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Junior dos Santos "Cigano" 9-1 (2-0 UFC) vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic 25-6 (2-2 UFC, 1-0 this run)

The Story So Far: If you do not know the recent history of Cro Cop in and out of the UFC I do not have the time or space to fill you in.  To sum up: top fighter in the world, struggled in the UFC, came back and won, used the UFC for a larger payday from someone else, Dana White freaked out, Feritta saved the day, and Cro Cop is back.  He is looking to show that the head kick machine from before is still capable and able to make a run in the UFC Heavyweight Division.  A win here makes two in a row and puts Mirko very close to a title shot.  Weird, but probably true.

                Dos Santos was a toss away fight for Fabricio Werdum to help Werdum get a title shot.  Dos Santos was a good kickboxing prospect, but his "Enter Sandman" to Werdum's chin provided him with instant credit and recognition the UFC.  A win over a legend, regardless of his current skill level, would either provide him with a title shot or put him one fight away.  This is a fight that is going to be very exciting and has major significance for the UFC Heavyweight Division.

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Conventional Wisdom: These fighters are very similar in style and their age provides expected pros and cons in their games.  Santos's youth makes him quicker and more athletic than the older Cro Cop.  Cro Cop's age has given him much more experience as he has 25 more fights and Cro Cop has been fighting the top competition in the world.  Santos will be the favorite because Mirko's last UFC run still has left a foul taste in everyone's mouth.

                Both fighters look to finish fights and not by way of submission.  Santos has never submitted an opponent and Mirko has not had a grappling submission in 5 years.  The general belief is Santos is the future and Cro Cop is unfortunately the past.  Junior is quicker, has a reach advantage, and has a solid chin.  Expect him to be the aggressor and catch Mirko before the third bell rings.

WKR Analysis: I am not sold on either fighter.  Cro Cop left the UFC and fought horrible competition.  He came back and fought a grappler who tried to land the KO punch through the first round.  Al-turk used the worst gameplan ever and he still only lost due to an eye poke.  Mirko showed almost nothing in his return and I refuse to believe he is back because he beat an average fighter by way of eye poke.  Santos is a great kickboxer and a good MMA fighter.  Struve and Werdum are solid grapplers, but Santos has yet to face a well rounded opponent.  Cro Cop is not that, but he is a good enough striker to provide a new test for Santos.  A win here is huge for either fighter and while I wish Mirko would make a run, Santos is being fed good matchups and he will eventually fight for the title.  However, his fast rise will be slowed similar to Cain's was as a fighter sooner than later will show his weaknesses.  Expect Santos to eventually be a top level heavyweight, but he is not there yet.

Interesting Fact: Santos trains under Minotauro and Anderson Silva.  Yea, he is going to be good.