MMA / Editorial

DREAM.18 LIVE on Fight Network Play-by-Play & Results

Cody Saftic / December 31, 2012 - 1:46am

Fight Network is presenting a live broadcast of DREAM.18 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Follow the live blog below:

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Michihiro Omigawa

Round 1:

Kawajiri takes the center of the ring quickly to start the fight. Omigawa throws out a couple lazy jabs before getting taken down by Kawajiri. Omigawa attempts to grab onto a leg briefly before abandoning it and settling for guard. Kawajiri softening up the body of Omigawa but isn’t doing anything to advance his position. Hammer fists coming down from Kawajiri who is completely dominating Omigawa with his physical control.

10-9 Kawajiri

Round 2:

Omigawa trying to establish his boxing but isn’t landing any of his shots. Kawajiri attempts to rush in and hit Omigawa but he misses with his punches. Neither man can find the mark with the strikes so Kawajiri decides to take it to the ground. Nice power double scores for Kawajiri who quickly passes to half guard. Short body punches by Kawajiri who’s looking to open Omigawa up enough to pass. Kawajiri manages to free himself and pass to side control. Kawajiri with a nice pass to mount and immediately locks up an arm-triangle choke. The submission looks tight and might have otherwise worked if it wasn’t for the clock sounding.

10-9 Kawajiri

Round 3:

Kawajiri sticks to his game plan perfectly as he takes down Omigawa moments into the third round. Kawajiri once again caught in half guard as he tries to free himself and pass. Omigawa can’t hold onto him long as Kawajiri moves to side control and then to full mount. Kawajiri again looks to lock up an arm-triangle but this time Omigawa rolls free. Kawajiri unwilling to give up the submission grabs onto the move once more and squeezes it for as long as he can before the final bell rings.

10-9 Kawajiri

Winner: Tatsuya Kawajiri via Unanimous Decision

Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Georgi Karakhanyan

Round 1:

Both men storm out quickly looking to find their respective rhythms. Karakhanyan steps in and lands a wicked right hand that drops the Japanese fighter. Karakhanyan follows him to the canvas and unloads with a series of heavy strikes to the head of his opponent. Takaya does a great job of surviving before taking his opportunity to stand back up. Karakhanyan continues where he left off on the feet, and blitzes Takaya with punches and kicks. Takaya dodges a couple shots before replying with a couple heavy punches of his own. Overhand right scores for Karakhanyan followed by and hard shot to the body. Takaya trying to counter the power shots of Karakhanyan but can’t get anything going. Wicked uppercut snaps back the head of Takaya but the Japanese fighter does not seems fazed as the first round ends.

10-9 Karakhanyan

Round 2:

Quick touch of gloves and round two is underway. Left hook scores for Takaya but Karakhanyan responds with a hard head kick. Takaya moves in and clinches up with Karakhanyan but he’s overpowered and put against the ropes. Both fighters take the center of the ring and now it’s Takaya who’s starting to connect with his shots. Two right hands tag Karakhanyan who’s slowing down by the minute. Takaya clinches up and works knees to the body before separating. Karakhanyan attempts to throw a flying knee but runs into a solid Takaya right hand that floors him. Takaya follows him to the ground but is unable to move past the guard as the second frame ends.

10-9 Takaya

Round 3:

Karakhanyan comes out aggressive working heavy punches and kicks on Takaya. Front kick lands for Karakhanyan but Takaya continues to move forward. Karakhanyan scores with a couple short shots before getting taken down by Takaya. Karakhanyan with a slick reversal and ends up on top of the Japanese fighter. Beautiful transition for Karakhanyan allows him to mount Takaya but he quickly loses it and ends up back in half guard. Takaya working desperately to stand back up but Karakhanyan is relentless in his quest and rips Takaya back down. Less than 30 seconds, Takaya manages to get up and sensing the urgency, rushes Karakhanyan with punches as the final bell sounds.

10-9 Karakhanyan

Winner: Georgi Karakhanyan via Split Decision

Shinya Aoki vs. Antonio McKee

Round 1:

Aoki closes the distance quickly and attempts to take McKee down. Aoki working for a single leg but McKee showcasing his superior wrestling. Aoki continues to try and work for a takedown but it’s McKee who takes the opportunity and tosses Aoki down. Aoki quickly reverses the position and ends up on top of the American. McKee working hard to stand back up and he does just that. McKee quickly picks Aoki up and slams him to the canvas. McKee sitting in guard but is unwilling to commit to anything offensive. McKee stands up and allows Aoki to do the same with a little over a minute remaining in the round. Both men exchange light shots before clinching back up along the ropes. Aoki manages to trip down McKee but never really completes the takedown as the first round closes.

10-10

Round 2:

McKee throwing sidekicks to start the second round as Aoki closes in. Aoki lands a hard overhand right that immediately has McKee grabbing his face. Aoki pushes McKee into the ropes and attempts to take his back but McKee taps out citing an injured orbital bone.

Winner: Shinya Aoki via Submission (Punch), Round 2

Bibiano Fernandes vs. Yoshiro Maeda

Round 1:

Left high kick blocked early by Fernandes. Maeda attempts to run in and land some heavy shots but he’s taken down. Fernandes immediately takes Maeda’s back and begins to work for a rear-naked choke. Maeda does a good job of turning into the guard of Fernandes, but is quickly caught in an armbar attempt. Maeda opts to pound away at Fernandes instead of getting out of the submission which results in Fernandes switching the move to a triangle choke. Maeda attempts to fight the submission off momentarily before going unconscious.

Winner: Bibiano Fernandes via Submission (Triangle Choke), Round 1

Melvin Manhoef vs. Denis Kang

Round 1:

Kang the aggressor early, taking his time and moving forward. Manhoef backing up but looks ready to explode. Kang tags Manhoef with a nice right hand and then follows it up with a short flurry. Manhoef seems to be rocked but is quick to start slinging punches in return. Kang moves forward to grab Manhoef but he’s hit with a crushing knee to the body courtesy of Manhoef and its game over. Kang crumples to the mat in agony and the fight is over.

Winner: Melvin Manhoef via KO (Knee to Body), Round 1

Phil Baroni vs. Hayato Sakurai

Round 1:

Baroni rushes in quickly and ties Sakurai up along the ropes. Both men throwing short knees to the body while trading positions. Referee separates both fighters and they return to the middle to the ring. Baroni explodes forward with some wild punches before clinching up with Sakurai once again. Baroni controlling Sakurai before changing levels and taking him down. Baroni working the body and head with short shots but nothing significant. Baroni eventually gets frustrated and stands back up. Baroni rushes in but gets caught with a couple Sakurai knee’s that hurt him. Sakurai follows up with some hard punches as the round ends.

10-9 Baroni

Round 2:

Baroni wastes no time getting the fight back to the mat and settles into half guard. Sakurai lands a nice sweep and briefly takes the mount before losing position. Baroni trying to hip escape but Sakurai doing a good job of holding him down. Baroni explodes and manages to kick off Sakurai before standing up and shooting in on the Japanese legend. Baroni gets the takedown easily but is focusing his attention on maintaining the position rather than doing damage. Sakurai creates a bit of space and uses it to roll for a kneebar but Baroni is too strong and flattens him back out just before the bell.

10-9 Baroni

Round 3:

Sakurai lands a hard leg kick before being tied up by Baroni along the ropes. Both men separate but the referee quickly interferes to fix Baroni’s glove. Action resumes and Sakurai tags the American with a solid left hand. Baroni tries to respond with punches of his own but misses for the most part. Both men in the center of the ring swinging away, Baroni clips Sakurai on the jaw and forcing him to shoot in. Baroni does a good job to sprawl out and push him away, but both men quickly clinch up again. Sakurai takes Baroni down but the New York Badass reverses the position and gets back to his feet. Both men are dead tired with just a minute and a half left in the fight. Sakurai lands a one-two to the head of Baroni who’s just a sitting target. Sakurai knows he’s down and starts to get busy, nailing Baroni with a ton of shots. Baroni trying to counter the punches but he’s tired and slow. Baroni shoots in but its easily avoided. Sakurai continues to pour it on Baroni but suddenly the bell sounds and this fight is over.

10-9 Sakurai

Winner: Hayato Sakurai via Unanimous Decision

Marloes Coenen vs. Fiona Muxlow

Round 1:

Both fighters exchange low kicks early as they try and find their distance. Coenen fires off a couple shots before clinching up with her Australian foe. Coenen grabs on to a thai clinch and lands flush with a couple knee strikes that daze Muxlow. Coenen connects with a straight right hand and then takes Muxlow to the ground. Coenen working on top trying to soften her opponent up before latching onto a tight armbar. Muxlow tries to fight off the submission but it’s only a matter of time before Coenen gets the tap.

Winner: Marloes Coenen via Submission (Armbar), Round 1

Will Brooks vs. Satoru Kitaoka

Round 1:

Kitaoka in the southpaw stance to start the fight. Brooks lands a couple short right hands early and circles away. Brooks connects with another series of short shots that cause his opponent to trip to the mat. Brooks assumes top position momentarily but before being forced to fight off a leg lock attempt. Brooks wisely stands up and this fight is back on the feet. Brooks lunges in and stuns Kitaoka with a solid right hand before promptly picking him up and slamming him on his head. To Kitaoka’s credit he manages to survive and regain guard. Brooks passes to half guard and uses the position to rain down some heavy ground and pound. Less than a minute remaining, Brooks stands back up and allows Kitaoka to do the same. Both men feint before Brooks connects with a solid right hand that floors the Japanese fighter. Brooks try’s to follow up but Kitaoka avoids the shots and survives the round.

10-8 Brooks

Round 2:

Not even five seconds in the round, Brooks connects with a right high kick followed by a power double. Brooks starting to work from top position but its short lived as Kitaoka escapes to his feet. Back standing, Kitaoka looking to counter Brooks but can’t seem to find his timing. Brooks lands a left hand and uses the momentum to take Kitaoka down. Immediately on the ground, Kitaoka works for a kneebar as Brooks relaxes and attempts to posture up. Brooks manages to escape the position and starts to pound away at his exhausted opponent. Short punches raining down in heavy numbers before the referee mercifully steps in and ends the contest.

Winner: Will Brooks via TKO (Punches), Round 2

Kickboxing Super Fight:

Jerome Le Banner defeats Koichi Pettas via KO (Punch), Round 3