HDNet

(Via DreamOfficial.com)

Above you see the interpretive dance routine choreagraphed and directed by Shigeru Saeki in its debut at the Dream 8 weigh-ins.  A stunned Shinya Aoki watched from just off-stage.  He later described the routine to reporters as "breathtaking."

Then this guy showed up and ruined everybody's fun.

(Worth it just for the introductions.)

Sengoku 7 is popping off tonight live on HDNet at 3 am EST.  Sure, you could DVR it and get some sleep instead of staying up to watch it live, but wouldn’t that only make the people at HDNet feel like they made the right decision by not showing the last Dream event live?  I don’t know about you, but if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s allowing others to feel as if they’ve done the right thing.

That’s why I’m staying up to watch it.  Maybe that means I’ll be a mess tomorrow, but the way I see it the quality of my work is already so poor, who’s going to notice?  Here are some things you can do while you’re waiting for tonight’s broadcast and fighting off the powerful forces of sleep:

("The Year of the Mo: Part One," courtesy of Esther Lin.)

With no UFC event scheduled until April 1st's UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann, the MMA world feels like a bit of a wasteland lately. But if you get HDNet in your cable package, you're in for a treat. Sengoku: Seventh Battle goes down Friday at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, and will be broadcast live on HDNet beginning at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT. (So, late Thursday night, in other words.) A replay is scheduled for Friday night at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, in case you forget to set your DVR, or you're too poor to afford one or something.

Sengoku 7 features the first round of the league's featherweight grand prix — which includes #7-ranked featherweight Hatsu Hioki, undefeated Nova Uniao prospect Marlon Sandro, UFC vet Michihiro Omigawa, and former Shooto champ Hideki Kadowaki — as well as a headlining light-heavyweight scrap between King Mo and Pancrase vet Ryo Kawamura, and James Thompson's latest attempt to participate in a fight that doesn't turn into an utter fiasco. The official bout order is after the jump, courtesy of Nightmare of Battle. Will any of the gaijins fail as hard as David Gardner did at the last DREAM show? Tune in to find out!

('I am experiencing now very much happiness!')

The official Dream website announced the addition of two new bouts to Dream.7 on March 8, and one of them features Shinya Aoki taking on American fighter David Gardner.  What’s that, you say?  You’ve never heard of Gardner, who is 16-10 in his career and 2-2 in his last four fights?  Well don’t worry, because you’re not alone.

Apparently Aoki wanted a little tune-up before participating in April’s welterweight tournament, or maybe he was just worried that his tights would get mildewed if he left them in the closet too long between fights.  In any event, Aoki will get his chance to rack up another quick submission victory unless Gardner pulls off the crazy upset.  And if he does, what becomes of Aoki’s cherished WAMMA lightweight title?  Probably nothing, since the fight will reportedly take place at 163 pounds, and also because Aoki will almost certainly win unless he is struck down by the hand of God, which would be a new one for the Sherdog Fight Finder.

Oh yeah, also announced was Mitsuhiro Ishida taking on Daisuke Nakamura in a lightweight bout.  So there's that, too.  The whole thing, including the scheduled featherweight tournament, is set to air on HDNet.

('Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, my friend.')

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic writes on his blog that he has signed the contract to make the rumored bout with Korean giant Hong Man Choi official.  It will be contested under MMA rules, not K-1 kickboxing rules, which is nice for Cro Cop, who is hoping to end this rough year on a high note:

I must say I'm happy with this opportunity to fight again in this year. This wasn't the best year for me and I'm hoping that I'll end it in a good spirit. I'm also happy to fight again in Japan at New Year's Eve, which is always truly a fantastic experience.

[…]

Although I'm still having some difficulties with my old injuries there won't be any excuses left in case of a bad result. I'll handle this issues in January, but against Choi I'll be ready and nothing will stop me this time. I'll just do my best and end this year with a win hopefully. Then I'll focus on 2009 and work on the further steps in my career.

You know something, it really has been a tough year for Cro Cop.  He’s struggled with injuries, got his testicles smashed by Overeem, had his training partner busted for being a serial armed robber, and then there’s that whole weirdo video game thing.  Fortunately, fighting a giant on New Year's Eve is an old Croatian folk remedy guaranteed to bring good luck.  It works best if you also sleep with a virgin on the same night, though isn't that the story with all Croatian folk remedies? 

But hold up, American fans, there’s a strong possibility we may not even get to see the big K-1 Dynamite show.  HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon tells MMA Fanhouse that since their contract is with K-1, and since Dynamite is not technically a K-1 show, it’s a bit of a tricky situation.  If HDNet isn’t showing it that means it may not air in the states at all.  Which would be, as the kids say, a total bummer.  Let’s hope they work something out.