Cro Cop Leaves UFC to Fight For 'Dream' in Japan

PRIDE FC 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Champion, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, will no longer compete inside the Octagon, signing an undisclosed contract with the newly-minted DREAM promotion.

He will fight on March 15 against a yet to be named opponent. Lightweights J.Z. Calvan and Shinya Aoki will also fight on the card — it was the only other match announced for the debut show.

The Croatian still had two fights remaining on a UFC contract that he signed with much fanfare and high expectations toward the tail end of 2006. No details were provided regarding how or the reason he was released from his contract.

However, speculation has swirled that after two losses in three fights the UFC was not willing to pay him the base $350,000 to compete on under card matches (he more than likely pocketed more than that.)

It's obvious that Dana White tried to re-structure his contract which would pay him less over his last 2 fights given his performance in his first 3 fights. That's probably what the so-called deadline was about.

DREAM is a new collaborative effort between FEG (K-1, HERO’S) and former Dream Stage Entertainment staff (Pride), according to the announcement. Cro Cop was a star in K-1 prior to becoming a star on Pride FC. And he’s still extremely popular in Japan.

His legacy will be tarnished and it's uncertain if he will ever regain his dominant form. He looked uncomfortable and very beatable in the UFC. Very different from his intimidating, ferocious style that warranted a fearsome reputation. This will go under the classic definition of a 'Bust'. Even if he shows signs of becoming the feared fighter he once was, he'll always be remembered for looking very mediocre in the octagon.