Storyline

DREAM.17 took place on September 24, 2011, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This mixed martial arts showcase, promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's DREAM, features the opening round of the World Bantamweight Grand Prix. The main event pits Shinya Aoki against Rob McCullough in a lightweight bout. Other key matchups include Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen, Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum, and Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno. The event introduces a new rule set with threeobligatory three five-minute rounds, judged in their entirety by three judges. Additional fighters include Hiroyuki Takaya, Kazuyuki Miyata, and Satoru Kitaoka across the card. It’s a pivotal night for DREAM in 2011, broadcast live on HDNet.