DREAM Signs Crocop, Announces Lightweight Grand Prix

A new mma promotion DREAM made a couple of big announcements today at an official press conference in Tokyo. The new promotion is a collaboration between FEG (K-1, Hero’s) and former DSE staff (Pride). With new leadership over Hero’s and the addition of the former DSE staff, FEG is hoping to revigorate their mixed martial arts shows.

The first major announcement was that Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic will leave the UFC and continue his career with DREAM. The Croatian attended the conference as a special guest. His will make his DREAM debut on March 15 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Currently no further details are known about his withdrawal from the UFC, though we do know that he had a tough time making the transition into the American based organization. Crocop was considered the second best heavyweight in the world when he first signed with the UFC. He struggled and came out winning only one of his three matches in the organization.

Streaming videos from the press conference:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Click here for photo’s of the conference.

The second announcement made was DREAM’s plans for a Lightweight Grand Prix which will take place on March 15, the same date as Crocop’s debut.

HEIWA DREAM.1 Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Opener
Date: March 15, 2008
Location: Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan

Lightweight Grand Prix 1st Round Fights:

• Gesias Calvancanti vs Shinya Aoki.

Lightweight Grand Prix Participants:

• Andre Dida
• Mitsuhiro Ishida
• Tatsuya Kawajiri
• Caol Uno
• Joachim Hansen
• Gilbert Melendez
• Luiz Azeredo
• Artur Oumakhanov
• Koutetsu Boku
• Jung Bu-Kyung
• Kazuyuki Miyata
• Luiz Firmino.

DREAM 2008 Schedule:

• HEIWA DREAM.1 Lightweight GP Opening
  Date: March 15, 2008
• OLYMPIA DREAM.2 Middleweight GP Opening
  Date: April 29, 2008
• HEIWA DREAM.3 Lightweight GP Second Round
  Date: May 11, 2008
• OLYMPIA DREAM.4 Middleweight GP Second Round
  Date: Mid June, 2008
• HEIWA DREAM.5 Lightweight GP Finals
  Date: July 21, 2008
• OLYMPIA DREAM.6 Middleweight GP Finals
  Date: Late September, 2008

Thanks to Nightmare of Battle for the updates!