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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bellator President Scott Coker said last Friday after Bellator 132 that the organization was interested in pursuing longtime heavyweight veteran Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Well, he may not get the chance.
According to UK MMA reporter John Joe O'Regan on Twitter, the UFC has swooped in to bring Cro Cop back themselves.
CroCop is returning to the UFC. It will be announced shortly. Just got confirmation on it now from a source very ;) close to the situation
Cro Cop's UFC run came to an end in 2011 after stoppage losses in three straight fights. Since then, he's gone 3-1 in MMA competition, with the loss coming to current UFC competitor Oleksiy Oliynyk. He's also gone 7-1 in kickboxing competition in that time.
Penick's Analysis: It appears Bellator is going to ramp up a bidding war for those with name value. Cro Cop in the UFC in 2015 is a ridiculous notion, but when Bellator and Spike TV could certainly benefit with names like that, the UFC has the money to keep fighters away from them if they so choose. Now, while that could be fuel for those arguing the UFC's power over the market, it's a good thing for fighters who will benefit monetarily.
UPDATE: UFC President Dana White has confirmed the re-signing of Cro Cop via Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. No word on when and where he'll return, but he's back on the UFC roster officially.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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