DREAM Confirms Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yan Cabral for Sept. 24th
By FCF Staff
DREAM has announced today that 42 year-old veteran Kazushi Sakuraba (pictured) will face the undefeated 28 year-old Yan Cabral at the promotion’s upcoming September 24th card in Saitama, Japan.
DREAM 17 will be hosted by the Saitama Super Arena. No North American broadcasting plans for the event have been confirmed yet.
Sakuraba (26-15-1) will be looking to end a three fight losing streak, the longest of the Pride veteran’s career. Since submitting Zelg Galesic with a first round, kneebar in October, 2009, the Japanese fighter has recorded losses against Ralek Gracie, Jason Miller and most recently Marius Zaromskis.
The loss to Zaromskis occurred on this past New Year’s Eve, and was via doctor stoppage, due to a severe tear Sakuraba incurred in his ear.
Cabral (9-0) hasn’t competed since October, 2010, when he submitted Djordje Beric while competing on a Strength and Honor Championship card in Switzerland. The Nova Uniao, BJJ black belt has primarily competed on the European circuit since he began fighting professionally in 2007.
DREAM 17, which will feature the opening round of the promotion’s world bantamweight grand-prix, now has 10 bouts confirmed for the event.
Here is the line-up to date.
Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals
Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum
Hideo Tokoro vs. Antonio Banuelos
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Takafumi Otuska
Rodolfo Marques vs. Yusup Saadulaev
Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough
Yan Cabral vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Joachim Hansen vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Willamy Freire vs. Satoru Kitaoka
Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno
Gerald Harris vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
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