Cro Cop replaces Big Nog at UFC 119

**stephaniewicked** · 08-15-2010, 11:07 PM

Nogueira injured; Cro Cop to face Mir at UFC 119!

Report: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic replaces "Big Nog" in UFC 119 headliner
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 15, 2010 at 3:40 pm ET

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (27-7-2 MMA, 4-3 UFC) replaces an injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and now meets Frank Mir (13-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in the headliner of next month's UFC 119 event, according to a report from "Fighters Only."

Although details of Nogueira's injury were not reported, a source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) a recurring hip injury is to blame.

UFC 119 takes place Sept. 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The main card airs on pay-per-view, and two preliminary-card bouts air on Spike TV.

Mir and Nogueira were slated to rematch at UFC 119. Mir, of course, won his first meeting with Nogueira with an impressive second-round knockout at UFC 92 in December 2008. Only after the fight did we learn that Nogueira was slowed by staph-infection recovery and a knee injury. Still, Nogueira praised his opponent's performance and said he was surprised by Mir's noticeably improved striking skills.

Mir is just 1-2 since that big win, which marked Nogueira's first stoppage loss, with knockout losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and a submission win over Cheick Kongo. The Carwin loss, which came at UFC 111 in March with an interim title on the line, marks his most recent outing.

Filipovic, a former PRIDE star who's now in his second stint with the UFC, looks to improve upon his recent and impressive 5-1 run. The only loss during the stretch came to current top UFC contender Junior Dos Santos, and Filipovic immediately rebounded from that loss with recent stoppage wins over Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 and Pat Barry at UFC 115.

Filipovic had been medical suspended 180 days after the UFC 115 event due to head and face contusions, but he could've sought early clearance by a physician.

The latest UFC 119 card now includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

* Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Frank Mir*
* Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
* Chris Lytle vs. Matt Serra
* Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk
* Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen
* Joey Beltran vs. Matt Mitrione

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Steve Lopez vs. Waylon Lowe
* T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino
* Mark Hunt vs. Sean McCorkle
* Pat Audinwood vs. Aaron Riley*

* - Not officially announced

**s2h** · 08-15-2010, 11:15 PM

mir gets a hold of cro cop and it could spell bad things for him...submission defense isnt his forte...

**swoleoneday** · 08-16-2010, 09:51 AM

Mir should kill Cro Cop.

In Cro Cop's prime it would have been good, but he isn't at his prime anymore.

**big.poppa.pump** · 08-16-2010, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by swoleoneday

Mir should kill Cro Cop.

In Cro Cop's prime it would have been good, but he isn't at his prime anymore.

In Cro Cop's time, he would have demolished Mir. He is getting older now though and has a smaller chance, but I am still going for Mirko

**dropshot001** · 08-16-2010, 11:17 AM

i'm hoping mirko gets the ko on mir. he definitely needs to keep the fight standing though

**bringingthehuge** · 08-16-2010, 09:55 PM

not a mir fan but he should win easily

**Hit-Girl** · 08-17-2010, 02:16 AM

UFC tends to always have good fights, but this card is one I am not that into. Not like UFC 118 anyway.

**x100696** · 08-17-2010, 10:18 AM

Cro Cop lost is heart a long time ago, no way he wins this fight! He could barely finish a Pat Barry who had two broken limbs

**SAMSON** · 09-06-2010, 05:56 AM

Mir's stand up skills have improved hugely and i can see him having the confidence to stand and trade with Mirko. Then he has the huge advantage of his ground game to turn to if he needs to. As much as I like Cro Cop and have been willing for him to explode with his Pride quality striking ever since he joined the UFC, Mir is too well rounded and should take this one.