DREAM: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Tatsuya Mizuno

by Jesse Holland on Mar 12, 2008 12:25 AM EDT

The road to redemption for Mirko Cro Cop (22-6-2) will begin on March 15 during the debut event for the Japanese-based DREAM promotion when the former UFC and PRIDE fighter takes on Pancrase veteran Tatsuya Mizuno (3-2) - NOT Yoshihiro Nakao as the Croatian originally reported in his official blog.

Cro Cop — the 2006 Pride FC Open Weight Grand Prix Champion — was recently released from his UFC contract after losing two fights in three attempts against opponents he was expected to throttle in convincing fashion. In fact, the lofty expectations prior to his Octagon debut were that he would capture the heavyweight title in as few as three fights.

It didn't happen with back-to-back losses to Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo.

His departure from the UFC has been reported on both sides as amicable. And Cro Cop has expressed an interest to return to the Octagon as soon as possible once he can get a few wins under his belt.

Mizuno last competed at Pancrase: Rising 9 where he stopped Masayuki Kono in the first round. His two losses came at the hands of UFC veterans Thiago Silva (KO) and Assuerio Silva (TKO).

It's not outrageous to think that Mizuno was carefully selected to help Cro Cop get back to his winning ways.

DREAM comprises officials from Fight Entertainment Group and Dream Stage Entertainment, which were responsible for the Pride FC promotion. The Cro Cop fight will anchor the lightweight tournament that includes some great talent.

To check out the entire fight card click here.

**UPDATED** Unfortunately the event was not picked up by HDNet and therefore will NOT be televised in the United States.

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Comments

Is it going to be on PPV? If not how can I see it?

by Toms Bombs on Mar 12, 2008 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

Also, I see Cro Cop finally winning a fight again.

by Toms Bombs on Mar 12, 2008 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

Is it going to be on PPV? If not how can I see it?

Fly to Japan. Unfortunately it’s the only chance you’ve got.

by Jesse Holland on Mar 12, 2008 12:36 AM EDT reply actions

If CroCop loses this he is over! I hope the old CroCop decapitation machine returns though!

by DownUnder on Mar 12, 2008 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

LEts go Cro Cop!! Kick this guys head off and come back to the UFC and take the title!!!

by brendan on Mar 12, 2008 1:22 AM EDT reply actions

Man Crocop better not be fighting another can after this. All is forgiven if he fights someone of a big name in the second fight.

by Mike on Mar 12, 2008 1:29 AM EDT reply actions

Actually you will see if CC wins he won’t even raise his hands in victory. Just walk out of the ring right away and wait for a next fight.

by Mike on Mar 12, 2008 1:49 AM EDT reply actions

CC always raises his hand in victory…..always from any fight i can recall even if its just for a second or two.

by Khaos_Warrior on Mar 12, 2008 1:56 AM EDT reply actions

Fly to Japan. Unfortunately it’s the only chance you’ve got.

Well that sucks lol. Guess we’ll have to depend on you guys for the results.

by Toms Bombs on Mar 12, 2008 2:00 AM EDT reply actions

i hope cro cop win by lhk :)

by cro cop mizuno on Mar 12, 2008 2:34 AM EDT reply actions

Is it going to be on nova tv

by riba on Mar 12, 2008 3:24 AM EDT reply actions

I really hope CroCop wrecks this guy and continues training to be a more well-rounded. Nothing would be cooler than watching CroCop rise again!

by Oddchild on Mar 12, 2008 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

Fly to Japan. Unfortunately it’s the only chance you’ve got.

nahh, he can watch it on youtube the day after the fight :)

by zheka on Mar 12, 2008 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t understand why they can’t stream this event live over the internet for like $10.

by ViolentMike on Mar 12, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah I really, really, want to see this event. I hope the whole thing will be on youtube right after lol.
Maybe that site john gave us a link for to watch the undercards.

by Toms Bombs on Mar 12, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

i have been hearing something about sopcast, its kind of as TVU player maybe you can watch it on that live.

by kyle on Mar 12, 2008 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

If CroCop loses this he is over! I hope the old CroCop decapitation machine returns though!

i love the fans like u who cheer for a fighter but say if he loses he is over

by keystone on Mar 12, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Another easy number roadsweeper opponent for CroChump. Pathetic. His losses were against Thiago Silva and Assuerio Silva!!!! WTF!

by MrAngry on Mar 12, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I really, really, want to see this event. I hope the whole thing will be on youtube right after lol.
Maybe that site john gave us a link for to watch the undercards.

I believe that website only has videos that appear on youtube or dailymotion.

by ViolentMike on Mar 12, 2008 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Crocop has announced that if he wins this fight then his next fight will be most likely in june against Jerome Le Banner.

If true oh man this would be amazing to see.

http://www.jutarnji.hr/sport/borilacki_sportovi/clanak/art-2008,3,12,,112053.jl

by Mike on Mar 12, 2008 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

Crocop has announced that if he wins this fight then his next fight will be most likely in june against Jerome Le Banner.

If true oh man this would be amazing to see.

http://www.jutarnji.hr/sport/borilacki_sportovi/clanak/art-2008,3,12,,112053.jl

Didnt cro cop beat him already in K-1?

Wow this Mizuno guy looks really tough! lol…. I dont like to judge a book by its cover but come on!

by john on Mar 12, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Didnt cro cop beat him already in K-1?

Wow this Mizuno guy looks really tough! lol…. I dont like to judge a book by its cover but come on!

Yeah they fought like 10 years ago and CC won, but this is different and it would be MMA rules not K-1.

by Mike on Mar 12, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah they fought like 10 years ago and CC won, but this is different and it would be MMA rules not K-1.

It could be under mma rules, but neither fighter knows a lick of mma so it would still basically be a K-1 match. Nonetheless
it would be extremely entertaining! I am a big LeBanner fan, and he has called out Tim Sylvia…I would love to see LeBanner vs. Sylvia

by john on Mar 12, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t get to watch CroFLOP knock out some hand picked chump to stroke his ego on TV? Thats not a DREAM..thats a NIGHTMARE…I mean whats next? Kim “Gold Digger” Couture’s next pointless exhibition bout won’t be televised either? That would be HELL!

by DaGrizzlyBear on Mar 12, 2008 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

It could be under mma rules, but neither fighter knows a lick of mma so it would still basically be a K-1 match. Nonetheless
it would be extremely entertaining! I am a big LeBanner fan, and he has called out Tim Sylvia…I would love to see LeBanner vs. Sylvia

No way Crocop could take it to the ground and probably win but he is too proud to take a guy down. He should of taken Kongo down.

by Mike on Mar 12, 2008 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

I hope this guy gets his head back on straight, unfortunately for Mirko I just don’t see it happening. Stepping down to fight weaker opponents in an upstart organization and being hand fed chumps will give “Cro Cop” a false sense of confidence. If and when he does return to the Octagon I see him taking one good shot and his mental stability never recovering.

by Ray on Mar 13, 2008 3:46 AM EDT reply actions

cro cop will not return to the ufc why should he care ufc sucks let his aponnent come to him his aring fighter hopefully dream will work a deal with gonzaga to fight mirko in japan then will see if ufc guys can hang in the ring with real mma rules

by joe on Mar 14, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply actions