The UFC made it official today that former UFC heavyweight, and Pride Grand Prix champion Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic will be making his UFC return against Mustapha Al-Turk. One of the best strikers in MMA, Filipovic’s reputation as a top heavyweight have taken a turn for the worse starting with his uninspired performances against Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheik Kongo in his first foray in the Octagon. Despite impressive victories over Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, and Heath Herring among others, his stock has dropped significantly of late starting with his heavily publicized but ultimately underwhelming 1-2 performance in the UFC. 

Filipovic has had only three fights since that, two victories over Tatsuya Mizuno and Hong Man Choi sandwiched around a controversial and ultimately disappointing no contest with Allistair Overeem. Filipovic was badly losing his bout with fellow Pride veteran Overeem before bowing out due to an inadvertent strike to the groin from Overeem.


Mustapha Al-Turk will be making his second UFC appearance, his first a loss to heavyweight contender Cheik Kongo. Ironically both Filipovic and Al-Turk have their most recent UFC losses against Kongo. The bout will take place at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.


Following this bout, three of Filipovic’s four bouts will have taken place in Europe, two in England, one in Germany, and one in Las Vegas.