A massive heavyweight rematch has been added to Bellator’s historic 200th show in London.
The promotion has announced that combat sports icon Mirko Cro Cop will make his Bellator MMA debut against former rival Roy “Big Country” Nelson at Bellator 200.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson II
A man known for his ridiculous highlight-reel, Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2, 1NC) heads to Bellator whilst riding a career-best 8-fight win streak. This includes TKO wins over heavyweight grand-prix fighter “King Mo”, Satoshi Ishii, Amir Aliakbari, and Gabriel Gonzaga. The Croation famously won grand-prix titles in K-1, PRIDE FC, and RIZIN, owning additional career wins over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Josh Barnett (3x), Mark Coleman, and Kevin Randleman.
Roy Nelson (23-15) enters the contest having exchanged wins and losses for the past two years, most recently losing a heavyweight grand-prix quarter-final match-up to Matt Mitrione at Bellator 194 last month. He made a successful debut in Bellator late last year, beating heavyweight grand-prix alternate Javy Ayala via unanimous decision.
Nelson and Cro Cop fought once before, however. The two met in a featured heavyweight fight at UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz in October of 2011. Nelson won via TKO in round three after landing too many unanswered blows from the crucifix position. Despite looking great early, Cro Cop announced his retirement post-fight.
Funny how seven years after that ‘retirement’, Mirko Cro Cop is statistically in the best form of his career.
Bellator 200 is live from the SSE Arena in London, England on May 25. As previously announced, the show will feature three other big fights.
Rafael Carvalho defends his middleweight title against Gegard Mousasi, Michael “Venom” Page returns to take on David Rickels, and “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis faces Linton Vassell.
More fights should be announced in the coming weeks, but the show is shaping up to be a big one.
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