YOKOHAMA, May 26, 2009 -- Greco-Roman wrestling champion Joe Warren upset local favorite Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto today at the DREAM.9 Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 Second Round.
"Kid Yamamoto is a champion, and I respect him," said the 32 year-old American from the winner's circle, "but a lot of these champions have been on top for a long time, and it's my job to crush them!"
Yamamoto, who had not fought since New Year's Eve 2007, got a bye in the Featherweight GP's first round. His return to action from knee surgery was the big story on tonight's card -- but Warren had his own ideas regarding the ending.
The tone for this one was set during the referee's pre-fight instructions, when Yamamoto appeared ready to hug his opponent. Warren accepted a handshake but swatted away Yamamoto's second hand. This was a hard-fought bout that went the distance.
Warren started light on his feet, and Yamamoto sent him reeling with an early front kick. The American reset, and closed with uppercuts before getting the first of his throwdowns from the clinch. Repeatedly, Warren the wrestler closed for takedowns. Yamamoto, who has a pretty good ground game himself, elected to stand and strike here, and made a strategy of meeting his opponent's advances with kicks, knees and the clinch. Warren accepted, going into the over-and-under clinch and trading knees with the Kid.
When he did get the fight to the mat Warren was mean -- frequently guillotining and mashing Yamamoto's face then standing to slam. By midway through the first Yamamoto was bleeding from the bridge of the nose, by the end of the bout more blood was flowing from a gash under his left eye.
Yamamoto too often waited for Warren to close then tied him up, and the Japanese fighter was shown a yellow for this. A solid right hook and right straight punch scored points for Yamamoto, but Warren was overall more intrepid; and had the better stuff on the mat, particularly when he managed side mounts to bring the knees in and hammer down punches.
Yamamoto was still very much in this going into the second, but again he let his opponent control the flow and pace. Yamamoto's dandy right hook might have turned the tide, but Warren shook the blow off, smiled and continued pressing.
One judge did give it to Yamamoto, but the other two went with Warren.
"It's a win, we'll take it!" beamed Warren in his post-fight interview. "I'm honored to beat a champion like Kid Yamamoto! This was the Featherweight GP quarterfinal, so now we'll put this win behind us and concentrate on coming back and winning those other belts!"
Continued Warren: "I know my technique is not as solid as it should be, I need to learn how to stop some kicks, but I'm working hard, and the most dangerous thing is that I get better every single day!
"It was a split decision," sighed Yamamoto his post-fight interview, "but he was on top of me a lot, so I admit I lost the fight. He's a very good grappler, and I couldn't punch him as much as I hoped. But I hadn't fought for a long time, and I learned a lot tonight."
Warren vs Yamamoto was one of four elimination bouts in the 63kg/139lbs DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix 2nd Round -- the marquee attraction at tonight's mixed martial arts event. The Yokohama Arena also hosted four "Super Hulk" David vs Goliath battles; a Lightweight contest featuring Brazilian MMA star JZ Calvan; and, in the Main Event, a DREAM Middleweight title match between Ronaldo Jacare and Jason "Mayhem" Miller.
Also in the Featherweight tournament, Brazilian jiujitsu master Bibiano Fernandes took on Masakazu Imanari of Japan.
Fernandes, in a crouch, repeatedly went for the leg takedown here. And repeatedly, Imanari dropped to defend with bicycle kicks, which Fernandes grabbed and kicked at some but was otherwise reluctant to pass. Plenty of tension but an overall lack of engagement through the first until Fernandes ducked a flying knee and took a side mount with a minute remaining, putting in only a few off-target uppercuts and knees to end the first frame.
A similarly listless second -- Fernandes got the win, but the fighters lost the room.
Happily for the crowd of 15,009, there were thrills galore when Japanese grappler Hideo Tokoro took on Abel Cullum, a 22 year-old American with a postmodern penchant for sideburns and cowboy hats.
Spirited sparring to start before a clumsy Cullum leg takedown attempt left the pair tied up in what can only be described as the pretzel position. Plenty of creative twisting and tumbling through an unorthodox first, Tokoro getting close to a triangle choke at one point, Cullum approaching a heel hook when they went north-south for a spell. Neither could finish but both had great chances, reversals and strikes.
Cullum started the second with a single leg takedown but Tokoro ended up with a good rear position that the fatigued Cullum could not break. With Cullum's corner shouting for a sweep, Tokoro tightened his grip, and when his opponent attempted to stand brought up the arms for a rear naked choke to force the tapout.
In the final Featherweight GP contests, Yoshiro Maeda of Japan tangoed with compatriot Hiroyuki Takaya.
Maeda took an early half mount here but Takaya's defenses were sound and soon the pair were standing and striking, both getting a few punches in on target. Maeda had better results with his second mount, passing with punches and knees. When the boys got back on their feet it was Maeda again with the superior stuff, and now Takaya was bleeding badly from above the eye. With the clock running out on the first Takaya was stuck in the corner and Maeda was pumping in knees -- when in a flash everything changed.
Takaya dodged a blow, and, with Maeda going the other way, ducked out of the corner and to his feet. Maeda turned and followed with fists but Takaya landed a devastating right cross on a counter. Maeda's knees buckled and he went down in a heap. A revitalized Takaya leapt in to hammer at his unresponsive opponent, bringing the referee forward to stop the fight just 20 seconds before the bell.
With their victories tonight, Warren, Fernandes, Tokoro and Takaya advance to the September Featherweight GP semifinals.
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