JZ vs. Kawajiri at DREAM.9

[Shamrock-Ortiz]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/jz-cavalcante-set-to-face-kawajiri-16777

Two-time K-1 Hero's champion Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante has agreed to face off with Japanese stalwart Tatsuya Kawajiri at Dream 9 on May 26, according to sources in Cavalcante’s American Top Team camp.

Cavalcante (14-2-1) will look to get back on the winning track after his last two outings, which returned a no contest and his first loss in nearly four years. Both of those outcomes came against well-regarded Shinya Aoki, with the no contest coming as a result of illegal elbow strikes -- something ATT still contests.

The 25-year-old Brazilian will be venturing back into action after a nearly 13-month layoff, the longest of his five-year career.

Kawajiri, 31, has been a fixture in the Japanese MMA scene since 2000. He worked his way up the ladder from Shooto, where he held the 154-pound title, to Pride and now Dream.

Always ranked among the top lightweights in the world, Kawajiri (23-5-2) returned from a TKO loss to Eddie Alvarez in Dream’s lightweight grand prix last summer to dispatch Ross Ebanez by submission earlier this month.

The card is slated for Saitama, Japan.

This fight is just gonna be so fun.

I cannot wait.

I'm gonna take JZ to win, if he comes with his best game, but all I know is it's gonna be too cool.

:D

[bbjd7]

Plazz and I were talking about this fight yesterday.

I think JZ wins since IMO he's better everywhere and he is way more powerful but this fight will be awesome.

[Sinister]

AAAAHHHHH SHIIIIIIT! JZ back in action! This fight is going to be wicked, I expect them to stand for a little while before JZ takes it to the ground and finishes it their. Great match up.

[FunkYou]

Its so long since JZ fought I'd almost forgotten him when thinking about the LW division. This will be a great fight.

[Meshuggeth]

Beautiful fight. Im behind my man Kawajiri.

Where are the fans The Crusher ? This is disgusting.

[Wise]

Kawajiri has the heart and the will to take whatever JZ throws at him. This will go to a decision and JZ will have to completely smash Kawajiri to take this from him in his back yard which isnt going to happen. This should end up being a stand up battle and I think Kawajiri has the goods to get inside and beat up JZ in the pocket.

[Thaispider]

Great Match up another bout for a dream 9 card that is shaping very nicely me like.:D

[plazzman]

I don't care what you say, Kawajiri's got this!

[Shamrock-Ortiz]

Great Match up another bout for a dream 9 card that is shaping very nicely me like.:D

Yeah, this card looks great so far.

Mousasi vs. Sokoudjou - 205 debut for Mousasi
Kawajiri vs. JZ - so fun
Jacare return
FW 2nd round = KID return!

It all sounds very exciting to me.

[Meshuggeth]

We already know Mousasi can handle 205 after he whopped Musashi.

[plazzman]

Bit of a waste fighting at 205, if you ask me. He just became MW champ, now he's gotta bounce back and fourth. And if not, he's sort of screwed DREAM's MW div. There's hardly anyone to fight at 205 in Japan these days.

[JT42]

Man this is an AMAZING matchup and I cant wait for it. I think JZ has this even though I like the Crusher better.

[plazzman]

Oh shit, I just realized I posted in the wrong thread.

[LeeM]

JZ's got this in the bag. I think he'll end this one on the ground.

[Brad.Taschuk]

Great match-up. As underrated as Kawajiri is, JZ is equally as awesome.

I'm torn. As far as my LW rankings go, this is 4 (JZ) vs 6 (Crusher). I need some time to think this over, as I like both guys immensely. Anyone who says that JZ is going to own this fight obviously hasn't watched enough Kawajiri.

DREAM 9 is going to be the bees knees.

[bbjd7]

I've watched a ton of Kawajiri but JZ is a bad match up for him.

Where does Kawajiri have an advantage?

JZ is the better more powerful striker, the better grappler, and IMO the more powerful guy.

JZ will probably outstrike him put Kawajiri on his back and then knock him out.

[Brad.Taschuk]

I think Kawajiri will be able to hold his own quite well in the striking department. JZ obviously has the advantage on the ground, but standing I think it's really even.

[bbjd7]

IDK that's what Plazz and I were talking about but JZ is a better striker. He did hold up against Masato he lost each round clearly but landed a few big shots. JZ's got some serious skills standing.

[Brad.Taschuk]

JZ is a monster everywhere, no doubt. I think he's the most well-rounded LW in the world.

You have to remember that Kawajiri has only ever been stopped by strikes by Alvarez though, and Eddie has crazy power. Even prime Gomi had to resort to the choke to finish him. If JZ finishes him I think it'll be a sub, but I just don't think it'll be finished.

[bbjd7]

Yea but JZ power is insane what he did to Shaolin is illegal in most countries that was just pure power.

[Brad.Taschuk]

That was awesome, true. Kawajiri is also a way tougher fighter than Shaolin though.

I think we're gonna have to agree to disagree on this one, but you've at least convinced me that JZ is going to take a decision.

[bbjd7]

IDK Shaolin is damn tough outside of getting bitch owned by JZ his only other loss was a 3 round fight with Kawajiri.

[Brad.Taschuk]

I think you've got the Shaolin-Kawajiri fights mixed up. Shaolin won the decision, Kawajiri TKO'd him in the 2nd in their rematch.

Speaking of Shaolin, I heard that he's coming back this year and wants to fight 3 times. I know he had that eye surgery after JZ destroyed him, but didn't think he'd be out this long. Hopefully the ridiculous layoff doesn't hurt him like it's hurt some other guys. It'll be nice to see him back.

[bbjd7]

Yea your right my mistake. But still no one has treated Shaolin like that and he's faced some solid fighters.

And Shaolin wants to come back but Dream has made it hard for some brazilian guys to get fights. In fact he's been trying to get back since New Years Eve.

Shaolin is a monster who has been forgotten since JZ kinda raped him for those of you who don't know what Brad and I are talking about

2PVcMYn8r58

Shaolin went from top 5 LW to not even in my top 20 atm.

Although he still has the talent to beat a lot of guys.

[Brad.Taschuk]

I dropped him to about 11 or 12 after that fight, the inactivity took him the rest of the way out of the top 20.

It's funny though, because JZ has only had 1 actual fight since that night, his loss to Aoki, and most people still have him top 5.

Holy shit! JZ has only had 1 fight since then! That was September 2007! Luckily he's got this fight coming up.

[bbjd7]

Well he's actually had two fights one of which Dream kinda screwed him out of but yea I get your point.

He had a great night that night. Killed Shaolin, got rocked by Dida but recovered and tapped him right before the round ended.

But yea JZ has been out for awhile he needs to look great against Kawajiri.

Man I miss Shaolin.

He's probably the only 155 outside of BJ who might outgrapple Gomi.