Hrvatski borac Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović vratio se pobjedom nakon godinu dana stanke i kratkog prekida karijere. U japanskoj Saitami Filipović je u Grand Prix Rizin meču pobijedio Južnokorejanca Hyun Man Munga gušenjem u prvoj rundi.
Filipović (43) je deset godina mlađeg i deset kilograma težeg protivnika već na početku meča srušio na parter i "polugom" brzo završio borbu. Nakon osam godina Filipović se pobjedom vratio u Japan, zemlju gdje je i postigao svoje najveće uspjehe u karijeri, u kojoj sada ima 32 pobjede, 11 poraza i dva neodlučena ishoda.
Grand Prix Rizin je eliminacijski turnir, a Filipović se ovom pobjedom plasirao u četvrtfinale. Protiv zasad nepoznatog protivnika borit će se 29. prosinca, dva dana kasnije na rasporedu je polufinale, a istog dana je i veliko finale.
Mirkova pobjeda oduševila je i sve njegove navijače diljem svijeta koji su zasuli društvene mreže raznim komentarima o meču, a većina se posebno osvrnula na Cro Cop-ovo slavlje polugom.
So spontaneous, so awesome. Loving this situation with Cro Cop and Wanderlei. Nothing in the world quite like Japanese MMA. #RizinFF
— Christopher (@LeChristopherAG) 25 September 2016
If UFC title fights can be set up like Silva Vs Cro Cop, fans would be getting what they deserve #RizinFF
— Khiem Le (@le_khi3mchi) 25 September 2016
The fans have spoken!! wandy vs Crocop official. bizarre and totally brilliant #rizinff
— CombatDocket (@CombatDocket) 25 September 2016
What is this world. Mirko Cro Cop just arm triangle choked a man inside a ring. #RIZINFF
— Yellow Power Ranger (@Sugarhigh5me) 25 September 2016
CRO COP BEAST MODE AT RIZIN #rizinff
— 1Wz (@1WzWz1) 25 September 2016
Cro Cop just won without throwing a single kick #rizinff
— Ricardo Perez (@TheRicardoPerez) 25 September 2016
Cro Cop looks for keylock from full mount, pounds the ribs, then snatches an arm-triangle choke! Myung taps easily. Surreal stuff. #RizinFF
— Sherdog.com (@sherdogdotcom) 25 September 2016
Cro Cop is on a four fight win streak for the first time since 06/07. And at 42 secures his first arm triangle! Hero!! #rizinff pic.twitter.com/TlyQZXwJXL
— Alan Murphy (@AlanMurphyMMA) 25 September 2016