Wanderlei Silva & Mirko Cro Cop Return In Latest Rizin Event
Rizin is set to make a big return with a 16-man heavyweight Grand Prix tournament, that kicks off on September 25th from Saitama, Japan at the Saitama Super Arena.
Pride legends Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Cro Cop will be competing as well, however, the pair will be given first round byes and will instead make their tournament debuts at the December 29th quarterfinals.
Silva (35-12-1) last saw action inside a cage when he took on Brian Stann at UFC on Fuel TV 8, knocking out Stann in the second round of their contest in 2013.
Following the contest Silva was embroiled in a feud with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after refusing to undergo a random drug test. NSAC handed Silva a lifetime ban, however, it was later reduced to three years and is set to expire in May.
Silva signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA in March and will be eligible to begin competing for the organization when his NSAC suspension is lifted on May 25, 2017.
Cro Cop (31-11-2(1)) was previously scheduled to face Anthony Hamilton at UFC Fight Night 79 last November, but pulled out after admitting to the use of human growth hormones to help his injured shoulder. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) would later announce a two-year suspension for Cro Cop amongst his retirement.
In a recent press conference in Tokyo to promote the upcoming Rizin heavyweight tournament,courtesy of MMA Fighting, the Croatian had this to say:
“I was chasing Pokemon’s and somehow ended up in Japan,” said Cro Cop. “I kept chasing them and bumped into Sakakibara-san in Roppongi. He bought me a suit and shoes, and that is why I sit here right now.”
The Rizin Heavyweight Tournament will air live on the Fuji Network from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, beginning on September 25, 2016.
