DREAM + Affliction to co-promote MMA event in Japan?
By Jim Murphy April 16th, 2009Potentially big news if the information is accurate–our Eastern Europe correspondent Edo Balic gives us the following information from a major Croatian newspaper (Jutarnji list). Reporting on Mirko Cro Cop’s near term plans they indicate that he’s planning to fight Overeem in Japan at a DREAM/AFFLICTION co promoted event:
“Cro Cop: I’ll revenge Overeem in July”
Despite being out of the action for all of 2009, Cro Cop is getting more offers than ever before in his career.
A total of five MMA organizations (Two Japanese and three American) would like to see Cro Cop fight for them. Cro Cop, for now, is leaning towards Dream. He wants to return to the ring as soon as possible but all options remain on the table.The only certainty is a bout in a Affliction – Dream co-promotion in Japan on 20th July. Mirko will be fighting Alistar Overeem. Their last fight left us with more questions than answers. These two competitors will finally meet in July.
Other notable names on that card include Fedor Emelianenko. The worlds best heavyweight will meet American Jeff Monson. Josh Barnet and Andrei Arlovski will also battle it out.
“I’m looking forward to fighting Overeem on 20th July and I cant wait to enter the ring. July is still a long way off. In the next few days I will know more about my schedule for 2009. I want to fight at least another four times this year, and I plan to fight five times in 2010.” – explains Mirko adding that this year will mark his return to form.
There’s been much speculation about an Affliction show in July, and a co-promotional event with DREAM in Japan is definitely intriguing. Even more intriguing is future DREAM/Affliction cooperation. Basically, we’d love to see Shinya Aoki fight here in the US…
One other interesting angle is the suggestion that Alistair Overeem will be defending the Strikeforce heavyweight title in early summer. In theory he could probably fight June 6th in the US for Strikeforce and in late July in Japan. Or Strikeforce could enter the mix and make the Cro Cop/Overeem fight a heavyweight title defense.
We reported on Overeem’s plans to defend the Strikeforce heavyweight title here:
Overeem to defend Strikeforce heavyweight title this summer @ THE SAVAGE SCIENCE
Original source of the Affliction/DREAM story here:
Affliction/DREAM MMA co-promotion in the works? @ Jutarnji list newspaper (in Croatian)
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I will be in japan in july and would love to go to the Affliction/dream promotion how can i get tickets and how much please
April 24th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Right now its still at the ‘rumor’ stage–the best suggestion I have is to check back here at SAVSCI often since once its officially announced we’ll have all of the information you need.