Ben Rothwell and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic likely to meet at UFC 110

MMAjunkie.com Staff, MMAjunkie.com Nov 6, 1:48 pm EST

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A heavyweight clash between Ben Rothwell (30-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (25-7-2 MMA, 2-3 UFC) is likely to take place in February at UFC 110.

The matchup was first reported by Sherdog.com, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed with sources close to the event that the fight has been discussed as a possibility but not signed.

Although not officially announced by the UFC, UFC 110 is expected to take place Feb 21. The event, which takes place at Acer Arena, marks the UFC's debut in Australia.

A middleweight bout between Wanderlei Silva and Yoshihiro Akiyama could take the card's main-event slot.

Rothwell, a former star of the now-defunct International Fight League, signed with the UFC earlier this year and made his promotional debut in a TKO loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 104 in October. Including a loss to Andrei Arlovski in July 2008 at "Affliction: Banned," Rothwell has now dropped two of his past three fights. The skid followed a career-high 13-fight win streak the Miletich fighter posted from 2005 to 2007.

Filipovic, meanwhile, returns to the octagon following a second-round submission loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 103 in September. Filipovic, a former star of PRIDE Fighting Championships, made his UFC debut in 2007 with a TKO win over Eddie Sanchez. However, he then suffered back-to-back losses to Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo, and he then left the UFC to compete in Japan, where he went 2-0 before returning to the UFC with a controversial TKO win over Mostapha Al Turk (the referee failed to see Filipovic's illegal, but accidental, eye poke).

Following the latest loss, UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com Filipovic might be dropped by the organization. Rumors of a potential retirement, partially spurred by "Cro Cop," then surfaced. However, it appears the Croatian fighter will enter the cage at least once more.

For complete coverage of UFC 110, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

(Pictured: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic)

Check out more UFC News at MMAjunkie.com. This story originally appeared on MMAjunkie.com and is syndicated on Yahoo! Sports as part of a content-partnership deal between the two sites.

Updated Nov 6, 1:48 pm EST
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26 Comments

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  1. colin c
    26. Posted by colin c Mon Nov 9 3:15pm EST

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    Didn't he shatter an ankle or something? I recall some injury.

    And Louie- he never beat Nog, he was SDubmitted. He beat Barnett and Wandi for the grand Prix, in the same night. and that was after Fedor who he lost a decision to. Also he never ducked Hunt, they fought.

    Honestly i keep hoping he gets it back, he is young enough to keep fighting, but if the Cro cop we been seeing is coming?? let me keep my memories. Saw him avenge his loss to randellman..... was incredible.
  2. MMA Metalhead
    25. Posted by MMA Metalhead Sun Nov 8 3:53pm EST

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    Wish the writers would actually get there facts straight.

    Cro cop lost to JDS via THIRD ROUND TKO. Not second round submission.
  3. Konbini
    24. Posted by Konbini Sun Nov 8 9:37am EST

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    damn..its gonna be akiyama vs silva..i like both fighters, but i`ll have to root for akiyama..
  4. Jesse
    23. Posted by Jesse Sat Nov 7 11:37pm EST

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    Cro Cop should drop down to 205
  5. ZBGC4EVR
    22. Posted by ZBGC4EVR Sat Nov 7 10:22pm EST

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    WHY?...and WHY? again...Cro Cop showed,again, in his last fight that he is past his prime,and Rothwell got @#$%-slapped around the cage repeatedly in his 'big debut'....What is this fight set out to prove?..Cro Cop wins,so what?..Rothwell is not even a top 25 HW....OR ..Rothwell wins,and again so what?...Cro Cop's days were done a few fights ago....so,I shall ask one more time..WHY?...
  6. Alex
    21. Posted by Alex Sat Nov 7 3:22pm EST

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    GUYS, stop talkin about Crocop like hes the same fighter he used to be. He's clearly A LOT slower & hesitant than he used to be. His body has not handled age well & his confidence is very low. That's like comparing the Mike Tyson of 2005 to the Mike Tyson of the 80s! Crocop is also a very small heavyweight considering how gigantic they are in the UFC. If Crocop is to continue fighting, he needs to drop down to light heavyweight. Watch his fight versus Fedor's brother and you will see how quick, strong & elusive he was versus a bigger opponent. http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80605083/
  7. Ranger275
    20. Posted by Ranger275 Sat Nov 7 1:46pm EST

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    Mirko is so unbelievably shot that it's not funny. I'm tired of explaining to people that he used to be a good fighter. He'd struggle in the old KOTC events nowadays.
  8. Louie
    19. Posted by Louie Sat Nov 7 11:15am EST

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    howerd... i wouldnt say that fedor fight is what changed him. he went out and won the pride heavy weight championship after that. beating silva, nogueria, and barnett in the tourney.
  9. Howard Z
    18. Posted by Howard Z Sat Nov 7 8:01am EST

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    Ever since Fedor Emelianenko broke Cro Cop in a Pride bout some years back, Cro Cop hasnt been the same. Cro Cop also ran from Mark Hunt while he was fighting in Pride. Once a decent fighter with a questionable chin, now a UFC has been living off past glory. i would Like to Cro Cop prove me wrong, but he doesnt look like the fighter he was built up to be..
  10. Charles M
    17. Posted by Charles M Sat Nov 7 7:07am EST

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    CroCop hasn't evolved his game one bit. Hes still the exact same fighter he was during the pride days in terms of skill set. If he only had a freaking ground game along with some decent takedowns he would be a beast...imagine him going for a shot with those tree-trunk like legs - damn! In todays mma game you really need to be well rounded to compete at the highest level - once his standup starts failling him he really has nothing else to fall back on. This takes a lot of pressure away form his opponent because he doesn't have to worry about being taken down or getting in the clinch or what have you. If he was a true mixed martial artist he would have tried to get a black belt in BJJ to help out the weakest parts of his game...
  11. wha?
    16. Posted by wha? Sat Nov 7 1:28am EST

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    Cro-Cop should stay in K-1. The cage is too small for him. For those of you who don't understand K-1, go find a tape.

    Ground and pound is so @#$% boring.
  12. ballztothewall
    15. Posted by ballztothewall Sat Nov 7 1:24am EST

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    Cro Cop should really just retire. He had a great career but he refuses to change his fight plan against these fighters that are more well rounded. He wants to stand and bang but it's not going to work if the other guy is also throwing leg kicks at you and all you're doing is circling and pushing away. The fire is gone. He knows it. He's just fulfilling his contract.
  13. After the Flesh
    14. Posted by After the Flesh Sat Nov 7 12:28am EST

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    Cro Cop does great against smaller fighters. When he fought Wanderlei the second time, he bullied Wandy before knocking him out with that kick of death. I think dropping to LWH would be best for Cro Cop because he can push people around and create that distance for his left high kick. Whether or not he'll do well is another question however considering he doesn't do well when he gets pushed around.

    Oh well should be an interesting fight. WAR CRO COP.
  14. Daniel
    13. Posted by Daniel Fri Nov 6 10:40pm EST

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    Should of droped to lhw fight someone his own size way better chance for a win just look at randy he knowns the heavyweights are not the the same size as when he started fighting
  15. Tim
    12. Posted by Tim Fri Nov 6 10:22pm EST

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    If the UFC thinks they can bring a sub-par event with crappy fighters to Oz and expect a turnout they are sadly mistaken. Of course Wanderlei is a great exciting fighter who always gives 100 percent so that is good but who else are they going to bring down? I haven't really seen one good fight that's rumoured for this card!
  16. Jonathon
    11. Posted by Jonathon Fri Nov 6 8:17pm EST

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    I think It is dangerious to Keep putting Cro Cop in there, His claims of loss of vision durring Santos Fight is signs of damage. I admire Cro Cop for his early career but he is risking alot to fight in a Different sport then the one he knows and still comparing it to the same thing. Japanese MMA and Pride MMA had different rules and a 20' standard square ring UFC 32' from side to side Octagon that realistic has no cornners to break up the circling game changes alot of Elements. Realisticly they are different sport under the same blanket name. They Need to Standardize MMA more get rid of all the rings, throw down the cage size limit to make it 20 to 25' max instead of the Oversized monster space they have in UFC. I will feel Horrible for cro cop if he loses and just ok if he wins so it's kinda lose lose fight. It does nothing for either fighter to win and is tragedy for Cro Cop if he loses.
  17. HR-gorge
    10. Posted by HR-gorge Fri Nov 6 7:19pm EST

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    It's the battel of the losers. I perdect cro cop throws in the towel at weigh ins.
  18. David
    9. Posted by David Fri Nov 6 5:45pm EST

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    Better Idea

    CRO-COP vs KIMBO

    you know its not going to hit the ground.

    www.informativesports.com
  19. James E
    8. Posted by James E Fri Nov 6 5:35pm EST

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    Not a harrible match up, by any means. It keeps them both fighting, loser gets cut and the winner lives to fight at least once more (perhaps).
  20. <i>jayyolf1</i>
    7. Posted by jayyolf1 Fri Nov 6 4:52pm EST

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    # 1, I agree: yawn.........

    Cro Cop QUIT in his last fight, he clearly doesn't want it anymore
  21. Danny N
    6. Posted by Danny N Fri Nov 6 4:40pm EST

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    i wish it was cro cop of 5 years ago. Crop Cop will always be known as a legend and dangerous striker, but the game of age and the body just wearing out has caught up. He's no longer the most dangerous striker.
  22. <i>bigbrother09447</i>
    5. Posted by bigbrother09447 Fri Nov 6 4:34pm EST

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    Should have given Dan Henderson his money when they had the chance. With injuries UFC is quickly running out of bankable superstars.
  23. <i>claytonandresen</i>
    4. Posted by claytonandresen Fri Nov 6 4:07pm EST

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    Micro actually went 2-0-1 when he returned to Dream in 2008, the 1 being a No Contest to Alistar Overeem in Dream 6 which was caused by "Alleged" low blows to Micro's groin.

    Man some of these MMA Writers SUCK, most of the time you guys dont even get the facts Right.
  24. <i>angrypete3</i>
    3. Posted by angrypete3 Fri Nov 6 3:58pm EST

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    a fight between two guys who will NEVER contend for the Heavyweight title....Cro Cop came into the UFC being hyped as a destoyer who would run through the division..We all know how that turned out..Rothwell is a solid fighter with tons of experience, but he's just not an elite contender...I say Cro Cop KO 3rd
  25. Michael
    2. Posted by Michael Fri Nov 6 3:56pm EST

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    he's thrown almost no head kicks in the ufc....lost a lot of fan support because of everything he has done.
    I just wanna see some head kick KOs
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