PPV coverage tonight for UFC 135 and be nice to some of the new guys that will also be filling in for me.