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Feb 5, 2010 - 4:01:40 PM

By Sam Matthew, MMATorch Specialist

While Jason Amadi makes a compelling argument against cross-promotion in his most recent column, I tend to disagree that DREAM is somehow losing face because of its international efforts. If anything it shows they have the balls to throw some of their best out there and prove themselves.

The whole purpose of cross-promotion is the word "Cross" in which both organizations mutually benefit from higher exposure. Most casual American fans had probably never even heard of DREAM until Zaromskis and Manhoef started getting hyped up for the most recent Strikeforce event.

After seeing some of those highlight knockouts, it's certainly on the radar now. And the American company hasn't even returned the favor and sent some its best to Japan yet. We can only imagine what that's going to do for DREAM's ratings once it happens.

Japan also has a completely different format to their fights featuring Grand Prix tournaments that actually force competitors to have multiple fights in the same night, in addition to different rules, judging styles and arenas. The four-sided ring with ropes is completely different than the fenced-in cage.

Rules in the U.S. don't allow kicks or knees to downed opponents while elbows here are legal, so obviously when DREAM's fighters are sent to compete in foreign territory with new rules, they are at a disadvantage.

I would be interested to see how some of the American contenders fare after a plane trip to the other side of the world (though Diaz does boast one of the most stunning submissions ever with a go go plata over Takanori Gomi in Japan at PRIDE 33).

While being one of the most exciting strikers in the game, Melvin Manhoef has been beaten in DREAM and is not really considered a contender, though he was absolutely dominating Lawler until that one counter-punch landed on the button.

Zaromskis is technically the DREAM welterweight champ but he achieved this title through a Grand Prix tournament that involved multiple fights back to back. The bottom line is that it's hard to compare fighters because of the differences in rules, leagues, and fight formats.

As far as the Aoki-Melendez fight that's being setup, Shinya has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by beating a bigger American fighter (Asian competitors rarely cut much weight). I would imagine that DREAM may want Strikeforce to return the favor and send Melendez to Japan for this bout. Hell, put him in a tournament and see how he does. If he can beat Aoki on enemy ground after wearing himself out on a couple other guys, then maybe it will start to downgrade the reputations of DREAM fighters.

So while Strikeforce has been victorious with the home-field advantage so far, they haven't sent any of their guys to compete overseas yet so there's nothing to compare against. They also lost their first outing in cross-promotion to M-1 when Fedor dropped Brett Rogers.

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