The Weekly Wrap: March 14 - March 20

Odds and Ends

• Dream announced that No.2 ranked lightweight Shinya Aoki, who debuted at welterweight in defeating David Gardner on March 8, will face Hayato Sakurai in the first round of its welterweight grand prix on April 8. In other tournament news, Yuya Shirai defeated Yoon Young Kim on a DEEP card on March 14 to earn a spot in the bracketing as well.

• Dynamic wrestler Jon Jones (8-0) looks to build off his virtuoso performance last January against light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar when he takes on Jake O’Brien at UFC 100 on July 11 in Las Vegas. Also on the show, Dong Hyun Kim has signed to face Jonathan Goulet at welterweight. Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago is rumored to be in the works in the 170-pound ranks as well.

• Jason Guida, brother of Clay Guida, has been signed to face Bobby Lashley on Saturday’s “March Badness” pay-per-view promoted by Roy Jones Jr. in Pensacola, Fla. Jones Jr. played peacemaker during a face-to-face shoving match between Guida and Lashley during a press conference this week. Lashley's original opponent, Ken Shamrock, was disqualified from competing after it was revealed that he failed a test for steroids administered following his Feb. 13 fight for Wargods in Fresno, Calif.

• Kim Couture confirmed that she will be competing on the May Strikeforce card on Showtime in Washington state. An opponent and date have not yet been announced.

• Tapout announced this week that a special, open-to-the-public tribute has been planned on April 14 for Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., at the 3,000-seat Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. Lewis was killed in a car accident on March 11 in Newport Beach, Calif. Tributes have continued to pour in for the charismatic face of Tapout, including a 10-bell salute at a World Championship Fighting card on March 14 in Massachusetts.