CroCop versus Randleman set for PRIDE FIGHTING’S SHOCKWAVE
Dec 6, 2004
Another dynamic bout has been announced for PRIDE FIGHTING’S
upcoming SHOCKWAVE event: the rematch between Mirko “Cro Cop”
Filipovic and Kevin “The Monster” Randleman.” It was back on April
25, 2004 during the opening round of the heavyweight Grand Prix
that Randleman shocked the world by knocking out Cro Cop in under
two minutes of the first round. Now they meet again!
Previously announced bouts include: for the title of undisputed heavyweight Grand Prix Champion of 2004 as well as for the title of PRIDE heavyweight champion … Fedor Emelianenko versus Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira … also, for the first time in mixed martial arts history and under mixed martial arts rules, it will be Olympic gold versus Olympic gold as Japan’s Hidehiko Yoshida (1992 Judo Olympic gold medallist) takes on Rulon Gardner of the United States (2000 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic gold medallist). Other bouts will feature Wanderlei Silva versus Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Henderson versus Yuki Kondo, and Takanori Gomi versus “Little Evil” Jens Pulver.
SHOCKWAVE will take place from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and
is scheduled to debut on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND,
DIRECTV, DISH Network, and TVN on Sunday, January 2nd, 2005 at
9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST.
The first match between Kevin Randleman and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic during the opening round of the heavyweight Grand Prix stunned the mixed martial arts world. A heavy favorite to win the tournament, or at least advance to face Fedor Emelianenko, Cro Cop was dismantled in less than two minutes by Randleman.
On the flip side, since his titanic upset of Cro Cop in the tournament, Randleman went on to lose in the next round in an exciting match against Fedor Emelianenko. However, his victory over Cro Cop remains as one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history.
Randleman’s impressive list of athletic accomplishments speak for themselves: former UFC heavyweight title holder, an Ohio state-wrestling champion in high school, and three-time All-American and two time national champion for Ohio State University. Now he once again puts it on the line against Cro Cop! Will history repeat itself for Randleman? Or will Cro Cop have redemption?
SHOCKWAVE FIGHT CARD
- Fedor Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil) (Note: This is a double title match, for both the PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight championship as well for the title of 2004 Grand Prix heavyweight champion) - Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan) vs. Rulon Gardner (USA) - Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan) - Mirko Filipovic “Cro Cop” (Croatia) vs. Kevin Randleman (USA) - Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Yuki Kondo (Japan) - Takanori Gomi (Japan) vs. Jens Pulver (USA)
Fight card subject to change. More bouts to be announced soon.
Previously announced bouts include: for the title of undisputed heavyweight Grand Prix Champion of 2004 as well as for the title of PRIDE heavyweight champion … Fedor Emelianenko versus Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira … also, for the first time in mixed martial arts history and under mixed martial arts rules, it will be Olympic gold versus Olympic gold as Japan’s Hidehiko Yoshida (1992 Judo Olympic gold medallist) takes on Rulon Gardner of the United States (2000 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic gold medallist). Other bouts will feature Wanderlei Silva versus Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Henderson versus Yuki Kondo, and Takanori Gomi versus “Little Evil” Jens Pulver.
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The first match between Kevin Randleman and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic during the opening round of the heavyweight Grand Prix stunned the mixed martial arts world. A heavy favorite to win the tournament, or at least advance to face Fedor Emelianenko, Cro Cop was dismantled in less than two minutes by Randleman.
Since then, Cro Cop has been looking to re-position himself among
the elite heavyweights, re-dedicating himself to his mixed martial
arts career and beginning the road to title contention once again.
In the aftermath of the loss to Randleman, Cro Cop has put together
an impressive string of victories against the likes of Hiromitsu Kanehara, Shungo Oyama, Alexander
Emelianenko, and Josh
Barnett.
On the flip side, since his titanic upset of Cro Cop in the tournament, Randleman went on to lose in the next round in an exciting match against Fedor Emelianenko. However, his victory over Cro Cop remains as one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history.
Randleman’s impressive list of athletic accomplishments speak for themselves: former UFC heavyweight title holder, an Ohio state-wrestling champion in high school, and three-time All-American and two time national champion for Ohio State University. Now he once again puts it on the line against Cro Cop! Will history repeat itself for Randleman? Or will Cro Cop have redemption?
SHOCKWAVE FIGHT CARD
- Fedor Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil) (Note: This is a double title match, for both the PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight championship as well for the title of 2004 Grand Prix heavyweight champion) - Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan) vs. Rulon Gardner (USA) - Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan) - Mirko Filipovic “Cro Cop” (Croatia) vs. Kevin Randleman (USA) - Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Yuki Kondo (Japan) - Takanori Gomi (Japan) vs. Jens Pulver (USA)
Fight card subject to change. More bouts to be announced soon.
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