The Dream Continues
Undercard
May 7, 2008
The usual mixed bag of undercard-y goodness awaits all you
dedicated Japanophiles as Dream has put together an assortment of
expected hometown flavors and some not so expected foreign funk
that may mark the return of the bumpasaurus. Now please board the
mothership in an orderly and most funky manner….
First on the agenda is everyone's favorite Surinamese buzz saw, "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (Pictures), taking on Dae Won Kim (Pictures), who is fresh off derailing BJJ golden child Marcelo Garcia (Pictures).
Just as he did against "Marcelinho," Kim (4-3) will have to find a
way to neutralize the offense of a one-dimensional but dangerous
opponent.
Widely regarded as one of the sport's very best strikers, the problem for Manhoef (20-4-1) has always been keeping his bouts on the feet long enough to make use of his muay-Thai-on-crank style. Luckily for the marvelous one, Kim isn't a reference-quality takedown machine and will be ill equipped to handle Manhoef's opening-bell barrage. Bank on Manhoef adding another blink and you'll miss it KO to his resume.
Expect a more sedate affair when Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) tangles with Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures), who is finally getting a logical opponent after surviving his baptism by inferno.
Starting your career against the likes of Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) and Shinya Aoki (Pictures) is about as fair as the price of oil. To Jung's (0-2) credit, though, he more than held his own against opponents who were supposed to embarrass him.
A far more manageable task awaits Jung against Nakamura (13-9), who holds the obvious edge in experience but may be stepping into the fire himself by taking on an exceptionally talented grappler like Jung.
All those near-miss submission attempts Jung had in his first two bouts will come to fruition this time around. He'll score a slick armbar win midway through the first round. Having finally been given an opportunity to showcase his skills, expect Dream to announce that Jung's next opponent will be a starving polar bear. Seriously.
Far less serious is MMA's answer to the Cheshire Cat, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, who will make his Dream debut against New Japan Pro Wrestling convert Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures).
Now far be it from me to disregard anyone giving MMA an honest try, but Shibata's (2-3) time in NJPW clearly wasn't the ideal preparation for his run at legitimate fistic glory. Most MMA fans probably recognize Shibata as "that guy who tripped down the ramp against Sakuraba," and he hasn't given the cognoscenti a reason to forget that Bill Buckner moment.
Miller (20-5) has had a far more legitimate -- and successful -- go of it in the sport of kings who happen to hate horse racing. One of the sport's perpetual vagabonds, he has fought for just about every promotion on the block, all in the name of adding to his growing cadre of "Mayhem Monkeys."
He'll get to add a few more against the criminally overmatched Shibata, whose "strong style" approach will only get him choked out that much faster against the ground savvy Miller. Personally, I can't wait to see what ridiculous piece of jewelry Miller buys with his paycheck.
First on the agenda is everyone's favorite Surinamese buzz saw, "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (Pictures), taking on Dae Won Kim (Pictures), who is fresh off derailing BJJ golden child Marcelo Garcia (Pictures).
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Widely regarded as one of the sport's very best strikers, the problem for Manhoef (20-4-1) has always been keeping his bouts on the feet long enough to make use of his muay-Thai-on-crank style. Luckily for the marvelous one, Kim isn't a reference-quality takedown machine and will be ill equipped to handle Manhoef's opening-bell barrage. Bank on Manhoef adding another blink and you'll miss it KO to his resume.
That or Kim hits a miracle enzuiguri and dedicates his win to the
memory of Owen Hart. Trust me, it could happen.
Expect a more sedate affair when Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) tangles with Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures), who is finally getting a logical opponent after surviving his baptism by inferno.
Starting your career against the likes of Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) and Shinya Aoki (Pictures) is about as fair as the price of oil. To Jung's (0-2) credit, though, he more than held his own against opponents who were supposed to embarrass him.
A far more manageable task awaits Jung against Nakamura (13-9), who holds the obvious edge in experience but may be stepping into the fire himself by taking on an exceptionally talented grappler like Jung.
All those near-miss submission attempts Jung had in his first two bouts will come to fruition this time around. He'll score a slick armbar win midway through the first round. Having finally been given an opportunity to showcase his skills, expect Dream to announce that Jung's next opponent will be a starving polar bear. Seriously.
Far less serious is MMA's answer to the Cheshire Cat, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, who will make his Dream debut against New Japan Pro Wrestling convert Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures).
Now far be it from me to disregard anyone giving MMA an honest try, but Shibata's (2-3) time in NJPW clearly wasn't the ideal preparation for his run at legitimate fistic glory. Most MMA fans probably recognize Shibata as "that guy who tripped down the ramp against Sakuraba," and he hasn't given the cognoscenti a reason to forget that Bill Buckner moment.
Miller (20-5) has had a far more legitimate -- and successful -- go of it in the sport of kings who happen to hate horse racing. One of the sport's perpetual vagabonds, he has fought for just about every promotion on the block, all in the name of adding to his growing cadre of "Mayhem Monkeys."
He'll get to add a few more against the criminally overmatched Shibata, whose "strong style" approach will only get him choked out that much faster against the ground savvy Miller. Personally, I can't wait to see what ridiculous piece of jewelry Miller buys with his paycheck.
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