Most of the video is in Japanese but it does feature English segments with Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who faces one of his idols Kazushi Sakuraba on Sept. 25.
The event features a light-heavyweight championship bout between Gegard Mousasi vs. Tatsuya Mizuno, and features a lightweight non-title bout between Shinya Aoki vs. Marcus Aurelio. DREAM.16 will be broadcast on HDNet for fans wanting to see the event from the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
If already-announced opponents Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Kazushi Sakuraba didn’t make for a colorful enough main card at DREAM 16, fans can now add submission specialist Shinya Aoki’s unique ring attire and trademark entrance to the vibrant line-up slated for the September 25th event.
Over the weekend DREAM-promoter FEG announced Aoki would put his high-level Jiu-Jitsu skills up against a fellow blackbelt at the art of tapping opponents out, Marcus Aurelio, in a non-title affair.
Aurelio has won four of his last five bouts including two straight and is 20-8 in his career. Seventeen of his victories have come by way of a finishing performance, including thirteen submissions with his most notable victim being Takaonori Gomi in 2006.
His opponent, Aoki, is also 4-1 over his previous five in-ring appearances with the only loss coming to Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez this past April.
Additionally, DREAM also revealed Joachim Hansen will face Hideo Tokoro at the show, while “Lion” Takeshi Inoue will fight Kazuyuki Miyata in hopes of getting back on the winning track after a split decision loss to Hatsu Hioki at a Shooto event in May.
At a press conference in Japan, the DREAM promotion announced several of it’s upcoming bouts for it’s DREAM.16 event, set for Sept. 25. The company released this promo video today officially announcing a middleweight bout between Kazushi Sakuraba (26–13–1(2)) and Jason “Mayhem” Miller (23-7, 1 NC).
Sakuraba is 1-2 in his last three fights, all under the DREAM banner, losing to Ralek Gracie at DREAM.14 by unanimous decision. He submitted Zelg Galesic at DREAM.12 and Rubin Williams at DREAM.11.
Miller, meanwhile, is 1-1 with 1 no contest, having beaten Tim Stout at Strikeforce: Nashville this spring. The loss was a Strikeforce middleweight title fight against Jake Shields in November of last year, Shields earned a unanimous decision against Miller. The No Contest was against current Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo Souza, where “Mayhem” used an illegal kick causing a TKO at DREAM.9.
Jason “Mayhem” Miller will face mixed martial arts legend Kazushi Sakuraba as part of DREAM.16 on September 25 from Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya Japan and you have to think that Miller is thrilled. Sakuraba has been someone that Miller has wanted to face for some time, and now he’ll get his chance.
Also announced is the addition of Joe Warren who will face Michihiro Omigawa, and who is also still scheduled to fight Joe Soto on September 2nd as part of Bellator 27. The main event bout will feature a light heavyweight title matchup between Gegard Mousasi vs. Tatsuya Mizuno and we’ll update this story as news comes out.
Though Jason “Mayhem” Miller has found a good deal of success in MMA against respected opposition, the host of MTV’s “Bully Beatdown” is perhaps known for his showmanship as much as his well-rounded set of skills. On September 25th, Miller will have a chance to put both to the test, as HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon recently announced via Twitter that Miller will be facing the one and only Kazushi Sakuraba at DREAM 16 in Nagoya, Japan.
Similar to Miller, the 41-year old Sakuraba is not only known for being a fantastic grappler who embodies the sport’s “warrior spirit” like few others, but also as someone who has been wowing audiences throughout his career with entertaining entrances and pre-fight antics guaranteed to draw a smile on any onlooker’s face.
The man who once hid an Xbox in his pants during a weigh-in and often dons a pro-wrestling style mask en route to the ring also happens to be 26-13 with notable wins over larger competition like Kevin Randleman, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Ken Shamrock, and Vitor Belfort (not to mention his domination of the Gracie family in PRIDE’s earlier years).
Miller had recently been lobbying for a bout against Strikeforce 170-pound champion Nick Diaz as a result of their in-ring altercation last April but saw the opportunity go up in smoke this week when it was announced Diaz would be fighting KJ Noons instead this October. However, the 23-7 “Mayhem” has expressed a great deal of admiration for Sakuraba in the past and shouldn’t disappoint when it comes to preparation for the grizzled veteran or matching the Japanese icon’s humorous behavior.
DREAM 16 will air on HDNet and is also scheduled to feature a bout between featherweights Joe Warren and Michihiro Omigawa, as well as Gegard Mousasi looking to win his second consecutive bout since falling via decision to “King Mo” Lawal at “Strikeforce – Nashville” earlier this year.
With his grudge match on hold, Jason "Mayhem" Miller will tide himself over by fighting an MMA legend.
The colorful Strikeforce fighter will returns overseas to face Kazushi
Sakuraba at DREAM.16, which takes place Sept.
25 at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
HDNet Fights today announced the fight, as well as a previously reported
fight between Tatsuya Mizuno and Gegard Mousasi
for the first-ever DREAM light-heavyweight
title.
UFC 118 is just around the corner, which is why Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Blair Butler visit the studio with Kevin Pereira to give their analysis of the upcoming fights in Boston, from Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn.
EA Sports released some new video from their upcoming EA Sports MMA video game featuring the walk-ins for Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Fedor Emelianenko, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
On July 24th the APF held the Myrtle Beach Mayhem contest that turned out to be a meet full of talent. We first shine the spot light on the lightest lifter. 105 lb Lindsey Craft went on a ranking rampage!
With his grudge match on hold, Jason "Mayhem" Miller will tide himself over by fighting an MMA legend.