Hemdoz

The producers of DREAM, the new Japanese MMA promotion borne out of the ashes of PRIDE and K-1 HERO'S, have set forth their "dream" match for the annual end-of-year fight festival known as Dynamite: a rematch between former PRIDE aces Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic.

CroCop fought most recently at the inaugural DREAM event, easily dispatching Pancrase veteran Tatsuya Mizuno via TKO in a mere 56 seconds. Emelianenko's last fight occurred at the Yarennoka New Year's Eve show, where he submitted 7'2" K-1 giant Hong Man Choi via arm bar in the opening round. Both matches were held at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the former "home court" of PRIDE FC.

While the DREAM producers are excited at the opportunity to stage a rematch of one of the biggest PRIDE fights ever, the bout would be contingent on the success of each fighter during the interim. A source indicates that both Emelianenko and Filipovic are expected to compete at least once more for DREAM in the meantime.

Their original contest, staged at PRIDE - Final Conflict in August of 2005, became one of the most talked about MMA fights in history, as Emelianenko was able to back down the K-1 veteran with impressive striking, and apply his superior ground game en route to a unanimous decision victory.

After CroCop bounced back to capture the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix Championship, many expected he would be granted a rematch with Fedor in PRIDE. But the Croatian Sensation would surprise the MMA world by being one of the first top PRIDE fighters to cross over to the UFC.

On a Japanese TV special previewing the DREAM.1 event, Emelianenko was touted as one of the elite stars of the new promotion. CroCop appeared in a brief interview segment where he expressed his desire to reclaim his place among the top MMA heavyweights in the world and earn a second shot at Fedor, after his disappointing 1-2 run in the UFC.

Information from MMAnews.

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Rumbin

Why is this exactly a dream come true? Is there any doubt of the inevitable outcome? I know its fighting and anything can happen but Fedor beat the living hell out of Crocop the fight time and I dont see the need for this.

Plus I dont wanna see Fedor rematching people when Barnett is out there

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The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell

How is it not a Dream come true? Would you rather see Fedor vs Bob Sapp next?

giguer

Why dream? CroCop lost to Gonzaga and Kongo. For me is nothing for dream...

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Dirty Fighter

Guys, it says it is for the end of the year, and it will only happen if they both continue to win. It is way too early to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

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NateRupe

Didn't Fedor say Cro Cop was the toughest fight he ever had? I think I read that somewhere, sorry if its not true.

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Crashsti

Why am i not excited about this fight should it occur? CroCop went 1-2 in the UFC and then goes overseas and beats a guy he was a 12-1 favorite over. Fedor has'nt fought a ranked heavyweight opponent in years. i guess i'm just not interested in this fight at this time. It simply makes no sense.

FatCat

I'm with ya Crash. Absolutely nothing to be excited about.

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AikaImmortal

The first matchup was epic. I guess I am the only 'old guard' fan around who wants to see this happen.

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FatCat

There are at least 10 fighters out there that deserve to fight Fedor before Cro-cop. I'm not so sure what this fight will prove for anyone. Entertaining yes, meaningful, not really.

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Crashsti

There is no doubt that this could be a great fight. I just have doubts as to how it fits into the grand scheme of things. What does it prove for both Fedor and Mirko?

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rickbruiser

No disrespect or anything, but what 10 fighters would you choose to fight Fedor that could possibly sign with Dream over Mirko. Even though this isn't even set in stone.

FatCat

There's only a handful that can actually sign with DREAM, but there are at least 10 fighters I'd rank above Mirko was my point. The fight that needs to happen way before a Cro-Cop rematch is Fedor vs. Barnett and most definitely a Couture match. Like I said, either way it will be entertaining, but what can Mirko possibly do different in this fight? It's a bad match-up for him. Not only that, what if Fedor loses? Where does that put his career since Mirko was manhandled in the UFC?

It's a silly match-up with no implications, much like all of Fedor's fights over the past 3 years. If Fedor wins, whooptie doo, he beat someone he was expected to beat. If he loses, Fedor's stock plummets and Cro-Cop still isn't the number one fighter in the world. IDK, I just don't see the allure of this fight, but I guess it is one of the best match-ups DREAM could come up with.

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basslogic4003

In keeping with the "crocop can't lose if he wants to return to the UFC" thing, if he loses this fight, we won't be seeing him in the UFC. That kinda sucks,but anything can happen.

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AikaImmortal

Seeing as the first matchup set an all time attendence record for Saitama Super Arena, its an excellent marketing move.

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T-Bone

Maybe I'm in the minority (surprisingly) but I'd really like to see this fight.

I respect the opinions of others but I'm not too interested in the grand scheme or the implications.

The way I look at it....I just wanna see some good MMA and those two can provide it.

giguer

Fedor say that Crocop was the better fighter to fight him. But he say too that he want to fight the best fighter and he fight HMC.

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AikaImmortal

HMC was who the promoters gave him and he took it. Fedor isnt the kind of guy to turn down fights and Barnett was contractually tied to World Victory Road and could not fight Fedor.

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Flying Triangle Choke

I'd love to see this, and I agree with Aika. Plus I think if another fight with Fedor can't motivate Cro Cop to be at his best, then nothing can.

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theEmpiric

Is that what CroCop is blaming his loss to Kongo/GG on? Not being able to get motivated to fight them. What a slap in the face.

Im sorry but if CC cant get motivated to fight and beat lower ranked oppenents, he doesnt DESERVE a fight with Fedor. CC is one of my favortie fighters, but I dont think this fight qualifies as anything close to a dream come true.

Fedor and CC can definately provide a great MMA fight, but so can Tyson, Huerta, Guida, GSP, A Silva, even Leben for gods sake. Fedor is supposed to be the #1 HW/P4P fighter in the world, how will a win over CC (in the lowest peak in his carear.... right?) prove anything?

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