Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki in the works for “Dynamite!!” on New Year’s Eve (UPDATED)
December 2, 2008 by Sam Caplan
UPDATE: Sherdog has backed off its initial report and is now claiming that the fight is in the “works.”
A lightweight bout featuring top five lightweights Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki is now set to take place on New Year’s Eve in Japan at FEG’s “Dynamaite!!” event, according to a new report by Sherdog.
Sherdog, citing Alvarez’s manager, Monte Cox, as the primary source for the report, stated that verbal agreements from both Aoki and Alvarez have been secured.
Aoki and Alvarez were originally scheduled to meet during the finals of DREAM’s lightweight Grand Prix that was held over the course of the last year. However, despite going 3-0 in the tournament, Alvarez was forced to withdraw from the finals due to facial injuries sustained in a semifinal TKO victory over Tatsuya Kawajiri.
After defeating Caol Uno in the semifinals, Aoki was matched up against Joachim Hansen, who had been eliminated from the Grand Prix following a second round loss to Alvarez but was given a second chance after winning a tournament reserve bout.
In addition to Alvarez vs. Aoki, “Dynamite!!,” which is scheduled to emanate from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the show will also feature Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kiyoshi Tamura and Hansen, the promotion’s lightweight champion, taking on Gesias “JZ Calvan” Calvancante in a non-title encounter.
Published reports out of Japan also indicate that the combined DREAM and K-1 show will feature appearances by Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii and Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.
Sherdog is also reporting that Alvarez is still scheduled to compete in the States on January 23 for Cox’s Extreme Challenge promotion in Atlantic City, N.J.
This one is a legit surprise. I would have figured that Dream would be protecting Aoki and keeping this one from happening, based on the way the lightweight tournament went down. I also wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen as planned, or if they pull a Rampage and poison Alvarez’s food…
This should be one of the better cards of the year. Can’t wait.
Does anyone know if these Dynamite shows have a chance of being released on DVD? This looks like it’s going to be a great show, and I’d love to own it.
can someone please explain to me why the Hansen vs. JZ fight is a non-title bout?
i guess Alvarez has to fight some real competition at least once before being shipped off to Bellator.
tell steve who ever he is that if u think eddie dont fight any one good tell him to get in the ring with eddie eddies a hell of a good fighter at 15-1 tell me who has a better record then that ig that weight division who ever steve is hes an a s hole
im not even going to dignify that with a response.
you just did
ur damb right ur not because u know im right find the facts be for u open your big mouth im talking about the a s hole steve
eddie is 1 of if not the best fighters in mma today you cant deny that 15/1 11 by ko come on
this guy steve should keep his mouth shut every time he opens it he puts his foot in it come to philly steve we love kicking a s on guyd like you