Quick hits from DREAM 13 in Japan on Monday: Bibiano Fernandes held onto his featherweight belt with a split decision over Joachim Hansen; Josh Barnett returned to MMA action after 14 months to kick Siala-Mou “Mighty Mo” Siligia in the balls before submitting him; former EliteXC lightweight champ KJ Noons out-decisioned Andre “Dida” Amade; Ryo Chonan defeated Andrews Nakahara via unanimous decision; Cole Escovedo head-kicked Yoshiro Maeda into unconsciousness; Katsunori Kikuno KO’ed Kuniyoshi Hironaka; and Ikuhisa Minowa snapped on a fight-ending toe-hold on Jimmy Ambriz.

Josh Barnett vs. Siala-Mou “Mighty Mo” Siligia:

KJ Noons vs. Andre “Dida” Amade:

Bibiano Fernandes vs. Joachim Hansen:

Cole Escovedo vs. Yoshiro Maeda:

Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Jimmy Ambriz:

Muscular Development caught up with UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar at the Arnold Classic bodybuilding championship and trade show. It’s funny just to write that. Anyway, the only thing remotely interesting that Lesnar says is that he thinks he’s faster than he was pre-illness. So why am I posting this? Because of the reporter doing the interview. The reporter for Muscular Development. I half-thought it was all a joke. Take a look.

There’s really nothing more that needs to be said about this clip of Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem kicking a pad held by a little girl who’s smaller than one of his thighs. Watch his expression, the flicker of laughter that crosses his face as she falls. Maniacal. that’s the word to describe it. Maniacal.

It’s official: Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione will take place at UFC 113 in Montreal on May 8. The UFC confirmed the bout today after a week of rumours that had the fight bumped to a still-hazy Fight Night in April opposite Strikeforce and Mitrione bumped in favour of newly acquired boxer James Toney. Much ado about nothing on both fronts.

Jeremy Botter over at Brawl Sports asks whether or not Fedor Emelianenko is really worth all the trouble. He explains that Fedor’s management at M-1 Global are “currently at an impasse with Strikeforce” and are trying to renegotiate the fighter’s contract to get more money.

Pretty normal stuff in the world of pro sports – an athlete’s stock  rises and he tries to cash in. But as Botter points out, Fedor has Strikeforce over a barrel. Strikeforce’s TV deal with CBS hinges on having Fedor in its stable – Fedor is the promotion’s biggest, most-marketable asset at the moment (especially with Gina Carano off making movies).

In all likelihood Strikeforce will cave, or at the very least the two sides will come to a compromise considering the promotion can’t afforf to lose its franchise fighter. Maybe the UFC dodged a bigger bullet than we thought when it refused to give in to Fedor’s demands when he was on the market last summer.

Shinya Aoki – minus those magic grappling pants of his – will make his highly anticipated Strikeforce debut in a lightweight title bout with champ Gilbert Melendez on the promotion’s April 17 card. Aoki’s DREAM title will not be on the line, although bragging rights will be. Aoki has made it clear he believes he’s the top 155-pounder on the planet and the way he snapped Mizuto Hirota’s arm in two during Dynamite!! 2009 on New Years Eve certainly solidified his reputation as a stone-cold killer.

Aoki vs. Melendez is the third title bout scheduled for that particular Strikeforce card. Gegard Mousasi will put his light heavyweight title on the line against “King Mo” Lawal and Jake Shields will defend the middleweight belt against Dan Henderson.

Toronto BJJ regular Andre “Dida” Amade will be back in action at DREAM 13 on March 22. The Chute Boxe-trained striker will face former EliteXC lightweight champ KJ Noons.

Dida will be looking to end a three-bout losing skid that last saw him fall to DEEP lightweight champ Katsunori Kikuno at DREAM 10. Noons, meanwhile, recently signed with Strikeforce and is on a three-fight winning streak, although he hasn’t fought since he knocked out Yves Edwards at EliteXC: Return of the King two years ago.

Also on the DREAM 13 card are Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Jimmy Ambriz, Ryo Chonan vs. Andrews Nakahara and Kikuno vs. UFC vet Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

In other TBJJ-related news, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, brother of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (who’s pictured above working out with Dida), will face Falaniko Vitale at May 15’s Shine Fight III.

Rua (18-10-1) is a PRIDE vet with a pair of knockouts in his last two bouts for the Brazil-based Bitetti Combat promotion. Vitale is a 35-fight workhorse who hasn’t competed since a loss to Frank Trigg under the Strikeforce banner two years ago. Ricardo Mayorga and Din Thomas will headline the Shine event.

Martin Kampmann cut himself shaving, er, during training and is out of UFC 111. He’ll be replaced by Jake Ellenberger in the bout against Ben Saunders at March 27 event.

As expected, the axe has fallen on the UFC careers of Hall of Famer Mark Coleman and Frank Trigg. Coleman, of course, embarrassed himself against Randy Couture while Trigg threw his face into Matt Serra’s right fist a few times at Saturday’s UFC 109. Also dropped after a loss at UFC 109 were Tim Hague and Phillipe Nover.