DREAM today added two more bouts to the May 29 DREAM.14 event. The card will be held at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, the home of many legendary moments from the now-defunct PRIDE organization.
The Japanese promotion announced that Kazushi Sakuraba will be taking on Ralek Gracie in a 195-pound catchweight bout. Gracie, 24, is the son of Rorion Gracie, who founded the UFC in 1992, and the nephew of Royce Gracie. His last appearance in an MMA bout took place in June 2008, where he defeated Alavutdin Gadzhiyev in typical Gracie style via submission.
Sakuraba’s legendary wars with the Gracie family helped create a mixed martial arts boom in Japan earlier in the decade. He first defeated Royler Gracie at PRIDE 8 in 1999, winning via kimura. Sakuraba would go on to face Royce, Renzo and Ryan, going undefeated in competition with the Gracies and earning the nickname “The Gracie Hunter.”
Sakuraba’s best days are behind him, but he’s racked up a two-fight win streak since his last lost to Kiyoshi Tamura in 2008.
The Sakuraba/Gracie bout is expected to headline DREAM.14, but the card also features Nick Diaz taking on Hayato Sakurai and Joachim Hansen vs. Hiroyuki Takaya.