Exclusive: The Dream Middleweight Title Controversy
Reported by: Patrick Boucher of MMAinsiders.com - 5/26/09
DREAM.9 capped off a great event with a Middleweight Title bout between Jason Miller and Ronaldo de Souza. Ultimately, the main event came to an abrupt halt early in the first round due to an accidental illegal kick to the head of a downed opponent.
Souza, the aggressor, took control of the fight immediately, with both exchanging jabs. De Souza went to the ground and Miller landed a kick to the head, which left a fairly big gash across De Souza’s head. The bout came to a halt as medical staff tended to the cut, a few minutes later, the fight was restarted. Shortly after the restart, the bout was halted again, this time it would not be restarted.
When the fight was stopped the second time, Miller and De Souza exchanged words and Souza was restrained by corner men from heading towards Miller.
Due to the fight not going long enough, there was no victor, the bout was called a no-contest and the Middleweight Championship will remain vacated.
Miller and De Souza squared off last year in the second round of the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix. Miller lost a decision to De Souza.
Miller attributed the loss to De Souza making Miller fight on his terms. The game plan for Miller this time around was to have De Souza engage in a striking war and set the pace on his terms.
These two will likely have a rematch in the coming months to crown the new DREAM Middleweight Champion.
- UFC 117: Smack Talk Side - Sonnen vs Silva Preview
- Bellator 25 Main Event: Dan Hornbuckle vs Brad Blackburn Official
- 10 Bouts Official For Sengoku Raiden Championships 14
- Report: Urijah Faber Suffers Setback; Return Pushed Back To November
- UFC On Versus 2 Averages 1Million Viewers, Down From First Event
- It's Official: Marquardt vs Palhares Headlines UFC Fight Night 22
- Paul Daley Has Not Signed Long-Term Strikeforce Deal
- Marquardt vs Palhares Set To Headline Fight Night 22 Following Blecher's Injury
- James Irvin Not Worried About Potential Release; Smaller Shows On His Radar
- Jon Jones Speaks On His Training, Fighting James Toney and Matyushenko
- Gomi, Stann, Massenzio and Oliveira Awarded $40k In Bonus Awards
- UFC On Versus Recap: Jones "Bones" Demolishes Matyushenko, Gomi KO's Griffin
- UFC On Versus 2 Quick Results: Jones Lives Up To The Hype
- Takanori Gomi Returns To Form; KO's Griffin In The First Round
- Paul Daley Signs Six-Fight Deal With Strikeforce; Possible Debut in October
- Alan Belcher Forced To Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Main Event
- All Main Card Fighter's Make Weight, Johnson Fails To Drop Additional Weight
- Dana White Shoots Down Rumors Of Rua's Return This Year
- Joe Warren vs Joe Warren Title Bout Set To Headline Bellator 27
- Sakara Spoilers James Irvin's Middleweight Debut in the First Round
- Complete UFC on Versus 1 Results: Jones Prevails
- All Fighters Make Weight For DREAM.13 on HDNet
- All UFC On Versus 1 Fighters Make Weight
- Roger Huerta vs Chad Hinton Announced For Season Two Kickoff
- Bellator XV Tickets On Sale Today in New England
- Strikeforce St. Louis Announced, Rogers vs Overeem, Arlovski vs Silva Confirmed
- Barnett vs Mighty Mo Official, Final DREAM.13 Card
- Ryan McGivern Joins Bellator's Middleweight Tournament
- Rampage Jackson Vs. Rashad Evans Main Event Set For UFC 114
- Damacio Page Out Of Bout With Banuelos Due To Injury, Replacement Found

