According to Fighters Only, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will be unable to face Frank Mir in their headlining rematch at UFC 119 (September 25th, Indianapolis), due to an injury that will require surgery. Which sucks for him, but on the bright side, you didn’t really care about that fight anyway. Stepping in for Big Nog will be Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, who has been surging back to relevance with back-to-back stoppage victories over Anthony Perosh and Pat Barry. It’s a huge opportunity for Cro Cop, who would finally become a legitimate heavyweight contender in the UFC with a win over the former champion. Mir hasn’t competed since his TKO loss to Shane Carwin at UFC 111, which followed his quick spanking of Cheick Kongo last December.
Though Nogueira had to undergo knee surgery in 2009, his latest injury is possibly hip-related. Big Nog has also battled staph infections in recent years, which delayed his meeting with Cain Velasquez, and supposedly affected his first performance against Frank Mir at UFC 92. After suffering the only two stoppage losses of his career in his last three fights, it seems that Nogueira has finally learned his lesson about fighting hurt. But after so many tough battles, injuries, and illnesses, will his body ever fully recover?
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commentsFirst off, I'm a huge Cro Cop fan and I pray to the MMA gods he headkicks "I Love Me Some Me" Mir's noggin clean off. BUT to say "he's surging back to relevance" after beating The Hippo, a natural 205 pounder who normally takes on kangarooskies in the Outback and Pat Barry, who was fighting with more broken bones than a crash test dummy?? C'mon now, playa.
After this one, I think he gets another shot at Carwin, unless Lesnar happens to loose to Cain V in which case it is Lesnar v Mir 3. Mir's been keeping pretty quiet, which leads me to believe he's probably training his ass off, for his last hurrah. He's had two good runs in the heavyweight division. If he stumbles again, or Dana won't give him a shot at the big boys, I think Frank heads for San Jose. After seeing Werdum sub Fedor, Mir is suddenly a threat to the Last Emperor.
Mir and Fedor would get a nice rating for SF, and the fight is interesting...... well at least until they get in there in the cage and Mir gets smashed.
I think it's an interesting matchup, with various ways it could end. I can see there's a lot of Mirko doubters which makes sense with the lack of drive he's had. But honestly I think him and Mir are pretty evenly matched. Mir isn't going to outwrestle CroCop, and I highly doubt he'll be making a former K-1 star look like a fool in the striking department. CroCop hits hard and his boxing is very legit. Mir doesn't exactly like getting punched in the face and it's not like he's known for having a chin.
I wouldn't bet on this fight but I think it's a toss up.
Ahhh, screw it, either way Mir gets his face smashed in, and therefore I'm a happy fan.
EDIT- How anyone can think CC is going to win is beyond me...anything is POSSIBLE..but, lol.
I can't wait for this fight, IMO this is more interesting than Mir Nog. Crocop by KO. Although I would like Mir to win as I want to see Mir vs Lesnar 3.
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