Mirko Filipovic aka Cro Cop

D.O.B.: 09/10/1974
Weight: 225LB/102KG
Height: 6’2”
Fighting style: Kickboxing
MMA Record: 22 - 5 - 2
Fighting out of: Zagreb, Croatia

Mirko Filipovic is a Croatian law enforcement officer turned kickboxer turned mixed martial artist. His professional name comes from his membership in the Croatian police's Anti-Terrorist Group, hence "Cro Cop". Filipovic has been successful in both K-1 and PRIDE Fighting Championships. On September 10, 2006, he won the PRIDE 2006 Open-weight Grand Prix, and in 2007 began fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Filipovic is famous for his left high-kicks, with which he has knocked out many of his opponents. He holds notable wins over Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba and Mark Coleman in mixed martial arts, and against Remy Bonjasky, Peter Aerts, Jerome LeBanner and Mark Hunt in kickboxing.

In 1996, at the age of 21, Filipovic entered the K-1 World Grand Prix elimination tournament. After defeating the previous year's finalist, Jérôme Le Banner, Filipovic was stopped in the next round by Ernesto Hoost. He returned to K-1 three years later in 1999, knocking out British fighter, Ricky "Tank" Nicholson, but subsequently dropping a decision against Swiss fighter, Xhavit Bajrami. Despite this, Filipovic was given a wildcard into the world tournament where he shocked the kickboxing world by destroying highly regarded K-1 fighter Mike Bernardo in what many K-1 fans regard as one of the biggest upset victories in K-1 history. Filipovic then went on to knock out Japanese star Musashi and Australian karate fighter Sam Greco on the same night before being stopped again by Hoost. In 2001 he was unexpectedly defeated by Canadian fighter Michael McDonald in the first round. Shortly thereafter, he switched to Pride FC. There, his MMA career would begin and blossom.

Filipovic had a widely successful career with Pride FC. On September 10, 2006, Filipovic won the Open Weight Grand Prix at PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute. In the semi-finals, Filipovic knocked out the PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva with his trademark left high kick. In the final match, "Cro Cop" won a third victory over Josh Barnett, who submitted after sustaining an eye injury. With these two overwhelming victories, Filipovic became PRIDE's Open-Weight Grand Prix champion, the first widely recognized championship belt he has ever won. In a post-fight interview Mirko stated if he had not won the tournament, it would have been his last night fighting. It was also his birthday.

UFC President Dana White and the UFC officially announced on December 30, during the post-UFC 66 press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, that Filipovic had signed a two-year, six-fight deal with the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promoter. It was also announced that Filipovic would make his UFC debut on February 3 at UFC 67 in Las Vegas against Eddie Sanchez, promoting him under the name Mirko "Cro Cop" alternatively with and without quotation marks. Filipovic defeated Sanchez in the first round via TKO.