On Monday, July 20, 2009, the leading Japanese combat sport promoter FEG will host DREAM.10 - Welterweight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This will mark the conclusion and crown the winner of DREAM's welterweight MMA tournament. The DREAM welterweight division has a 76 kilograms (168 pounds) weight limit, where the UFC and other North American promotions use a 77 kilograms (170 pounds) weight limit. DREAM.10 will be broadcast live in North America on HDNet this Monday beginning at 12 a.m. PST / 3 a.m. EST (that's late Sunday night, early Monday morning for those who are looking to stay up late).

The four finalists in the first ever DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix is an interesting and contrasting mix of background, experience, and style. This will be a true world Grand Prix as four continents will be represented in the finals. Hayato Sakurai of Asia (Japan), Marius Zaromskis of Europe (Lithuania), André Galvão of South America (Brazil), and Jason High of North America (United States) will represent their continents and nations, as they look to establish which region will reign supreme in DREAM.


Hayato Sakurai (Japan) vs. Marius Zaromskis (Lithuania)

The favorite heading into this 8-man tournament in April was Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, who is from Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Since earning a successful armbar victory over UFC star Caol Uno in both of their MMA debut at Shooto in 1996, Sakurai has gone on to become one of the most successful fighters in Japan's long history of MMA. His extensive MMA resume, which sports an impressive record of 35-8-2, includes victories over former Icon Sport middleweight champion Frank Trigg, former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne, former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver, current DREAM lightweight champion Joachim Hansen, and TUF 6 welterweight champion Mac Danzig. In Sakurai's last three outings, he has earned victories over 4-time UFC veteran and jiu-jitsu black belt Kuniyoshi Hironaka and DREAM veteran and pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata, before notching one of his more publicized and convincing wins in the opening round of the Welterweight Grand Prix at DREAM.8 in April. That win was a much hyped rematch with Japanese rival and MMA superstar Shinya Aoki. Sakurai won their first match in 2005 via decision, but left no question in April as he gained a second victory over Aoki with a vicious TKO in 27 seconds.

Sakurai will face the Lithuanian fighter Marius "Raging Demon" Zaromskis in the semi-finals. Zaromskis is from Šakiai, Lithuania and trains at London Shootfighters based out of London, England, United Kingdom. While training in England he became a regular competitor for the Cage Rage organization, where he notched wins over TUF 3 veteran Ross Pointon and "dojo storming" legend Damien Riccio. He then won fight in Shooto in his native Lithuania before he was invited to the DREAM welterweight tournament. At DREAM.8 in April, he became an instant Japanese fan favorite, after he entered the arena dressed like the Japanese "Street Fighter" video game character Akuma. He went on to win the opening round bout against 10-year MMA veteran Seichi Ikemoto via Unanimous Decision. The crowd pleasing "Akuma" entrance and victory over the local favorite Ikemoto, earned Zaromskis the nickname "Raging Demon". This is the name of Akuma's finishing move in "Street Fighter", as the Japanese media say Zaromskis has the same fighting style as the video game character. He will look to further cement his name in the Japanese media with a clash with Japanese MMA legend Sakurai to determine who faces the winner of Galvão vs. High later in the night to be crowned the DREAM welterweight champion.


André Galvão (Brazil) vs. Jason High (United States)

The other half of the Final Four features André Galvão. Galvão is from São Paulo, Brazil and he's widely regarded as one of the world's finest black belt jiu-jitsu practitioners. He has won the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) seven times, the Pan American Championship seven times, and placed third in the 2007 ADCC World Championship in both the -77kg division and Absolute division. Since making his MMA debut less than a year ago (August 30, 2008), he has earned a flawless 3-0 record, winning all three of his bouts via armbar. In the opening round of the Welterweight Grand Prix at DREAM.8 in April, Galvão submitted 11-year MMA veteran John Alessio via armbar at 7:34 of Round 1. Shortly after the bout, Galvão's manager Ed Soares (who also manages Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, and many other MMA stars), reported that Galvão would be headed to Strikeforce. He stated that Galvão is signed to both DREAM and Strikeforce and Strikeforce let him participate in the DREAM welterweight tournament.

Galvão will face the American fighter Jason High in the semi-finals. High is from Kansas City, Missouri and he was a Division I wrestler out of the University of Nebraska, which is the same school that produced Matt Lindland. High started 2009, as one of the most "highly" touted prospects in MMA, as he sported a perfect 6-0 record, won the VFC welterweight title, and earned notable wins over UFC veterans Kevin Burns (TKO) and James Giboo (Rear Naked Choke). That high note, however, was halted suddenly and violently at the hands and fists of Jay Hieron at Affliction - Day of Reckoning at the end of January. After losing via KO in 64 seconds to Hieron, High quickly signed on to be part of DREAM's welterweight tournament. In the opening round at DREAM.8 in April by quickly submitting DEEP veteran Yuya Shirai in 59 seconds via Rear Naked Choke. He will now look to test his skills against the jiu-jitsu black belt world champion Galvão in a classic match of "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu vs. American Wrestling" to determine who moves on to face the winner of Sakurai vs. Zaromskis later in the night to be crowned the DREAM welterweight champion.


DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals:

-Hayato Sakurai vs. Marius Zaromskis

-André Galvão vs. Jason High


DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout:

-Seichi Ikemoto vs. Tarec Saffiedine


DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Final:

-Hayato Sakurai/Marius Zaromskis winner vs. André Galvão/Jason High winner


Non-Welterweight Grand Prix Bouts:

-Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro vs. Shinya Aoki (Lightweight Bout)

-Andre Amade vs. Kikuno Katsunori (Lightweight Bout)

-Paulo Filho vs. Melvin Manhoef (Middleweight Bout)

-Dong Sik-Yoon vs. Jesse