Kid Yamamoto to Return (Finally) at DREAM.9; 'Superdreadnought' Matches Also Featured

(Kid Yamamoto highlight reel, y’all. Bounce ta dis.)

As previously rumored, former K-1 HERO’s champ and #4-ranked featherweight Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto will end a year-and-a-half hiatus at DREAM.9 (May 26th; Yokohama, Japan) when he enters their ongoing featherweight grand prix, taking an automatic bye to the quarterfinals. Yamamoto hasn’t competed since his second-round TKO victory over Rani Yahya at K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! on New Year’s Eve 2007, which was his 14th-consecutive win. And it seems like DREAM’s organizers have a sense of humor, because they’re slotting him against former U.S. wrestling champion Joe Warren, who, like Yamamoto, was involved in a reputation-injuring marijuana scandal. (Weed is a big no-no over there. Very dishonorable.) May the best pothead win? DREAM.9’s featherweight GP matchups will be arranged thusly:

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Joe Warren
Masakazu Imanari vs. Bibiano Fernandes
Yoshiro Maeda vs. Hiroyuki Takaya
Abel Cullum vs. Hideo Tokoro*

* Tokoro replaces Daiki Hata, who injured his right orbital bone during their opening-round fight at DREAM.8.

In addition to the tournament fights, DREAM.9 will reportedly feature bouts between Tatsuya Kawajiri and Gesias Cavalcante, and Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Soukoudjou; Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Paulo Filho are also rumored to be on the card against yet-unnamed opponents. And Nightmare of Battle passes along this mysterious update:

DREAM EP Sasahara said that besides the GP fights, four “superdreadnought” fights and two normal fights will take place at DREAM.9. Superdreadnought is some kind of battleship. He said that even people who haven’t watched MMA before can enjoy themselves.

I have no idea what that means, but my best guess is superheavyweight chicken-fights. Don’t let us down, Japanese freak-show culture!