Filho Returns To Tap Manhoef, Aoki By UD, And Zaromskis Upsets The Welterweights at DREAM.10

Former WEC middleweight champion “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-1) tapped “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-6-1) in an armbar at 2:36 of round one and lightweight “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (18-4) won a unanimous decision over “Shaolin” vitor Ribeiro (20-2) at DREAM.10 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Monday.

Lithuanian “Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (12-2) upset “Mach” Hayato Sakurai (32-9-3) and Jason High (7-2) both with fight-ending head kicks to win the Welterweight Grand Prix.

Returning to Japan after an odd stint in the WEC and returning to MMA after nine months off, Filho was rusty and lucky to exploit the chink that has resulted in three of Manhoef’s six losses: the armbar.

After eating murderous uppercuts and a left hook from the Dutch kickboxing champion, Filho slid into the fetal position in a corner of the ring and Manhoef followed. Filho may have been playing possum as he clammed up on his side and grasped for Manhoef’s wrists as Manhoef tried to sneak punches through Filho’s guard. But, Manhoef wisely stood out of the corner and invited Filho back to his feet.

Manhoef stalked Filho into the ropes, but a nifty hip toss from the clinch put Manhoef on his back with Filho passing from side mount to full mount swiftly. Filho secured Manhoef’s right arm and climbed his mount high on Manhoef’s chest before twisting into the armbar that left Manhoef slapping frantically to end the fight.

Filho won, but it should be noted that he missed weight for the second consecutive fight.

Wearing both trunks and matching leggings in the pattern of the Japanese flag, Aoki fended off Ribeiro, draped in Brazil’s colors, with an incessant left roundhouse kick to the body. Aoki threw little else, most were blocked, and a few were caught and countered with a stiff jab, straight, or single-leg takedown. But, the ones that landed left a red welt on “Shaolin’s” left rib cage, wearing on him and keeping him at bay. Midway into the second round, Riberio planted Aoki with a double-leg takedown, but the “Tobikan Judan” held on in adequate, if dull, defense for the judges’ unanimous decision.

Zaromskis went on a reckless, but effective tear through DREAM’s welterweight contenders, beginning with an almost inconcievable KO of Grand Prix favorite Sakurai. After walking through big punches and returning fire that left Sakurai with cuts over and under his left eye that required a doctor’s opinion, Zaromskis connected his left shin to Sakurai’s skull to move into the final versus High.

After handin Andre Galvao (3-1) his first loss in a split decisino, High crowded Zaromskis early in the final, taking him to the mat twice and controlling the grappling. But, after Zaromskis crawled to his feet, he struck like a scorpion with a right roundhouse kick that put High on his back, limp and unconcious.

Welterweight Katsunori Kikuno (6-0-1) TKO’d “Dida” Andre Amade (1-3) at 3:47 of round one. If Sakurai doesn’t secure a rematch with Zaromskis, Kikuno might step in to challenge the new DREAM champion.

The Ultimate Fighter alum “JT Money” Jesse Taylor (9-2) beat middleweight Dong Sik Yoon (2-7) by submission after Yoon injured his foot one minute into the first round.

Team Quest’s “Sponge” Tarec Saffiedine (2-0) won a two-round UD over Seichi Ikemoto (13-15-4) in the Welterweight Grand Prix reserve fight.