A new mma promotion DREAM made a couple of big announcements today at an official press conference in Tokyo. The new promotion is a collaboration between FEG (K-1, Hero’s) and former DSE staff (Pride). With new leadership over Hero’s and the addition of the former DSE staff, FEG is hoping to revigorate their mixed martial arts shows.

The first major announcement was that Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic will leave the UFC and continue his career with DREAM. The Croatian attended the conference as a special guest. His will make his DREAM debut on March 15 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Currently no further details are known about his withdrawal from the UFC, though we do know that he had a tough time making the transition into the American based organization. Crocop was considered the second best heavyweight in the world when he first signed with the UFC. He struggled and came out winning only one of his three matches in the organization.

The second announcement made was DREAM’s plans for a Lightweight Grand Prix which will take place on March 15, the same date as Crocop’s debut.

HEIWA DREAM.1 Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Opener

Date: March 15, 2008
Location: Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan

Lightweight Grand Prix 1st Round Fights:

Gesias Calvancanti vs Shinya Aoki.

Lightweight Grand Prix Participants:

Andre Dida
Mitsuhiro Ishida
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Caol Uno
Joachim Hansen
Gilbert Melendez
Luiz Azeredo
Artur Umakhanov
Koutetsu Boku
Bukyung Jung
Kazuyuki Miyata
Luis Firminho.

DREAM 2008 Schedule:

HEIWA DREAM.1 Lightweight GP Opening
Date: March 15, 2008

OLYMPIA DREAM.2 Middleweight GP Opening
Date: April 29, 2008

HEIWA DREAM.3 Lightweight GP Second Round
Date: May 11, 2008

OLYMPIA DREAM.4 Middleweight GP Second Round
Date: Mid June, 2008

HEIWA DREAM.5 Lightweight GP Finals
Date: July 21, 2008

OLYMPIA DREAM.6 Middleweight GP Finals
Date: Late September, 2008

Source: www.hero-s.com