It was in front of our faces all along! Yesterday we giggled and marveled at Mirko Cro Cop chasing Pokémon but we were fools! He was at an airport, either already arrived or leaving to Japan for a RIZIN press conference where he’d announce his return! Are you kidding me!? USADA takes Brock Lesnar away and gives us Cro Cop.
2006年のPRIDE無差別級グランプリのセミファイナルでしのぎを削ったミルコとシウバの両雄が、10年の時を経て相見える可能が生まれました！#rizinff pic.twitter.com/iQ3NfpLelF
— NOBUYUKI SAKAKIBARA (@nobu_sakakibara) July 16, 2016
We should have known his love for Japan would be rekindled by pocket monsters. Either way, RIZIN announced a whole helluva a lot of things last night. RIZIN will take place 9/25 and will feature the 16 man Openweight Grand Prix they announced months ago. Quarter final is 12/29 and Semi and Final on 12/31.
RIZIN会見速報【part.2】
現在このトーナメントに参加が決定している選手は、ヴァンダレイ・シウバ、バルト、藤田和之、ミルコ・クロコップ。この時点で、藤田vsバルトの対戦が発表された。#rizinff pic.twitter.com/vg2rL6MtE2
— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) July 16, 2016
So far only four entrants are announced: WAnderlei Silva, Kazuyuki Fujita, big homie Baruto and of course, Mirko damn Cro Cop. The first round will be Baruto fighting Fujita and Cro Cop will fight as well. Wanderlei gets a bye and won’t fight until the first December card. All other entrants will be announced in August and will come from many different fighting organizations.
Also announced was that RENA will make her MMA debut, Tokoro will fight Kron Gracie, Andy Sower takes on former UFC fighter Daron Cruickshank and Asen Yamamoto fights Kizaemon Saiga. No mention of “Felony” Charles Bennet, maybe they saw him smoking blunts on Snapchat.
The English press conference was only available to Periscope viewers live at the butt crack of dawn last night, the only other video now is a Japanese one with no subtitles.
Until then, watch this highlight of Cro Cop fighting Fedor when both men were in their prime and perpetuate the rumor that they’ll probably do this again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNmQWaeu_2w
