More interviews will be added as they become available.

MELVIN MANHOEF

Q: Tell us how you feel after the fight.
A: First of all, I'm happy that I won. After my K-1 fight in Amsterdam 2 weeks ago, I had to get blood drained out of my lungs... Want to see the wound?

I couldn't be as agressive as I would have liked to be in this fight. I had to be strategic because I didn't want to open up the wound by being overagressive. I was waiting for an opportunity.

I was in the hospital for 7 days and wasn't able to train. I couldn't study my opponent. But I'm a fighter, and if I can't fight, then I can't prove myself. I stepped up so that I could realize my dream, which is to win the DREAM middleweight title. I fight even if I'm wounded. Plus, today is my birthday, and I'm happy that I won.

Q: Where did you get the operation done?
A: In the Netherlands. Neither K-1 nor DREAM knew about this. I didn't tell them anything. I went to the hospital to get examined and they told me to stay for a week, which I did. I kept it a secret because I really wanted to fight. We're now in the second round of the Grand Prix, and now I can work towards my goal. I sacrificed a lot for mixed martial arts, and my goal is to be the champion. I have about 2 weeks, so I will come back better and stronger.

Q: What is the exact name of your condition?
A: It's not a specific disease. Two weeks ago I fought Remy Bonjasky, and he threw a lot of kicks and knees to my ribs and stomach. I kept on moving forward and absorbed a lot of damage. That caused blood to pool behind my lungs so I had to get it drained.

EDDIE ALVAREZ

Q: The crowd seemed to have enjoyed tonight's fights. What are your thoughts on your fight?
A: I'm really happy that I could please the crowd. It was really a great fight. Both I and Hansen came out aggressive. Our styles made the fight exciting. It wouldn't have been this way if it weren't for Hansen.

Q: The next event will feature the semi-finals and the finals. Is there anyone in particular that you'd like to fight?
A: There's no one in particular. I will have to fight 2 times in the next event. I'll have to fight 2 of the 3 remaining fighters, but it's hard to pick a particular fighter. I'm just planning on training hard.

Q: Who is the lady next to you?
A: Her name is Jamie. We're going to get married soon. And today is my mother's birthday, and I'm happy that I could give her a good gift.

Q: Hansen is known for his hard chin, and you knocked him down twice. Is there a secret to your punches?
A: There's no secret, I just punch really hard. I don't throw technical punches, I just throw them very hard. I've fought fighters who had never been KO'd or knocked down, and I was able to knock them out with my hands. I couldn't knock out Hansen, but that's because he was too tough to get knocked out.

Q: You bowed to each other and seemed to share your respect after the fight. What was going on?
A: I wrestled in high school, and when I fight a hard, competitive fight, I get a feeling of respect for my opponent. I felt that respect for Joachim, and it seemed Joachim had that feeling for me as well. It's a respect for an opponent who shared the pain of hurting each other and exciting the crowd. There are times when I share this kind of respect with my opponent.

Q: When will your wedding be? And when do you expect to have your first child?
A: I already have 2 children. I'm not sure if I want to have any more... (laughs) I am going to get married on September 13. It'd be nice to win the tournament and be at the wedding with 2 belts. I want to finish the tournament successfully and go through the wedding during my break.

JOACHIM HANSEN

Q: Your fight was fantastic. How does it feel to have such a good fight?
A: I have mixed feelings. I'm happy but am disappointed at the same time because I couldn't win. I'm happy that I was able to give the crowd an exciting fight. But I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't make it to the semi-finals.

Q: You used the rubber guard well today. There doesn't seem to be many fighters in Japan who are effective with this technique except for Shinya Aoki. Where did you learn the rubber guard?
A: I use the technique every once in a while.

Q: What is next on your plans?
A: I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know if I'll be able to fight in a future DREAM event... Right now, I just want to get some rest. I'm very tired.

Q: Your impression of Eddie Alvarez?
A: Strong. His punches were hard, and he was tough.

Q: Eddie Alvarez connected with several clen shots. Did you ever think about quitting while in the ring?
A: That thought never crossed my mind.

Q: You both bowed to each other and showed respect after the fight. What went through your mind?
A: I was really tired, and I felt respect for Alvarez. And I could sense that he was a humble person.

Q: There seemed to be a big weight difference. Do you think the outcome would have changed if you weighed the same?
A: I don't want to make any excuses. Alvarez was a truly tough fighter.

Q: Who do you think would win in a match between Alvarez and Aoki?
A: They have completely different styles. Aoki might be able to play his game, but I think it would be hard for Aoki if Alvarez can keep the fight standing.

Q: You said that you'd change your entrance music. Why didn't you change it?
A: Because I like Slayer. I kept my CDs in a friend's car when I came to Japan but I lost them all. I had to use the same music because I needed to prepare it in a hurry.

KAORU UNO

Q: Tell us your thoughts after the fight.
A: I really enjoyed the fight.

Q: You had some bad blood with Mitsuhiro Ishida before the fight. Did this make you take the fight personally?
A: I never such an issue.

Q: Your impression of Ishida?
A: As expected, he was very tough mentally, and was strong.

Q: Your right uppercuts seemed to work well.
A: I've been practicing them in training. I was surprised myself that they worked well. I'm happy that I could apply what I trained for in the fight.

Q: What instructions did you receive from your corner during the break?
A: They told me to not stay defensive and move forward. Because of my past experience at the Saitama Super Arena against Joachim Hansen, I pressed the action instead of staying on the defensive end.

Q: Tatsuya Kawajiri requested a fight against you. What are your thoughts on this?
A: I can't really think about anything right now because I've just finished my fight. The Shinya Aoki-Katsuhiko Nagata fight is still left, and it's not my decision to make.

Q: What is your impression of Kawajiri as a fighter?
A: He beat Luis Buscape today, and I think he's very tough. He's physically strong and I think it's incredible that he can beat foreign fighters with such style of fighting.

TATSUYA KAWAJIRI

Q: You openly challenged Kaoru Uno after the fight.
A: I lost my composure a bit and acted rather rudely to Uno and his corner. But as a fighter, I want to fight Uno.

Q: How was your fight against Luis Buscape?
A: It went the distance, but I was able to throw punches with evil intentions. It didn't end in a KO but I'm satisfied with my performance.

Q: Why did you openly challenge Uno right after the fight?
A: There were a lot of emotions in my head. I'm regretting it now.

Q: You could have fought your teammate Ishida in the finals if he'd won today.
A: We made a promise to meet at Osaka, but I was upset that we couldn't make it happen.