Joachim Hansen is the new GP champion, he did this at DREAM 5 on July 21 2008 which took place in Osaka-Castle Hall. Since Joachim’s war with Eddie Alvarez back in DREAM 4, which is ranked one of the best fights in DREAM.

He has submitted Kultar Gill in am arm bar 2″33 minutes in the first round presented as a reserve fight. Eddie Alvarez who was thought to go the final winning Kawajiri KO 7″35 in the first round but had to miss his chance to the final by a serious eye injury . Joachim took Alvarez’s place in the glorious final and he KOed Shinya Aoki in a ground&pound 4″19 in the first round and got the golden champion belt of DREAM 5 light weight division and received 10000000 yen (93000USD) in prize money. Do you think Hansen was lucky? Let’s listen to his story.

Asgard: Congratulations for the champion,Jocke! It was a lot of awesome strikes and this made everybody very crazy and excited. Aoki didn’t have very much time to prepare this time and lost the match in toe to toe.
When did you get the call from DREAM about Black Mamba (Kultar Gill) fight?

Joachim: I got the call about 3 to 4 weeks before the fight.

Asgard: What did you think about his style? And what was your fight plan?

Joachim: He is dangerous and unpredictable. I was going to fight him on the ground and luckily he took me down and I finished him off in an arm bar.

Asgard: Could you save your energy in the fight?

Joachim: I tried not to drive in the top gear. But he was so damn strong; I had to pull his arm with all of my power and strength.

Asgard: I see. Who is the man you have mentioned in the speech to dedicate your fight?

Joachim: He is my Japanese fan named Taktuo. I heard he had been operated for cancer and was fighting for his life. He didn’t know I was coming and before the fight I visited him, and he was very surprised to meet me. In his room he did not talk much but I told him not to give up and I decided to fight for him. Aristo’s mother and Jay’s father are also fighting for cancer. They gave me the power to win.

Asgard: What happened in your dressing room after the fight with Kultar Gill?

Joachim: I was sitting in my dressing room and Eddie Alvarez knocked on my door. He said that the doctor stopped him from fighting due to the eye injury in a war with Kawajiri and he wanted me to fight in the final with Aoki instead. Eddie is a real nice guy.

Asgard: Can you tell us more about the Aoki fight?

Joachim: I listened to the Norwegian national anthem and then I knew I was ready to fight. I know Aoki, I fought him 2 years ago. Aoki took me down first. Sitting in his half guard I tried to stress him with strikes. Utilizing my legs, we went back to a standing fight and he got me in a Gogo Plata. I was careful this time and I succeeded to pull my arm out. I stood up and started to shoot strikes. My left hands connected really well and Aoki went unconscious with the second shot.

Asgard: How did you feel the moment of the victory?

Joachim: A bit strange and very very wonderful.

Asgard: How are you going to spend the prize money? Are you going to training camp?

Joachim: I don’t know yet.

Asgard: Alvarez is supposed to come to your next title match, how do you want to fight?

Joachim: In this DREAM 5 I took his place, you can say. He is a very tough fighter and I haven’t planed anything yet but I will try my best for my fans. The next fight may come in November. For the time being I want to relax to enjoy summer. It was very hot and I was very tired when I came back from Japan.

Asgard: Thank you for your time.

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