The overseas MMA connection, Nightmare of Battle, has provided some updates from the DREAM press conference yesterday. 

The promotion looked to unfold the skeleton of their intended itinerary for 2010, and there were some very interesting tidbits.  Don your body armor and wade through the hail of bullets below.

• DREAM 13 is on the calendar for March 22nd at Yokohama Arena, and the event will serve as the setting for Joachim Hansen's first foray at featherweight after floating amidst the lightweight top-ten for many years.  Hansen, who just wrapped up an exciting trilogy with Shinya Aoki, will face DREAM featherweight (139 lbs.) Gran Prix winner Bibiano Fernandes for the belt.  Murilo "Ninja" Rua has also commented that he may participate, and other speculated inclusions are Katsunori Kikuno, Hideo Tokoro, Minowaman, Marius Zaromskis, Eddie Alvarez, and Andrews Nakahara.

 

• There are two items on the docket awaiting judgement that stem from the "DREAM vs. SRC" Dynamite!! show on New Year's Eve:  disciplinary action regarding Aoki's controversial taunting after crippling Mizuto Hirota with an armlock, and Kazuo Misaki's complaint that his fight with Melvin Manhoef was stopped prematurely.

 

• A light-heavyweight Gran Prix including current Strikeforce 205 pound champ is in the works for a show in May.

 

• The schedule is targeting events in March, April, May, July, September, and November.  The plans are to host a show in South Korea and to re-engage in another experimental event utilizing the cage instead of the ring, ala' DREAM 12.

 

• Champions will be appointed in the heavyweight and middleweight sectors, meaning that DREAM will have title-holders in all relevant divisions.  Alistair Overeem is expected to be one of two fighters included in the single fight (not a tournament format) that will determine the heavyweight champ.

 

• Cross-promotion will be a heavy focus for 2010, and DREAM is looking to host more fights versus the Sengoku Raiden Championships roster, and also Strikeforce fighters.

 

• The lightweight collision between DREAM lightweight stars Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri is being aligned for May or July, as Kawajiri is recovering from an injury incurred during his manhandling of Kazunori Yokota at the last Dynamite!! show.

 

• Finally, former DEEP, Pride, and UFC fighter Ryo "The Piranha" Chonan will jump into the DREAM mix, and is looking to compete on the DREAM 13 card in March.

2010 is going to be a great year for MMA.  Thanks to Nightmare of Battle for the scoop.