Dynamite!! stars at today's press conference

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Less than 10 days until Dynamite!!, and as is typically the case with this end of the year card, things are coming together at the very last second.  This year, because of the DREAM v. SRC co-promotion aspect, things seem to be moving a bit slower than normal, with a full card not yet announced, rules still being finalized, etc.  As we reported earlier, a press conference today set up the (mildly disappointing) fights for Aoki and Kawajiri (Kawajiri: "I have no interest in this fight and I’m not motivated either."), but also made some other details clear:

-MMA fights at Dynamite!! will be contested under a hybrid rule-set from DREAM and SRC.  This means fights will consist of 3 x 5 minute rounds, with no stomps or soccer kicks.  Referees will come from both organizations.  No word yet on criteria and method for judging.

-Sakuraba is indeed injured and will probably not be participating.

-There are still 1-2 fights yet to be announced.  Currently the card stands at 16 fights, so this would bring it inline with the 18 planned for last year.

The idea of only 1-2 fights yet to be announced is something of a surprise, as this leaves some highly rumored fights out in the cold.  Since Sakuraba's involvement became questionable, Kazuo Misaki v. Melvin Manhoef has been talked about as a likely replacement fight.  In addition, there has been a lot of talk about Badr Hari v. Jerome Le Banner taking place under K-1 rules, as well as Gegard Mousasi making his return to K-1 action, possibly against Ewerton Teixeira.  Finally, Golden Glory confirmed to us that they were expecting to see Errol Zimmerman v. Hong Man Choi at Dynamite as well.  With only 1-2 fights, it looks like we won't get at least 2 (maybe even 3) of these rumored fights.

Personally, I would by lying if I said I was very happy with the way the Dynamite!! card has played out.  The loss of Petrosyan v. Masato was an unfortunate, but understandable, turn of events, but since then the emphasis on DREAM v. SRC has created a somewhat uninspired card, and one that offers very little for kickboxing fans.  Undeniably, Masato v. Souwer will be very exciting, but for that to be one of only 2 non-Koshien kickboxing fights on the card is unfortunate.  It would be nice to see top K-1 fighters like Hari, Zimmerman, and Teixeira fight again, especially considering how little HW K-1 action we saw in the first part of the year.  Instead we get a series of decent MMA fights to promote an interpromotional rivalry angle that I don't think many people are buying into.  Even for MMA fans there is disappointment, as the much anticipated Aoki v. Kawajiri fight is scrapped in favor of more from Sengoku.

Which makes me wonder - are Sengoku's fighters getting the break of a lifetime here?  Just months ago fighting for a dying organization, they now find themselves in high profile fights on the biggest show of the year, taking the spots of fighters with significantly higher profiles, and fights with significantly higher public interest.  Perhaps in Japan this whole DREAM v. SRC idea has more weight, but from this side of things, I can't help but look at it and say that FEG has put far too much emphasis on this feud to the detriment of the card their fans want to see.