Just because he couldn't make the flight to Australia to face Mirko Filipovic back on Feb. 21 doesn't mean that rising heavyweight prospect Pat Barry still won't get the chance to test his skills against the Croatian striker later this year.
MMAScrapsRadio is reporting that "Get Hype" will return to the Octagon to face "Cro Cop" at UFC 115 when the promotion makes its debut in Vancouver. Bout agreements have not been signed; however, both fighters are reportedly in agreement for the heavyweight clash.
The stocky New Orleans native -- who was originally penciled in to face Gilbert Yvel on June 12 -- made some noise in his Zuffa debut when he creamed Dan Evenson into a TKO stoppage via punishing leg kicks. It was his fourth straight (T)KO stoppage in as many attempts.
Barry suffered the first loss of his professional career when he walked into a Tim Hague guillotine in the first round of their bout at UFC 98 last May. That loss was quickly forgotten when he finished former friend and training partner Antoni Hardonk at UFC 104 back in October.
Filipovic on the other hand has been up and down, well, mostly down since getting decapitated by Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 70 in just his second fight for the promotion. After some overseas shenanigans, he returned at UFC 99 last June and used Mustapha Al Turk as a human punching.
Many predicted the "Old Cro Cop" was back -- but Junior dos Santos wasn't boarding the war wagon. "Cigano" outstruck the former PRIDE star until the Croat called it quits in the third round of their heavyweight tilt at UFC 103.
He returned once again at UFC 110, beating up Anthony Perosh en route to a TKO stoppage when "The Hippo" took over due to the viral adventures of "Big" Ben Rothwell.
Can he make it two in a row for the first time in his UFC career? Or will he fall victim to yet another heavyweight prospect? Time will tell.
UFC 115 is expected to feature the third (and hopefully final ) dance between former light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, fresh off their coaching gigs at The Ultimate Fighter 11.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates on this still-developing fight card.
Get the latest gear
