DREAM 11 aired earlier this morning on HDNet.
Shinya Aoki’s slick submission game caught Joachim Hansen in the waning seconds of their lightweight title fight. With 30 seconds to go, Aoki trapped one of Hansen’s arms and in an attempt to escape, Hansen allowed Aoki to finish the hold with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Aoki became the first Japanese-born DREAM champion.
Bibiano Fernandeswon the featherweight championship after defeating Hiroyuki Takayaby split decision (2-1).
Kazushi Sakuraba returned to the ring with an expected submission victory over Rubin Williams. Sakuraba started the match early throwing leg kicks, before shooting in and taking down Williams, worked into side control and worked his kimura hold to earn the tap.
Featherweight tournament favorite Joe Warren was eliminated in controversial fashion against Fernandes in the semifinals. Fernandes caught Warren in an armbar, and had the hold in deep.
Warren appeared to lightly tap on Fernandes’ shorts, maybe in a sign of tapping out or an attempt to position.
Either way, Fernandes started to release the hold, and the referee stopped the bout, much to Warren’s dismay.
Fernandes was visibly upset about something following the bout, flipped Warren the bird and stormed out of the ring, before sticking his middle finger back at Warren one last time before going back up the ramp.
Takaya defeated Hideo Tokoro by TKO in the second round in the other semifinal.
In the Super Hulk tournament, Ikushia Minowa overcame a large challenge in Hong Man Choi, baiting the big man to the mat and locked on a heel hook to advance to the Super Hulk finals at Dynamite, where he will take on Sokoudjou who made quick work of Bob Sapp.
DREAM lightweight contender Tatsuya Kawajiri was victorious against Melchor Manibusan, and Kazuyuki Miyata defeated Daiki Hata in the DREAM featherweight reserve bout.
FULL RESULTS:
- DREAM featherweight grand prix reserve bout: Kazuyuki Miyata defeated Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata by unanimous decision. (3-0).
- DREAM featherweight grand prix semifinal: Hiroyuki Takaya defeated Hideo Tokoro by TKO (R2 0:32).
- DREAM featherweight grand prix semifinal: Bibiano Fernandes defeated Joe Warren by armbar (R1 0:43).
- DREAM Super Hulk semifinal: Ikuhisa Minowa defeated Hong Man Choi by heel hook (R2 1:27)
- DREAM Super Hulk semifinal: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou defeated Bob Sapp TKO (R1 1:30)
- Tatsuya Kawajiri defeated Melchor Manibusan by TKO (R1 3:48).
- Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Rubin Williams by kimura (R1 2:43)
- DREAM lightweight championship: Shinya Aoki defeated Joachim Hansen by armbar (R2 4:56)
- DREAM featherweight grand prix final: Bibiano Fernandes defeated Hiroyuki Takaya by split decision (2-1).
