on New Year's Eve in Saitama, Japan. He went on to defeat Yokota via unanimous decision. Kawajiri faced Champion Shinya Aoki at DREAM 15 for the Lightweight Championship in a highly anticipated match up as the two are both from PRIDE and were meant to have fought in the now defunct organization. Kawajiri lost via submission at 1:53 into the first round. Kawajiri faced UFC veteran Drew Fickett at DREAM: Japan GP Final. Kawajiri rebounded from his loss against Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez by pounding out Fickett (TKO). Kawajiri finished Fickett with strikes less than five minutes into the fight. Kawajiri next fought Joachim Hansen at DREAM 17. He won the fight via submission in the third round. After finishing two opponents consecutively, Kawajiri faced Kazuyuki Miyata at a tie-in event called Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 promoted and presented by M-1 Global, DREAM, and the Inoki Genome Federation that took place on December 31, 2011, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Kawajiri defeated Miyata via submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:54 of the second round. This now making it three straight victories in a finishing fashion. While still having something of a "joint-contract" with the DREAM organization, with his next bout being at DREAM 18 on December 31, 2012, he faced long time World Victory Road and UFC veteran Michihiro Omigawa. Kawajiri defeated Omigawa via unanimous decision. This started Kawajiri's longest win streak since mid-2005. K-1 Kawajiri fought K-1 veteran Kozo Takeda at Dynamite!! 2008 winning by 1st-round KO. His next K-1 fight was at K-1 World Max 2009 Final 8 against Masato who defeated Kawajiri by TKO at 1:43 in the second round. Dynamite!! 2010 At Dynamite!! Kawajiri returned to form against former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson, repeatedly taking him down and unleashing ground and pound, winning a clear unanimous decision. Strikeforce A rematch between Kawajiri and Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez took place on April 9, 2011, at Strikeforce 33. Kawajiri lost the fight via TKO in the first round. ONE Fighting Championship In 2012, after long stints with Japanese MMA organizations and more specifically DREAM, Pride Fighting Championships, he signed a contract to an up-and-coming Vale Tudo, incorporated with Unified Rules, organization named ONE Fighting Championship - much like Pride - with its intent to revive that aspect of mixed martial arts, based out of Kallang, Singapore. Kawajiri's debut bout