Women’s Pound-for-Pounder Fujii Gets New Year’s Eve Date at Dream

Fujii (Pictured) has verbally agreed to square off against Spanish standout Karla Benitez on the Dec. 31 card, Sherdog.com learned Wednesday from a source close to the bout. Specific details regarding the weight limit, length and rule set of the contest were not immediately available.

Dream’s year-end show, officially titled “Fight for Japan: Genki Desu Ka! New Year! 2011,” is expected to be headlined by featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya’s title defense against ex-Shooto belt-holder “Lion” Takeshi Inoue. The card will also feature a clash of Japanese lightweight stars and former training partners Shinya Aoki and Satoru Kitaoka, plus the semifinals and final round of Dream’s 2011 bantamweight world grand prix.

Fujii began her MMA career by rattling off a remarkable 22 consecutive victories, 18 by way of submission. In the 13 months since suffering the first loss of her career -- a highly controversial split decision defeat to Zoila Gurgel in Bellator Fighting Championships’ inaugural 115-pound title bout -- the 37-year-old grappling ace has fought and won twice. “Mega Megu” outpointed fellow Smackgirl veteran Emi Fujino in the Sengoku ring last December, then earned a unanimous nod in a July rematch with Jewels poster girl Mika Nagano.

A decorated European muay Thai champion, Benitez fights out of Meguro Gym in Barcelona. The striker went unbeaten through her first seven MMA bouts but suffered her first loss on Oct. 18, a unanimous decision defeat against Finnish prospect Katja Kankaanpaa.