While many fans have likely forgotten the financial woes that FEG, the parent company of both K-1 and DREAM, is currently suffering, due to the recent tragedies in Japan, President Sadaharu Tanikawa expresses some sentiments regarding both matters. It wasn't too long ago that both the K-1 and PRIDE brands were arguably the two strongest entities in the combat sports world, with nearly one-hundred thousand people in attendance at one point to witness a live PRIDE new years end extravaganza. Now, FEG has struggled to secure footing in the combat world since the company sold PRIDE some years ago to the UFC, and now that Japan is in ruins since tsunamis and earthquakes have ravaged the lands, Tanikawa thought it would be fitting for him to address the people who are struggling during this time. ...

It's a scary thing when you hear reports constantly about fighter's not being paid timely, if at all. Or when promoter's speak so publicly and openly about their struggling financial situation. And like the Pride Fighting Championships before it, it looks like DREAM and K-1 will now become a victim due to their hierarchy's lack of success. So now, both the most visible kickboxing promotion in all of the world, and Japan's leading mixed martial arts organization will now cease to exist, and all of this is according to their leading man, President Sadaharu Tanikawa. ...

Japanese fans were treated to a bit of a second Christmas today, as the traditional MMA/K-1 New Year’ Eve super-show “DYNAMITE!!” continued to prove why it’s seen as the be-all and end-all in Japanese MMA year after year. No less than Alistair Overeem, Shinya Aoki, Gegard Mousasi, and Kazushi Sakuraba all competed at the event, with some coming out of the event much better than others. And to continue a tradition of my own, here’s the latest edition of “What’s Next”, featuring DREAM/K-1’s “DYNAMITE!! 2010”. ...

Who wants to wait a day for their MMA action? While most American fans are eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s UFC 125: “Resolution”, Japanese MMA fans were treated to a stacked card featuring MMA, K-1 kickboxing, and even a few “mixed rules” fights. “DYNAMITE!! 2010” has now come and gone, and several important fighters made several important statements at the massive year-end 2010 event. Highlights included Alistair Overeem dominating in classic Overeem fashion and Shinya Aoki being KO’d. So let's get right to it: here are the full results to DREAM/K-1’s “DYNAMITE!! 2010. ...

It’s been rumored to be going down for some time now, and it’s just now been confirmed as official. Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Alistair Overeem will be competed at the upcoming New Year’s Eve “DYNAMITE!! 2010” super-show, a co-promotional effort between Japanese MMA promotion DREAM and famed kickboxing promotion K-1, both of which are owned by parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group. And his opponent? No less than the man that holds the record for the fastest KO in UFC history. Here are all the details. ...

The fifteen-fight DREAM/K-1 “DYNAMITE!! 2010” super-card will combine MMA, K-1 kickboxing, and several unique “hybrid” bouts in a New Year's Eve extravaganza that shouldn't be missed. The event will feature some big names both in Japan and around the world, and as always, I just can’t help but pull out the crystal ball and unleash my inner Nostradamus. So let’s get to it with a new edition of “Picks and Predictions” featuring “DYNAMITE!! 2010”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another edition of “Crash Course”, the series of articles designed to give fans a quick rundown of all the latest upcoming MMA cards. We’re only five days away from the traditional year-end Japanese MMA super-show, “DYNAMITE”, and it’s shaping up to be an amazing card. Many prominent MMA fighters are expected to compete in a card featuring at least fifteen MMA, K-1, and even MMA/K-1 “hybrid” fights. So let’s get right to it and dive into the latest edition of “Crash Course”. ...

Despite rumors of financial instability and an inability to pay contracted fighters, Fighting and Entertainment Group continues to roll towards its “DYNAMITE” event with considerable effort and quite a lot of fanfare. The parent company of both MMA company DREAM and famed kickboxing organizations K-1, FEG is looking to put on a banner event on New Year’s Eve in order to enter 2011 on a promising, uplifting note. But how excited should non-Japanese MMA fans be for this multiple-hour extravaganza? Is the show worth checking out? Not only do I think it is, here’s a Top 5 of my big reasons to give “DYNAMITE” a watch. ...

If there’s one thing DREAM and K-1’s mixed-card New Year’s Eve “DYNAMITE” extravaganza can’t be accused of, it’s an inability to drum up hype. It seems that not a day goes by without some new bit of news surrounding the card or some hot piece of gossip that gets the rumor mill churning. A few days ago I gave my opinion on one such rumor, which hinted that a fight between Bobby Lashley and Alistair Overeem may be going down. It now appears that the rumor was just that, but fear not “Ubereem” fans: another rumor has popped up to take its place, and this one pits Overeem against the man who officially holds the record for the fastest-ever KO in UFC history. Here are all the details. ...

If there’s one thing Japanese MMA promotions know how to do throughout the numerous ups and downs the sport has been faced with lately… it’s how to end the year with a bang. The annual “DYNAMITE” event brings together both K-1 and the Japanese-based MMA promotion DREAM for a mixed-card extravaganza that takes place on New Year’s Eve. Despite the recent rumors of financial woe plaguing both DREAM and K-1, new bouts continue to emerge for the event, some of them being pretty high-profile. Here are all the latest details. ...

It's not exactly mixed martial arts news, but my god it's news nonetheless. A cultural icon in the action movie circuit, Jean-Claude Van Damme looks to make a comeback in his career when he faces Olympic boxer Somluck Kamsing in a K-1 styled match up. Before the glitz and glam of the Hollywood world got Van Damme, which ultimately led to a successful and controversial career that was mired in substance abuse and several nasty divorces, Jean-Claude was an accomplished martial artist on the professional circuit, and he will hope to regain some of his lost allure. ...

Does the general mixed martial arts enthusiast's know who Gohkan Saki is? Probably not. But, if you stay tuned to Strikeforce in the early goings of 2011, you'll become a quick fan. One of the most explosive fighters in the K-1 circuit, the talented striker is currently in the final 8 of the K-1 World Grand Prix, which culminates on December 10th. Saki punched his ticket to the final 8 when he defeated three-time French kickboxing champion Freddy Kemayo. "Crazy Horse" was knocked down early by the eccentric Turk, and after another quick barrage of punches was finished at a little over 2 minutes in the opening round. Training with some of the best strikers and mixed martial arts stars out of the Golden Glory gym in Holland, Saki would like to make an immediate splash in the heavyweight picture. ...

Earlier this year, it was reported that Alistair Overeem would be scheduled to compete in DREAM once again, possibly before his new run through the K-1 Grand Prix circuit. Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, expressed his desire to battle for the Japanese promotions' first-ever heavyweight title. There had been rumors that former UFC belt holder, Andrei Arlovski, was thought to be his opponent in order to vie for the promotion's unheralded title. However, negotiation's fell through and the bout was ultimately scrapped. Now, it looks like one man's loss is another man's gain, and Josh Barnett is reaping the rewards. ...

Although it took awhile to get his place on the card worked out, it seemed as if former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski was well on his way to a possible rebirth in K-1, the most prestigious kickboxing promotion in the world. Arlovski was set to compete at the upcoming K-1 World Grand Prix event. It was first rumored that he would be competing in a non-tournament fight, but a bit later it was seemingly confirmed that Arlovski would indeed be taking part in the famed tournament to crown the world’s best kickboxer. Apparently it was all for naught, as “The Pitbull” himself recently tweeted that he’s out of the Grand Prix and K-1 entirely. Here are all the details. ...

With the rumor a buzz once again, one bout that was said to be taken place at one point in time in DREAM, looks like it can now come to fruition, however, with a few conditions. Current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, who recently defended his title for the first time against knockout artist Brett Rogers last May, was said to be in talks with the Japanese organization in order to vie for the promotion's first ever heavyweight title against none other than Andre Arlovski. ...

It wasn't all that long ago that Fedor was sitting on top of the mountain. A stoic figure sitting on top of the MMA world--the former Pride Heavyweight champion had just began earning his due respect here in the United States, after making a campaign with the now defunct Affliction organization where he dispatched of two former UFC heavyweight champions. Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce in 2009 after his stint with the "T-Shirt" company, he performed in true Fedor fashion when the Russian rallied back in the second round after a rough going in the first with heavyweight standout Brett Rogers last November, marking his debut with the San Jose based organization after knocking out the big man. Now removed after his first legitimate loss in nearly ten years to submission specialist Fabricio Werdum last April, Fedor has turned from King to contender, and thus is now campaigning for his own fights, to make his way back to the top. ...

Strikeforce heavyweight champ “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (27-10) will fight a yet-to-be-named opponent at Glory 11 in Amsterdam 17 October, Fighters.com has confirmed.

Sources close to the Dutch kickboxer also revealed exclusively to Fighters.com that Overeem is considering a kickboxing matchup versus "Dutch Lumberjack" Peter Aerts (1-1) at FieLDS K-1 World GP Final 16 in Seoul 26 September. Since Fighters.com's original post, K-1 has confirmed the Overeem versus Aerts matchup.

Overeem was thought to be nursing an persistently infected hand resulting from a bar brawl in Amsterdam last May that kept him from defending his Strikeforce title from “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) in San Jose 15 August. The injury was described by Overeem's manager, Bas Boon, as nearly costing Overeem his hand.
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DREAM Middleweight Champion “Young Vagabond” Gegard Mousasi (7-0) and lightweight “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri (23-5-2) are scheduled for K-1 kickboxing bouts at Dynamite!! 31 December in Saitama, Japan. Mousasi will face four-time K-1 Japan GP champion Musashi, while Kawajiri will face former K-1 World MAX Japan finalist Kozo Takeda. Mousasi won DREAM’s Middleweight GP in September, knocking out eighth-ranked middleweight “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (8-2) with an upkick at 2:15 of round one of the final. Kawajiri last fought Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (13-1) at DREAM.5 in July, losing via first-round TKO. ...

Despite reports that Croatian heavyweight "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) has confirmed a rematch versus Dutchman "Demoliton Man" Alistair Overeem (28-11) at Dyanamite!! in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 31 December...he hasn't. As Fighters.com reported 21 October, Filipovic expects the rematch on New Year's Eve, but has yet to receive confirmation from FEG, the company who promotes the Dynamite!! event. The MMA media has been referencing an interview "Cro Cop" gave to Croatian website Dnevnik, but has evidently mistranslated the article from Croatian. The 28 October article clearly states "no potvrde za to još nema", which translates from Croatian to English as Filipovic "doesn't yet have confirmation." FEG is probably awaiting Overeem's match-up versus "Big Daddy" Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) at Glory 10 in Arnhem, east of Amsterdam, 9 November to make the rematch versus "Cro Cop" official or not for New Year's Eve. Fighters.com will cover the Overeem v Goodridge fight live. ...

"Neo-Samurai" Genki Sudo (15-5-1) is considering a return from retirement at Dynamite!! in Saitama, north of Tokyo, New Year's Eve, according to a report in the latest editon of Japanese fight magazine Kamipro. Sudo is a veteran of K-1, UFC, and Pancrase with notable victories over UFC middleweight title contender Nathan Marquardt (27-8-2), WEC featherweight title challenger Mike Thomas Brown (19-4), and 400-pound "Butterbean" Eric Esch (10-6-1). Sudo surprised MMA by announcing his retirement after defeating "Angel of Death" Damacio Page (10-4) at Dynamite!! in Osaka on New Year's Eve 2006. Among the reasons Sudo gave were lingering injuries and a sign in front of a urinal that read "one step forward". The report in Kamipro is credited to an anonymous source; and, other rumors suggest Sudo could be returning to Dynamite!! only as a commentator. ...

DREAM heavyweight "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) expects to rematch "Demolition Man" Alistair Overeem (28-11) at Dynamite!! in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 31 December, he told Croation website Javno. "We will fight, we will have a rematch for New Year," "Cro Cop" said, then added, "We have already agreed in principle about it, but it has not been confirmed 100 percent." Overeem too has publicly expressed interest in a New Year's Eve rematch, saying, "I want to finish 'Cro Cop' and put his name on my list, especially now because he has been arrogant and big-mouthed." The MMA stars in Japan fought to a No Contest at DREAM 6 in Saitama 23 September. The fight was stopped after Overeem slammed three separate knee strikes into "Cro Cop's" groin. ...

Dynamite!!, Fighting and Entertainment Group’s annual year-end event, will take place 31 December at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa and DREAM president Keiiti Sasahara made the official announcement Saturday. No matches were announced, but the Dynamite!! card will feature ten to fifteen fights, most of which will be DREAM MMA matches with the remainder being K-1 matches. At the press conference but not confirmed to fight were Fighters.com's fourth-ranked lightweight and DREAM Champion "Hellboy" Joachim Hansen (19-7-1), ninth-ranked lightweight "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (17-3), and "Gracie Hunter" Kazushi Sakuraba (24-11-1). ...

"Techno Goliath" Hong Man Choi (1-1) reported for 26 months of compulsory military duty in the South Korean Army Tuesday. The 7'2" fighter is best known as a K-1 kickboxing champion, but challenged Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) on New Year's Eve in Tokyo under MMA rules.  Choi was submitted in an armbar at 1:54 of round one. Private Choi embarks on four weeks of boot camp before being assigned to non-combat duty due to his "grade-4" physical status. Ironically, the world-class athlete isn't up to military standards.  Though many South Korean celebrities are granted a "grade-4" to avoid combat duty, Choi was denied a license to fight Brock Lesnar (1-1) in California in 2007 on medical grounds.  Rumors of a benign tumor of the "Goliath's" pituitary gland have followed him when he's sought to fight State-side. Choi won't enter the ring during the term of his service, but The Korea Times reports his contract with FEG Korea, which owns K-1, "will automatically extend for the amount of time he misses action in K-1 events," according to FEG Korea head Jeong Yeon-soo. ...

In an interview with Rogue Magazine, Kiwi kickboxer Mark Hunt (5-3) revealed details of his return to combat after 15-months off. The article reports that Hunt will return to K-1 kickboxing versus "Hightower" Semmy Schilt at K-1's Europe Grand Prix Final in Amsterdam 26 April; however, K-1's website posts the bout as the main event at the World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama 13 April. "It was part of the contract I was offered," Hunt said of the Schilt fight.  "I did not want to fight K-1 since I have won the title already, but always up for a challenge; and, when the window of opportunity opens for me, I try to always take it 'cause it does not always open, you know?" It'll be Hunt's last kickboxing bout. "Well, it is only one K-1 fight to start with; the rest of my contract is all MMA," Hunt promised. The hard-headed Hunt fought MMA exclusively in PRIDE, until that promotion's demise.  He scored back-to-back split decision victories over "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) and "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (22-6-2), followed by consecutive Kimura submission losses to "The Babyface Assasin" Josh Barnett (21-5) and Fedor Emelianenko (27-1). "K-1 and DREAM are partners so the rest of my MMA fights are with DREAM," Hunt explained, and designated 8 May for his return to mixed martial arts. "[A rematch with Emelianenko] is another fight that will happen in the near future," Hunt said.  "I can't say anymore!" MMA math is trash, but MMA geometry? Hunt's MMA contract is in DREAM.  Emelianenko is reportedly divorcing M-1 Global to seek fights in other promotions.  Hunt promises a second dance with Emelianenko. Assuming Hunt's promise isn't just a DREAM on his part....  Well, you see the same dots I do.  See if you can't connect them. ...