Former Shooto 143-pound champion will try to make good on his second trip to DREAM when he takes on Koichiro Matsumoto in a featherweight match-up. The bout will be featured at the upcoming DREAM 17 event, which will be held in conjunction with several notable charities to help with the relief efforts for Japan, which has since fallen on harder times due to the natural disasters that have ravaged the land and caused billions of dollars worth in damage. The event takes place at the Saitama Super Arena Hall in Saitama Japan on May 29th, and will serve as a kickoff for the upcoming bantamweight grand prix. ...

After dropping a two-round decision to "Flash" Bibiano Fernandes (5-1) in the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix last March, Takafumi Otsuka (5-3) didn't let another 145-pound title slip through his fingers Sunday at DEEP 43 Impact in Tokyo. Otsuka won a three-round decision over former UFC lightweight Dokonjonosuke Mishima (18-7-2) to snag Mishima's DEEP featherweight belt. In a battle between former UFC welterweights and all-time DEEP legends, “Piranha” Ryo Chonan (16-10) won a three-round decision over Jutaro Nakao (22-13-4). Chonan broke the two-fight losing streak ending his 1-3 run in the Octagon last April DEEP bantamweight champ “Ashikan Judan” Masakazu Imanari (16-7-1) defended his title from Tomohiko Hori (6-5-2) in another three-round decision. ...