‘Cro Cop’ Drops from Dream 5
The much anticipated albeit never confirmed bout between Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and
fellow K-1 stalwart Jerome
LeBanner (Pictures) has again been nixed, and will
not take place at the July 21 Dream card at Osaka Castle Hall.
A Cro Cop-LeBanner matchup was first teased as a potential bout for June 15's Dream 4 middleweight grand prix continuance. However, the bout was never made official, and Filipovic was then curiously slated to face Ralek Gracie (Pictures) in a grappling bout. Cro Cop was eventually forced out of the grappling bout due to an elbow injury.
The bout was again rumored for the forthcoming July 21 Dream 5 effort, however, Filipovic announced Sunday on his personal blog that the bout would not be taking place.
Filipovic explained that he was initially slated to face LeBanner, but following LeBanner's decision to face K-1 kingpin Semmy Schilt (Pictures) on June 29, Cro Cop then expected to face Samoan slugger Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga. However, Siliga then pulled out of the fight, leaving the Croat without an opponent.
Rather than opt for another opponent, Filipovic confirmed that he will undergo an arthoscopy on his injured right elbow this week to heal his nagging injury, and also take time to recover from a lingering knee injury. Cro Cop explained that he hoped the time dedicated to recovery would allow him to be ready for Dream's Sept. 23 card at Saitama Super Arena.
"My goal is to become the first heavyweight champion in Dream and to do that I need to be ready to fight on September 23," wrote Filipovic. "I'm not interested in summer time, vacations or things like that; I'll focus on getting back to shape and hopefully I'll fight in September."
A Cro Cop-LeBanner matchup was first teased as a potential bout for June 15's Dream 4 middleweight grand prix continuance. However, the bout was never made official, and Filipovic was then curiously slated to face Ralek Gracie (Pictures) in a grappling bout. Cro Cop was eventually forced out of the grappling bout due to an elbow injury.
The bout was again rumored for the forthcoming July 21 Dream 5 effort, however, Filipovic announced Sunday on his personal blog that the bout would not be taking place.
Filipovic explained that he was initially slated to face LeBanner, but following LeBanner's decision to face K-1 kingpin Semmy Schilt (Pictures) on June 29, Cro Cop then expected to face Samoan slugger Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga. However, Siliga then pulled out of the fight, leaving the Croat without an opponent.
Rather than opt for another opponent, Filipovic confirmed that he will undergo an arthoscopy on his injured right elbow this week to heal his nagging injury, and also take time to recover from a lingering knee injury. Cro Cop explained that he hoped the time dedicated to recovery would allow him to be ready for Dream's Sept. 23 card at Saitama Super Arena.
"My goal is to become the first heavyweight champion in Dream and to do that I need to be ready to fight on September 23," wrote Filipovic. "I'm not interested in summer time, vacations or things like that; I'll focus on getting back to shape and hopefully I'll fight in September."
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