strikeforce and DREAM lightweight fighter, "JZ" Cavalcante was unsuccessful in his return to the United States, after four years away, competing mostly overseas in the land of the rising sun. Though a strong showing, nonetheless, the American Top Team product was bested by former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson, though the bout wasn't without controversy. After a strong first round, where both fighters had their moments, it looked like "JZ" had picked up the momentum as he was able to knockdown the San Jose fighter with a thunderous right hook, following up with a tight guillotine choke, though there wasn't anything behind the submission hold. After a second round taken by Thomson, the Brazilian came back in the third, mounting Josh, working in ground-and-pound before closing out the round, which had "The Punk" on his back for the entire round. In the end though, Josh was declared the winner. While "JZ" might by irked by the loss nonetheless, he will still be able to find some solace in knowing there will not be any financial issues in part with Strikeforce, though he can't say the same for the Japanese based organization, DREAM. ...

DREAM, in a lot of peoples opinion, is the worlds greatest Japanese organization. With a depth of talent in several weight classes, and some of the best production in the business, there should be no reason explaining why the promotion has struggled--but struggled, they have. After rating dips, fall out from sponsors, and constant financial woes, it appears that paying fighters in an effective and timely matter is their next area of least-expertise. The most notable case, current DREAM featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes has only just been paid for his last outing, a successful title defense against former DREAM lightweight champion Joachim Hansen. The bout took place in March of this year--almost 7 months ago. The norm, as far as compensation goes which is detailed in their contracts, is for said fighter to be paid within 30 days post-fight. ...

Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (16-2) further expanded the common MMA repertoire Sunday at DREAM.4 when he tapped Katsuhiko Nagata (4-3) in a gogoplata from the full mount at 5:12 of round one. Adorning his sprayed-on, gaudy long johns, Aoki scored two takedowns, mounting Nagata on the second.  Aoki pounded his victim as Nagata bucked. Aoki wasn't going anywhere! He smothered Nagata and slipped his foot out of nowhere into the pretzel that ended the fight, advancing Aoki to the Lightweight Grand Prix semi-finals. “If you want to be the legend, you have to kill the legend," "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) said after slaying "Gracie Hunter" Kazushi Sakuraba (24-11-1) with a kick in the first round and advancing to the Middleweight Grand Prix semi-finals. "That’s what I did today.” Manhoef finished the Japanese legend with a knee to Sakuraba's head from side control followed by hammerfists to his face before the referee ended the fight. ...

DREAM announced on Thursday that newcomer Ralek Gracie (1-0) will replace "Cacareco" Alexandre Ferreira (16-5) at 15 June's DREAM.4 event in Yokohama. Ferreira was scheduled to fight Alavutdin Gadzhiyev (7-1) of Russia. Gracie was originally slated to face "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) in a modified Abu Dhabi rules grappling match; but, the fight was cancelled when "Cro Cop" withdrew due to injury, a report that Nokaut has confirmed. "Cacareco" was removed from the card reportedly because he was unable to obtain a visa for travel. ...

A modified Abu Dhabi-rules grappling match between heavyweights "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) and Ralek Gracie (1-0) was cut from 15 June's DREAM.4 undercard Monday. Neither Filipovic nor DREAM announced a reason for canceling the match. However, several MMA media outlets have reported that Macedonia-based news organization Dvenik had reported Filipovic withdrew due to an elbow injury re-aggravated during his preparation for the match; but, the report is apparently no longer published at the Dvenik website. Filipovic announced on 8 May that he would fight “Geronimo” Jerome LeBanner (3-1-1) at DREAM.5 21 July.  No announcment has been made by Filipovic or DREAM regarding the status of that fight. ...

DREAM heavyweight "Cro Crop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) has agreed to grapple with young Ralek Gracie (1-0) at DREAM.4 15 June, according to Nokaut. The match will be governed by modified Abu Dhabi rules featuring two five-minute rounds and no points system. Unless there's a tapout, the result will be declared a draw. Filipovic told Nokaut he prefers a points system in which he could score with throws and takedowns, but looks forward to testing his grappling. Filipovic is scheduled to fight kickboxer "Geronimo" Jerome LeBanner (3-1-1) at DREAM.5 21 July, originally scheduled for DREAM.4. ...