PRO MMA (promma.info) provided live round by round results and updates throughout early Sunday morning, April 5th, for DREAM 8 which took place in Nagoya, Japan.

The event featured eight fighters competing in the first round of a welterweight (75.9kg/166.9lbs) tournament, one featherweight tournament match, and five non-tournament bouts.

Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Jason High, Marius Zaromskis, and Andre Galvao were the winners in the first round of the welterweight tournament. “D.J. Taiki” won the featherweight tournament bout and Jeff Monson defeated the Russian, Sergei Kharitonov in the heavyweight non-tournament bout.

Quick Results:
Katsuyori Shibata def Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa by UD
Andrews Nakahara def Shungo Oyama by TKO (punches) in rd 1
Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro def Katsuhiko Nagata by TKO (cut) in rd 1
Riki Fukuda def Murilo “Ninja” Rua by UD
Jeff Monson def Sergei Kharitonov by sub (choke) in rd 1
Daiki “D.J. Taiki” Hata def Hideo Tokoro by UD
Andre Galvao def John Alessio by sub (armbar) in rd 1
Marius Zaromskis def Seichi Ikemoto by UD
Jason High def Yuya Shirai by sub (choke) in rd 1
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai def Shinya Aoki by KO (strikes) in rd 1

Non-Tournament Bouts:

(88kg/193.6lbs) Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa vs. Katsuyori Shibata
rd.1 – Although the round started with both fighters swinging punches, the fight quickly went to the ground where it stayed the remainder of the time except for a brief moment when the referee stood the men up to issue a yellow card to both men for inactivity. Both fighters attempted ankle locks at one point and it looked as though one or the other may tap out but it did not happen.
rd.2 – Once again the fight quickly goes to the ground and a second yellow card is issued to both men. Shibata looks for a rear naked choke but Minowa escapes and gets back to his feet only to receive a huge suplex just as the round ends and to seal the deal for Shibata.
Katsuyori Shibata defeats Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa by unanimous decision

(Middleweight) Andrews Nakahara vs. Shungo Oyama
rd.1 – Oyama throws a spinning back fist but is too close and Nakahara is able to block. Oyama shoots in at Nakahara but Nakahara evades and trips Oyama to the ground and lands several punches to the head causing the referee to intervene and stop the bout early into round.
Andrews Nakahara defeats Shungo Oyama by TKO (punches) in round 1

(Lightweight) Katsuhiko Nagata vs. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro
rd.1 – Repeated low kicks by Nagata. Shaolin shoots and pulls guard. Shaolin reverses and gets side control and then full mount. Nagata does a great job defending and Shaolin is unable to do much as he switches from side mount back to full mount a few times.. Shaolin finally gets enough control, trapping Nagata’s arm, to land some big knees to Nagata’s head. This cuts Nagata severely and the bout is stopped.
Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro defeats Katsuhiko Nagata by TKO (knees cause cut to head) in round 1

(Middleweight) Murilo “Ninja” Rua vs. Riki Fukuda
rd.1 – Both fighters trade some good leg kicks. Ninja clinches, goes for a trip but ends up on the bottom eating punches and a knee as he stands up. Fukuda wobbles Ninja with big strikes. Ninja is thrown to his back where Fukuda attacks. Ninja attempts a triangle then an ankle lock. Fukuda escapes and Ninja stands up. Ninja clinches with Fukuda and lands multiple shots. Both fighters back to their feet and Fukuda has a small cut that is inspected. Ninja with a single leg takedown and gets side control. Tries to take Fukuda’s back but slides off. Fukuda’s cut is checked again. The men trade punches. Ninja with some knee strikes.
rd.2 – No fewer than six big leg kicks are thrown and landed by Ninja. Fukuda lands a left and begins checking the leg kicks. Fukuda lands some big punches. Ninja is hurt but he clinches and lands some knees of his own. They separate and start to square off as the final bell sounds.
Riki Fukuda defeats Murilo “Ninja” Rua by unanimous decision

(Heavyweight) Sergei Kharitonov vs. Jeff Monson
rd. 1 – Monson immediately shoots and grabs a leg. He drives in and gets side mount where he lands some knees to Kharitonov’s head. Monson sinks in a north-south choke as Kharitonov is hitting him in the head, but the punches get lighter and finally turn to taps as Karitonov taps out.
Jeff Monson defeats Sergei Kharitonov by submission (north-south choke) in round 1

Featherweight Grand Prix round 1

Daiki “DJ.Taiki” Hata vs. Hideo Tokoro
rd.1 – Tokoro lands a couple of punches as he keeps circling Hata. Hata lands a body kick. Tokoro pulls guard. Hata stands up and kicks Tokoro’s leg while holding his foot. Hata is hunting Tokoro with kicks. Tokoro lands a head kick of his own. Big right hand by Tokoro followed by a flying knee. Tokoro lands two head kicks from his back. Tokoro shoots but Hata sprawls. Tokoro rushes in only to eat some big punches. He goes to the ground and Tokoro lands some knees.
rd.2 – Tokoro looking for a standing kimura as Hata picks him up and drops him. Hata punching from top position. Ref stands them up. Tokoro shoots but Hata sprawls. Tokoro’s has a cut check by doctor. Restarted in the clinch and Hata gets the takedown. Hata with punches but Tokoro gets up only to get taken right back down. Hata landing some punches from the guard.
Daiki “D.J. Taiki” Hata defeats Hideo Tokoro by unanimous decision

Welterweight Grand Prix round 1

John Alessio vs. Andre Galvao
rd.1 – Alessio seems hesitant. The feeling out period ends with Galvao shooting in and grabbing hold of Alessio’s leg. They go to the ground but Alessio gets back to his feet. Galvao is still holding Alessio and lands knees to his thighs. Galvao suplexes Alessio and takes his back with hooks in. Galvao gets a figure four lock around the waist. Alessio defending well but Galvao keeps punchin him in the back and side of his head. Alessio finally escapes but Galvao immediately transitions to an armbar. Alessio is forced to defend. He lands some knees to Galvao’s head and he flips over to try and escape. But Galvao holds tight as he is face down now with the armbar, pulls it tight and forces Alessio to tap.
Andre Galvao defeats John Alessio by submission (armbar) in round 1 Galvao is going to be a real force in MMA and this tournament is going to be very exciting with the possibility of he and Aoki meeting.

Seichi Ikemoto vs. Marius Zaromskis
rd.1 – Zaromskis throws a spinning back kick that is caught by Ikemoto. The fighters trade kicks and then clinch with Ikemoto getting the takedown, landing knees from side mount. Zaromskis escapes and gets back to his feet where he throws a leg kick and some high kicks. Ikemoto throws some kicks in return. Both guys are winging punches but nothing really landing. Zaromskis clinches and gets the takedown but strangely stands up. Ikemoto lands a flying knee and has Zaromskis backing up. Spinning back fist thrown by Ikemoto is blocked. Ikemoto lands various kicks and a big right hand. Big leg kick followed by a high kick and a big punch from Zaromskis. More kicks from Ikemoto. Big head kick stuns Ikemtoto. Another kick and several punches has Ikemoto stunned. Ikemoto fires back and hangs on for the bell.
rd.2 – Leg kick by Zaromskis followed by a high kick from Ikemoto. They clinch and Ikemoto falls to his back. Zaromskis does a back flip and tries to land on Ikemoto but Ikemoto lifts up his legs to block. Ikemoto is in Zaromskis’ guard but Zaromskis stands. They trade punches until Zaromskis gets a brief takedown and lands some knees. Back to the feet and trading punches. Zaromskis lands a big right followed by more punches and repeated knees to the head while holding the plum. The bell sounds, Zaromskis lets go the plum and Ikemoto drops to the mat.
Marius Zaromskis defeats Seichi Ikemoto by unanimous decision

Jason High vs. Yuya Shirai
rd.1 – High comes out with a big right uppercut that misses followed by a big left hand and another left hand that sends Shirai to the canvas. High pounces and takes Shirai’s back sinking in the choke. Shirai tries to defend but goes unconscious.
Jason High defeats Yuya Shirai by submission (rear naked choke) in round 1

Shinya Aoki vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai
rd.1 – Sakurai shoots in but Aoki gets lower and seems to have the advantage on the ground, however, Saukurai is able to get side control and deliver a huge knee to Aoki’s head followed by big punches and Aoki is completely unconscious.  The referee checks his pulse. Aokie appears to be ok after a bit and is able to stand and finally congratulate his opponent.
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai defeats Shinya Aoki by KO (knees and punches from the ground) in round 1 I’m not sure anyone expected it to end this fast. Aoki should probably stick to the lightweight class.

By: Jack Bratcher

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