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Dream Welterweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout
Seichi Ikemoto (18-15-5) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (6-0)

The Storyline: Crazy-haired slugger Ikemoto has become a blue-eyed boy of sorts for Shigeru Saeki. Despite Ikemoto’s subpar record, the matchmaker extraordinaire landed him two gigs in Pride before making him one of eight participants in the Dream welterweight grand prix. In the quarter-finals, he lost to Lithuanian striker Marius Zaromskis in an entertaining bout that played out primarily on the feet.

All-around Belgian Saffiedine had been an insiders’ tip on the European circuit for more than three years, having reached the quarter-finals of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling European Trials as a 20-year-old on 2007. Saffiedine also received extensive muay Thai training at Shihaishinkai and the Toughring Fighting Team. His most impressive win to date came against the ultra-tough and durable Dutchman Raymond Jarman.

The Breakdown: Just like with Ikemoto-Zaromskis, Dream’s bosses want an entertaining slugfest on the feet in this one. The question will be whether or not Saffiedine has any desire to stay upright, given his grappling background and extensive training at Dan Henderson’s Team Quest gym in Murrieta, Calif.

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The Prediction: Team Quest has a nice run going overseas, with Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Joe Warren notching notable wins inside Dream. Expect Saffiedine to maintain that momentum, as he gets his big break at the expense of Ikemoto and becomes the first Belgian fighter in MMA history to win a fight in Japan. Take Saffiedine by decision.