Dream: Fight For Japan! New Year! 2011 | 2011.12.31 | Saitama, Japan Discussion
Main Card | Tournament Semi-Finals | 61 kg | MMA
Antonio Banuelos defeats Masakazu Imanari via 2 Round Decision
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Banuelos
Decision
Round 2
Antonio Banuelos Masakazu Imanari
"Ashikan Judan"
19-7-0 | Pro Record At Fight | 24-9-2 | ||
Climbed to 20-7 | Record After Fight | Fell to 24-10 | ||
+120 (Near Even) | Betting Odds | -145 (Slight Favorite) | ||
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Nationality |
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San Luis Obispo, California | Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan | ||
32 years, 3 months, 1 week, 1 day | Age at Fight | 35 years, 10 months, 3 weeks | ||
134.5 lbs (61.0 kgs) | Weigh-In Result | 134.0 lbs (60.8 kgs) | ||
5'3" (161cm) | Height | 5'5" (165cm) | ||
65.5" (166cm) | Reach | N/A | ||
The Pit | Gym | Team ROKEN |

- Bout Information
- Event: Dream: Fight For Japan! New Year! 2011
- Date: Saturday 12.31.2011 at 01:00 AM ET
- Referee: Samio Kimura
- Venue: Saitama Super Arena
- Enclosure: Ring
- Location: Saitama, Japan
- Bout Billing: Main Card (fight 2 of 11)
- Pro/Am: Professional
- Weight: 61 kg (134.5 lbs)
- TV Commentary: Michael Schiavello, Hans Thompson
- Broadcast: Aired Live on Main Card
- Post-Fight Interviewer:
- Imanari Total Disclosed Pay: None Disclosed
- Banuelos Total Disclosed Pay: None Disclosed
- Tournament: Dream Bantamweight World Grand Prix
- Tournament Round: Semi-Finals
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Event Links:
Imanari vs. Banuelos Wiki Update Wiki
Imanari and Banuelos took to the ring for the second bout of the evening in a Bantamweight Grand Prix tilt.
Imanari came out with his hands down by his sides, looking to use a little gamesmanship to throw Banuelos off. Imanari fired off occasional kicks, which Banuelos blocked. Banuelos defended a takedown and landed a straight punch as he backed up. Banuelos landed a nice right hand, prompting Imanari to attempt to pull guard, but Banuelos would have none of the ground game. Neither fighter landed much in the first, but Banuelos was the more aggressive fighter.
After some more strange guard pull attempts, Imanari finally got Banuelos into his guard in the second minute of the second round, but the American was out and on his feet shortly. Imanari pulled guard again in the final two minutes and attempted to work his submission game, but Banuelos maintained a solid base and landed some strikes from the top position. Banuelos attempted to pass guard in the final minute but Imanari wound up on top before being swept and ending up on the bottom at the end of the fight.
The judges scored the bout for Banuelos via Split Decision.
Imanari vs. Banuelos Fight Predictions
Imanari vs. Banuelos Fighter Tweets
If fighters from this bout were talking on Twitter before or after the fight, this is where you can find it. Below are all the Tweets we've recorded near the date of the bout.
- "@dtower92: @AntonioBanuelos haha http://t.co/vSRqWT5P"haha he caught me posing while I talked to dave z
- 4 days, 4 hours, and 24 minutes
- after
- Just got tatted by my homie @dtower92 !!! Its looks so sick, its gino from afro samurai!
- 4 days, 4 hours, and 12 minutes
- after
- Holy crap, watching the bowl game and feel like I need to do my homework now since @caseyo_24. Ncaa commercial came on!
- 2 days, 22 hours, and 55 minutes
- after
- Got my nautical bean coffee now off to pick up @Shawnstarmer from the airport! Stoked get 2 hang... http://t.co/gehQSoqE
- 2 days, 17 hours, and 4 minutes
- after
- Felt good to wake up in my own bed after last weeks crazy sessions of traveling.
- 2 days, 16 hours, and 56 minutes
- after
- Glad to be back in slo, at firestone 4 dinner w/@scummanuelq and @johntholmes , abc burger or tri tip sandwich????????
- 2 days, 2 hours, and 30 minutes
- after
- A pic a japanese fan gave to me, then a painting another japanese fan made 4 me.Japan fans r awesome http://t.co/j90lr43Y
- 2 days and 52 minutes
- after
- BoooooooSsssssshhhhhh! Back in slo, in time 4 sunday fun day! What is everyone doing???
- 1 day, 22 hours, and 32 minutes
- after
- Glad to be back in cali, and america! We went to in N out for a good old fashion american burger http://t.co/ChC4lfgx
- 1 day, 20 hours, and 14 minutes
- after
- @Court_McGee happy new year my man! Stoked you are coming back to slo! Can't wait to see u
- 1 day, 19 hours, and 35 minutes
- after
- Just read all the tweets from you guys and gals! Thanks so much 4 the love and support!!!! Once I get home I will post pics. Thanks again!!!
- 1 day, 19 hours, and 32 minutes
- after
- special thanks 2 all my teammates at the pit, @Pit_Master @ChuckLiddell @THEPITSLO and the guys @AthlonElite , love you guys happy new year
- 21 hours and 1 minute
- after
- whoops meant thank all my fans, i fly out later today. so i wont tweet until i get home, but i got some cool pics and will post them.
- 20 hours and 53 minutes
- after
- i want take all my friends, fans, and teammates for helping me out and supporting me these last few months through the tourney. i flight out
- 20 hours and 51 minutes
- after
- i just want everyone to know i am ok, and last night in the finals didnt go my way. but i will be back bettter and strong next time.
- 20 hours and 49 minutes
- after
- back and went got food w/ @CruzGomez @scummanuelq @johntholmes and fraser. we went to the same japanese place i had my bday dinner
- 14 hours and 38 seconds
- before
- had to go to the press conf. early, it was really cool stage and alot of fans. but it was outside and really cold, but quick. then got.....
- 14 hours and 2 minutes
- before
- lly gave a huge pic to keep, i thought i was going to sign to but he just wanted 1 and gave me 1. awesome, the japanese fans are amazing!
- 19 hours and 46 minutes
- before
- just signed a bunch of pics 4 japanese fans. they are awesome, the pics r taken from the last fight here, they come so prepared. 1 fan actua
- 19 hours and 48 minutes
- before
- just got done with weigh ins and the rulz meeting. now hanging in @CruzGomez relaxing waiting for @scummanuelq to bring up my food.
- 19 hours and 51 minutes
- before
- got a great night of sleep last night, now still hanging in my room watching until i have to go cut some weight in an hour.
- 1 day and 41 minutes
- before
- dream weigh ins will be streamed live today at 8pm tonight at http:http://t.co/YWrHNf3q so you can watch me weigh in
- 1 day and 42 minutes
- before
- while the @scummanuelq @CruzGomez @johntholmes, fraser go walk around and get food. i am just relaxing watch japanese tv.
- 1 day, 13 hours, and 5 minutes
- before
- made it to tokyo and checked into my hotel. went and got a workout in w/fraser and @CruzGomez . now i am back in my hotel relaxing..
- 1 day, 13 hours, and 10 minutes
- before
- Lax to newark!!! Then newark to tokyo. My tweets will slow down once I am there. but I will try hard to keep u all updated
- 2 days, 19 hours, and 5 minutes
- before
- Well the trip to japan started. At lax w/@CruzGomez @johntholmes @scummanuelq and fraser getting some food before r next flight.
- 2 days, 21 hours, and 54 minutes
- before
- Ha! I said this yesterday but didn't plan on having a cancel flight. Got in my last workout @THEPITSLO now going to shower then fly out
- 3 days, 2 hours, and 30 minutes
- before
- @Kingsbu will do my man, I will call u when I get back and so we can hangout!
- 3 days, 2 hours, and 39 minutes
- before
- Our flight 2 sf this morning got cancel, lame! airlines changed r flights, we leave later out of santa maria N get to japan 1hr earlier cool
- 3 days, 5 hours, and 3 minutes
- before
- Just got my hair cut by my homie Jon Elliot! He is a badass barber! http://t.co/EqaMKgGL
- 3 days, 20 hours, and 8 minutes
- before
- Finished my last sparring/workout session with the pit fight team and @Pit_Master . Thanks fellas, for the great camp love ya guys!!!!
- 4 days, 3 hours, and 14 minutes
- before
- Happy Zicmas!!!!@NickMenezes @johntholmes. @scummanuelq. Except dave z doesn't have a twitter or fb account!
- 4 days, 23 hours, and 31 minutes
- before
- My rancid and toki cuddled up with me watching tv http://t.co/mUHZd1xF
- 5 days, 18 hours, and 51 minutes
- before
- Just took my ghetto version of a ice bath, had to use a trash can. Cuz the tub in my house 2 small http://t.co/wLztWPLm
- 5 days, 23 hours, and 14 minutes
- before
- "@AdrianIriarte: Glover Teixeira visa issues fixed - MMA News http://t.co/3a8Jngjw" hells ya! Its going to be so awesome to have him back!
- 6 days, 1 hour, and 42 minutes
- before
- Got through my last hard training sess for this week at the pit. Time to relax. I leave for japan tuesday
- 6 days, 2 hours, and 14 minutes
- before
- At sushi w/@scummanuelq & my dad for dinner. U should have seen manuels face when the couple next 2 r table started making out super hard!
- 6 days, 21 hours, and 4 minutes
- before
- Last strength and conditioning sess w/@Blumpkin87 over @AthlonElite tonight. I was rocking and rolling!!! Yayy buddy!!!
- 6 days, 23 hours, and 15 minutes
- before
- Hanging xmas lights cuz every house on r block has them except us. @scummanuelq @johntholmes http://t.co/Admevphv
- 1 week, 19 hours, and 23 minutes
- before
- Sparred this morning at the pit in ag. Then wrestled @THEPITSLO and mitt work w/@CruzGomez, 2 more days of hard training left in this camp
- 1 week, 23 hours, and 24 minutes
- before