Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic file photo: Sherdog.com
The pay-per-view main event for the UFC’s debut in Indianapolis was reshuffled, as a hip injury forced Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira out of his scheduled Sept. 25 rematch against Frank Mir. The UFC tapped Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic to face Mir atop UFC 119.
Cro Cop’s June win over Patrick Barry was the last fight on his UFC contract, and the promotion was said to be negotiating with the Croatian star to headline a November card in Germany. It was not clear if Cro Cop, who has hinted at retirement several times over the past year, has signed a multi-fight deal.
Nogueira told Tatame.com that he injured his hip in training and will be undergoing surgery on both sides of his hips and on his knee. If the surgeries are successful, Nogueira said he should be ready to return to training in four months. The loss represents a blow to the UFC 119 card, as the Mir vs. Nogueira match had a back story. A surprisingly lopsided win for Mir when the two first met at UFC 92 in December 2008 followed their coaching stints against each other on “The Ultimate Fighter.”