ProElite and DREAM Form New MMA Partnership

ProElite MMA and DREAM, the largest Japanese MMA organization, have initiated a promotional partnership and fighter exchange program, jointly announced today. The alliance will foster co-promoted events, both in the United States and in Japan with fighter exchanges featured on the cards of both fight promotions, respectively.

"Our partnership with DREAM forms a promotional bond with the most prominent Japanese MMA organization," said Billy Kelly, President of ProElite and COO of Stratus Media Group Inc. -- parent company of ProElite. "DREAM has developed a stable of great fighters on their roster and a strong team behind the scenes. With this exchange, the two organizations are building a cultural and fight-event bridge that our fans are sure to welcome.

The initial fighter exchange debuts this Saturday, January 21, in Hawaii when DREAM star and Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa takes on Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove in the ProElite main event at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

"I'm really honored to join the partnership with ProElite," said DREAM Event Producer Keiichi Sasahara. "It is important for us to exploit Asian or Pan-pacific markets by improving relationships with foreign organizations like ProElite. We would like to make this fighter exchange program a first step to generate synergistic success for both organizations."

DREAM Light heavyweight tournament runner-up Tatsuya Mizuno will take on Ilima Maiava, also on the Honolulu fight card while the always exciting voice of Japanese MMA, Lenne Hardt, will be joining the shows as the fighter walk out announcer. The ProElite main fight card will be televised live on HDNet at 10:00 P.M. EST.