How the DREAM/WVR Alliance Affects New Year's Eve for Tim Sylvia and More

The K-1 and Sengoku Raiden Championship alliance will benefit fans of Japanese MMA when it comes to show quality, as both sides will contribute fighters into a cross-promotional show which will feature a rumored 19 - 20 bouts. The big questions from all sides have been what will the fights be, who will the fighters be, and how does this affect any bouts or fighters that were scheduled before. 

The biggest news is that Tim Sylvia's luck has officially run dry. According to Ariel Helwani from his Twitter account, Monte Cox has told him that FEG might not have room for him come New Year's.

@arielhelwani Cox also said the WVR/DREAM co-promotion on 12/31 may put a wrench in Sylvia's plans 2 fight on card. Sylvia wants 2, but might not be room.

I'm sure the Japanese fans will survive, but I'm not sure how Sylvia will take it, as this is another blow to his career. His DREAM debut has been pushed back already, and it looks like he won't be appearing in Japan anytime soon. For the fans this is probably for the best. The big fight that had been publicly talked about but never truly confirmed was Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Shinya Aoki. Kawajiri challenged Aoki, who accepted, but we never got an official word on this. MMA Recap did some digging and believes it'll still happen.

Sources close to FEG have informed MMA Recap that Tatsuya Kawajiri (25-5-2) will be taking on DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki (22-4) at Dynamite on New Years Eve.

At this time however, it is unclear as to whether or not Aoki will be defending his lightweight title.

The fighters present at the presser were an impressive lot, but with K-1 you should always take it with a grain of salt, as these fighters made appeals for fights, but still don't have bouts scheduled. The grain of salt should be remembered, as Nakao called out Cro Cop, who obviously has no chance of fighting for K-1/FEG/WVR/SRC/whatever. While also unannounced for the card, the Super Hulk finals between Minowa and Sokoudjou should take place here.

Hidehiko Yoshida, Kazuo Misaki, Hiroshi Izumi, Sanae Kikuta, Akihiro Gono, Kazunori Yokota, Mizuto Hirota [LW champion], Masanori Kanehara [FW champion], Eiji Mitsuoka, and Yoshihiro "KISS" Nakao