Dream 10 Preview

Tim LeideckerJul 18, 2009
Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com

High's only chance.
Dream Welterweight Grand Prix Semi-Final
Jason High (7-1) vs. Andre Galvao (3-0)


The Storyline: An Antonio McKee disciple, High made a remarkable turnaround after getting knocked out by Jay Hieron in a little more than a minute at Affliction “Day of Reckoning.” He choked out Japanese veteran Yuya Shirai, a man who had never been submitted, in 59 seconds at Dream 8.

Dream executives hope Galvao can author a success story similar to that of fellow elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu player Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. However, as good as Galvao can be with the gi, he is not nearly as advanced with his wrestling or stand-up.

The Breakdown: Galvao has already fought and beaten an opponent -- John Alessio -- who surpasses High in virtually every aspect of the game. With that said, he had intimate knowledge of the Canadian’s strengths and weaknesses, as the two men had been teammates for several months at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas.

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The Prediction: Look for the Brazilian to try and get the fight to the ground as soon as possible and even pull guard if necessary. Once the fight hits the mat, it will only be a matter of time before High finds himself in a move so simple yet so effective -- the straight armbar. Watch for Galvao to win via first-round submission in less than five minutes and head into the final relatively fresh.