UFC 117 Web Clips

Reigning PRIDE Open-Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko Filipovic has apparently decided to bolster the ranks of the UFC heavyweight division, a source inside the Croatian's camp informed Sherdog.com Wednesday. Rumors have buzzed of Filipovic's departure from PRIDE since his official Web site reported in recent days that he would not fight on the Japanese promoter's year-end card.

Filipovic, the No. 2 heavyweight in the world behind PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko, would make an immediate impact on a division that has long been considered among the weakest in the UFC. Terms are not known, but it's expected Fillipovic, 32, could sign one of the most expensive multi-fight deals in UFC history. A former K-1 star, "Cro Cop" moved from kickboxing to mixed martial arts in 2001, and has since amassed in impressive 21-4-2 record. His biggest accomplishment in MMA occurred just last September, when the Fighter of the Year candidate stopped Wanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett on the same night to capture PRIDE's Grand Prix crown. It was believed tournament victory would secure Filipovic a second crack at Emelianenko, whom the Croatian lost to by decision in epic August 2005 clash.

Filipovic's four losses have come against Emelianenko, former K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt, a shocking knockout against former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman  and by submission in a classic battle against former PRIDE heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Cro Cop" is renowned for his striking skills, which features a devastating left high kick that is responsible for highlight-reel victories against the likes of Silva, Igor Vovchanchyn and Aleksander Emelianenko.

The super-striker would immediately vault to the top of the contender list for Tim Sylvia's UFC heavyweight belt, should the "Maine-iac," who is currently renegotiating his contract with the Las Vegas-based promoter, remain with the organization. There has been some discussion inside the UFC that "Cro Cop," who was not under contract to PRIDE, would make his cage-fighting debut versus Jake O'Brien, a young, undefeated fighter whose strength is on the mat.

Source: Sherdog 

Talk about Cro-Cop here. 

“It’s a done deal. It looks like I will be fighting Fedor March 3rd in Russia” says Jeff Monson on the phone with InsideFighting early this week.

And with those words from Jeff Monson, the rumored fight with number one ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, is officially not just a rumor anymore.

While InsideFighting has not yet been able to get an official word from Emelianenko, and while it is impossible to guarantee that even the best laid plans will ultimately go through in any case, Monson is the first party involved in this situation to go on the record and confirm his intention to participate in a Bodog Fight super fight with Emelianenko in March, and his statement goes a long way towards providing a degree of certainty that the fight will indeed happen.

While Emelianenko is set to participate on Pride’s Shockwave New Year’s Eve card in Japan, InsideFighting does not know the details of his contract beyond that. But Monson says that his status with the UFC, where just last month he fought for the heavyweight title against Tim Sylvia and where he had fights remaining on his contract, is no longer such that it would prevent him from fighting for Bodog Fight against Emelianenko.
“My manager approached Bodog about fighting Fedor. We asked the UFC if we could get out of our contract because there was an opportunity to do this. Now we are out of it” he says.

But Monson denies that his departure from the UFC is an acrimonious one, and seems optimistic about returning to challenge for championship gold with the organization again.

“The UFC can’t lose. If I win they can say ‘here’s this guy who lost to Tim Sylvia, our champion, and he just beat the number one guy in the world’.

“I mean, what were they going to do with me now? Have me fight a few more guys and work towards another title shot? This is a good opportunity for me, and if I win, it would be a quick way back to another title shot in the UFC” says Monson.
Founded by billionaire Calvin Ayre, Bodog Entertainment Group is the force behind Bodog Fight, and is presumably a well-funded one. But Monson says that money wasn’t the biggest factor in his seeking out the fight with Emelianenko.

“They offered a pretty good sum, but it’s mostly about the opportunity to fight Fedor. It’s a good opportunity for me” Monson says.
But after going 5 championship rounds before losing a decision to Tim Sylvia not a full month ago on November 18th at UFC 65, does Monson feel healthy enough to begin training again, and when will that training begin for the fight in March?

“I’m a little banged up. I’ll begin training in two weeks. I’ll get into an actual training camp after New Year’s” he says.

Source: InsideFighting.com (via MMA Universe)

Talk about the fight here. 

Pride's Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva came out during Pride 32 and called out UFC's Chuck Liddell. Wanderlei came out saying that he will be fighting in Pride in February, in Las Vegas. That wasn't the end of Wanderlei's message.

Wanderlei then added that he wants Chuck Liddell to be his opponent. Wanderlei said that he is tired of all of Chuck's talk. So what are the chances that it will come off?

Here are my thoughts on this matter? Simple…

Most likely this is more posturing from Pride's side than actual substance, although I am certain Wanderlei really wants to fight Chuck. It's basically bait, and they are hoping the UFC will send Liddell to Pride, but don’t look for this to happen.

Final comment

Pride and UFC execs are far from seeing eye to eye, and I don’t expect it to happen by February 2007.

Discuss here.

Pride 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has successfully undergone surgery to remove a small piece of bone in his left foot. According to the Croatian news site "Justranji," Mirko will return home from Switzerland on Monday and is expected to rehabilitate his foot for two weeks before he resumes training.

If that is the case, it will be the first time that a Pride championship will have been defended on U.S. soil with the modified rules under the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Discuss about Cro Cop here