Dream 10 Preview

Katsunori Kikuno (11-1-1) vs. Andre Amade (6-3-1)

The Storyline: Deep lightweight champion Kikuno will join fellow promotional titleholders Masakazu Imanari, Seichi Ikemoto and Riki Fukuda in Dream. Japan’s most beloved chain smoker, Deep boss Shigeru Saeki, has always tried to elevate his most successful protégés, dating back to the days when he booked Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Nobuhiro Obiya and Ryo Chonan in Pride Fighting Championships.

The Breakdown: Kikuno, a confident fighter, comes from a judo and karate background. He owns a powerful high kick that he needs very little time to set up and has good upper body control due to his judo training, which he uses for throws. On the mat, he prefers old-fashioned ground-and-pound. Can he take the pressure and will “Dida” punish him for coming forward too recklessly?

Amade remains one of the few stars actually created in the now-defunct K-1 Hero’s promotion, the linear predecessor of Dream. The young Brazilian burst on the scene when he won a unanimous decision over former Shooto welterweight champion and UFC veteran Caol Uno. Amade’s last fight took place under K-1 rules, as he dragged former K-1 Max kingpin Buakaw Por. Pramuk into an extra round before losing a close decision.

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The Prediction: Even though he was well past his prime, if Buakaw could not knock out Amade, it seems almost unimaginable Kikuno will be able to do so. Pick Amade to shatter the Dreams of another Japanese champion with a unanimous decision.