Report: Emelianenko vs. Cro Cop rematch booked for November

Well, this is unexpected.

Legend Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which recently brought us Aleksander Emelianenko vs. human tapping machine, Bob Sapp (video highlights here) in Russia, has reportedly booked an actual legitimate fight for its upcoming November show.

Mirko Filipovic has been semi-retired from MMA since his inglorious last run in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but has been actively competing in his original sport of kickboxing. Emelianenko, meanwhile, has been banished to fighting in former Soviet Bloc countries and went bread-making at a monastery (pic here).

However, ValeTudo.ro and FightSite.hr bring word that these two aging big men will go at it later this fall.

All in all, this is probably one of the better fights for both men out there at this point in their careers. Aleks has shown the in-ring generalship of Custer these past couple of years -- standing with Peter Graham and going to the ground with Jeff Monson -- but he's a capable heavyweight who packs enough power that he might turn off Cro Cop's lights.

Or vice versa.

The power-striking has been the downfall for Mirko these past few years. At one point, he was coming off back-to-back-to-back knockout losses to Frank Mir, Brendan Schaub and Roy Nelson. His chin has held up this past year throughout half a dozen kickboxing bouts (and one MMA match), but it remains to be seen how he can fare against a hard-hitter in four ounce gloves.

He did alright for himself the first time out.

They originally squared off at PRIDE FC: "Final Conflict 2004," where Filipovic emerged the victor after landing a first-round head kick to secure a knockout win, as well as a future "super fight" against his opponent's big brother, Fedor Emelianenko.

Anyone think history will repeat itself?