Junior Dos Santos to face Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic at UFC 103?
Various reports say that Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic, coming off a win over Mostapha Al Turk at UFC 99, will take on Junior Dos Santos at UFC 103 on the main card. Dos Santos was pulled off of the UFC 102 card earlier today for an unspecified reason. Here’s what he had to say:
They took me off the August 29 show. My opponent?s changed. I?ll probably face Cro Cop. If I beat him I?ll be in really good standing. If that?s truly the case, I?m guaranteed on the main card and in the main event of the evening. If I were to fight now it wouldn?t be on the main card?. To me it?s incredible. When they asked me if they could change the fight date I was a bit bothered, because I wanted to fight right away. I?ve been away for some time now. But the Fertitta brothers asked me and I accepted. After that I found out it would be against Cro Cop and was overjoyed. It?ll be a big opportunity in my career. Lots of good things have happened in my life and this is one more. I?m going to make the most of it.?
This is interesting for a couple different reasons. First and foremost, after UFC 99, there were reports that Cro Cop had spurned Dana White and the UFC to sign with DREAM. The two had a handshake deal for UFC 99 and the UFC had plans to sign Cro Cop to a longer term deal afterwards. After hearing of Cro Cop’s plans to sign with DREAM, Dana blasted Mirko:
He fucked me. The first time in the history of the company I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and he fucked me.” …
“He didn’t keep his word. He talked about honor and all this other shit and he fucked me.
“He fed me this bull shit about wanting to take a run for the title, and what I think he did was, he went out and did this. He turned down every other fuckin’ fighter I offered him, because I needed him to fight Cain. He didn’t just poke Al-Turk; he poked me, too.
Reportedly, Lorenzo Fertitta made the flight out to meet Cro Cop and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse to stay with the UFC. Now, the UFC has given Cro Cop one of their up and coming heavyweight prospects. Dos Santos is a serious step up in competition from Mostapha Al Turk. He is 2-0 in the UFC, with wins over Fabricio Werdum and Stefan Struve. It appears as if the UFC has made Cro Cop happy by giving him a lucrative contract, but in turn, have given one of their top prospects a chance to really make a name for himself by beating one of the better known stars in MMA. It should make for a great battle.
UFC 103 takes place in Dallas, Texas on September 19th. This fight will certainly make the main card, and perhaps will fill the co-main event slot. Other rumored fights for this card include Martin Kampmann vs. Mike Swick, and Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg. Many rumors state that Rich Franklin will headline the event, against a yet-to-be announced opponent.
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“Dos Santos is a serious step up in competition for Mostapha Al Turk.”
I think you mean you either mean “FROM Al Turk” or “for CRO COP”
Thank you kind editor. You are correct. I appreciate it.
-TB
This is very big step up from Al-Turk. I can see Dos Santos beating the shit outta Mirko. Jr has some very sick hands. He throws some pretty good combos and has very good range as opposed to CroCop who usually throws just a straight left and rarely jabs. This fight is a toss up to me still. I’ll be rooting for Mirko though