Mirko 'Cro Cop,' Wanderlei Silva announced for RIZIN FF open-weight grand prix

[Kemal]

Croatian kickboxing legend Mirko Filipovic and Brazilian superstar Wanderlei Silva are among the confirmed participants for an upcoming RIZIN FF open-weight grand prix.

Former PRIDE head and current RIZIN FF boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced the Japanese promotion’s plans, with the tournament kicking off on Sept. 25 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Four of the 16 tournament participants, including Filipovic and Silva, will receive a bye in the opening round and will automatically advance to the tournament’s quarterfinal round, which is scheduled for Dec. 29.

The tournament is scheduled to wrap up on Dec. 31.

Additional tournament entrants scheduled for the opening round include longtime Japanese veteran Kazuyuki Fujita (15-11) and sumo stylist Kaido Hoovelson (1-0), also known as “Baruto Kaito.”

Opening round matchups are expected to be announced later this month.

Broadcast plans for the card weren’t immediately revealed.

Sakakibara recetly told MMAjunkie that he would also be interested in seeing former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson also take part in the grand prix.

Non-tournament bouts planned for the Sept. 25 card include Daron Cruickshank (17-8) vs. Andy Souwer (1-0) in a lightweight matchup, while undefeated women’s prospects Gabi Garcia (2-0) and Kanako Murata (3-0) will face off against opponents yet to be named.

Filipovic retired this past November just prior to receiving a two-year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency after he admitted to using human growth hormone. However, RIZIN FF is under no legal obligation to honor the suspension.

Normally, retired UFC fighters remain under contract with the promotion, which would seem to prevent Filipovic’s participation in the RIZIN FF event. However, UFC officials weren’t immediately available to clarify Filipovic’s status.

Silva’s bye was likely necessitated by – or at least appreciated after – a May accident in which “The Axe Murderer” was hit by a car during a post-workout bicycle ride.

Silva hasn’t fought in MMA since 2013. He ended a six-year run as a UFC fighter with a TKO victory over Brian Stann at UFC on FUEL TV 8. He ultimately cut ties with the promotion following a drug-testing fiasco and a settlement reached in the wake of fight-fixing claims, which ultimately resulted in his contract release in January.

Silva then signed with both Bellator and the upstart Rizin FF promotion. He was expected to make his Bellator debut in 2017, when his three-year suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission comes to an end.

[Lionheart]

Wel cool om m'n oude helden weer in Japan aan het werk te zien! En Andy natuurlijk!

[e-type]

wel gaaf hoor, open weight... Axe Murderer zal wel weer lekker gesnoept hebben om het HW geweld te kunnen weerstaan. Wordt weer ouderwets knallen rond Oud en Nieuw!

[Lionheart]

Precies, snoepen als n malle en voluit knalluhh!!:-))))
Wat mis ik de oude Pride dagen!!