DREAM.13 fight card finalized, Barnett vs. "Mighty Mo" officially announced

The fight card for Tuesday's DREAM.13 event has been finalized, and a long-expected heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett (24-5 MMA, 0-0 DREAM) and Siala "Mighty Mo" Siligia (3-1 MMA, 0-1 DREAM) is now official.

DREAM.13 takes place March 22 at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, and airs live in North America on HDNet (March 22 at 3 a.m. ET).

The fight card boasts just seven matchups, but a featured bout includes DREAM featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes (7-2 MMA, 4-0 DREAM) vs. Joachim Hansen (19-8-1 MMA, 3-2 DREAM).

Other notables in action include former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons (7-2 MMA, 0-0 DREAM), who makes his long-awaited return as a Strikeforce representative when he meets Andre "Dida" Amade (6-4-1 MMA, 0-1 DREAM), 2009 DREAM "Super Hulk" tournament champion Ikuhisa Minowa (44-30-8 MMA, 5-3 DREAM), who takes on American vet Jimmy Ambriz (14-12-1 MMA, 0-1 DREAM), and former WEC champion Cole Escovedo (15-4 MMA, 0-0 DREAM), who meets fellow WEC vet Yoshiro Maeda (26-7-2 MMA, 2-1 DREAM).

Aside from the title fight, in which Fernandes attempts to make his first successful title defense, the focus of the night will be on Barnett, who just a year and a half ago widely was regarded as the world's No. 2 heavyweight behind Fedor Emelianenko. However, just prior to a scheduled Affliction fight with the Russian, Barnett failed a drug test (for a steroid), the fight was scrapped, and Barnett's still-ongoing appeal with the California State Athletic Commission forced him to tumble in the rankings.

Siligia, though a two-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, has limited MMA experience, and a win over him would likely do little for Barnett. But after a 15-month layoff, the former UFC champ may simply be looking for a chance to shake off the ring rust in a familiar environment (and one that doesn't honor his current suspension).

The official DREAM.13 lineup includes:

* Cole Escovedo vs. Yoshiro Maeda
* Josh Barnett vs. Siala "Mighty Mo" Siligia
* Champ Bibiano Fernandes vs. Joachim Hansen (for DREAM featherweight title)
* Kuniyoshi Hironaka vs. Katsunori Kikuno
* Andre "Dida" Amade vs. K.J. Noons
* Ryo Chonan vs. Andrews Nakahara
* Jimmy Ambriz vs. Ikuhisa Minowa


Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/18364/dream-1 ... ounced.mma

Decent event for sure. I'm personally not interested in the Barnett fight, though - not bothered about watching a guy I know is juicing get a win over a guy he really should beat anyway even without the steroids.

And #2 HW in the world? Think Big Nog might have always had something to say about that. Can't say I ever rated Barnett that highly anyway...

Yeah Barnett shouldn't be ranked that high. However I'm looking forward to watching him fight. Not really a fan of the big mouthed money-weight Mo.

The DREAM featherweight title fight between Bibiano Fernandes and Joachim Hansen should be an exciting fight as well.

MMA March Madness with all these events