UFC 103 Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

Junior dos Santos stopped Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in the third round by verbal submission after Cro Cop told referee Dan Miragliotta he could not see following a right hand that had landed to his eye socket.

Dos Santos (9-1) was the aggressor from the opening bell. He threw punches and kept Cro Cop off balance, not letting him get his vaunted left leg kicks off for the most part. Cro Cop threw a few, but none landed flush.

Despite a solid first round, dos Santos had a developing mouse under his left eye. He was not deterred. The young Brazilian kept moving forward.

Cro Cop (25-7-2) started moving into dos Santos, closing his striking distance. This slowed dos Santos down for a moment, but Cro Cop's left kick to his groin midway through the second frame slowed him even more. After a short rest, dos Santos motioned he was OK to continue.

The top heavyweight prospect changed up his strategy to start the third and final round. He worked to the body, and it paid dividends immediately. Cro Cop began to wobble after a series of punches and knees to his midsection found their mark.

Dos Santos pushed him up against the cage and kneed to the body. From there he moved upstairs and landed the punch that ended the bout. Cro Cop staggered and pawed his eye before looking at referee Dan Miragliotta, who stopped the bout at the 2:00 mark of the round.

ROUND by ROUND Mirko Cro Crop Vs. Junior Dos Santos

Round 1
Dos Santos lets his hands fly and backs Cro Cop up against the cage. Cro Cop defends his way off the cage and lands a kick to the right side of Cigano’s body. And another. Cigano is applying pressure with punching flurries, but nothing is landing clean. Finally a right hand gets through. Cigano explodes with punches, but Cro Cop is game. Cro Cop is sporting a lump over his right eye. He shoots for a single and fails as Cigano backs away. The Croatian goes to the clinch and briefly throws Cigano to the floor. The Brazilian is cut over both eyes. Cro Cop lands a sharp left straight that rocks Cigano’s frame. Cro Cop is starting to land. Cigano attacks with an uppercut and Cro Cop covers up well. Cro Cop’s defensive strategy is clear: he’s covering up and staying stationary instead of moving away. Cro Cop gets in another left at the horn.

Jordan Breen scores the fight 10-9 dos Santos
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Cro Cop
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 dos Santos

Round 2
Cro Cop fires a head kick that comes up short. Cro Cop lands a stinging low kick and Cigano belts him with a left hook. Cigano charges while unloading. Cro Cop shows good defense, but he’s not answering. Cigano continues to attack and lands an uppercut. Cro Cop covers and pushes him away when he gets close. Cro Cop misses another headkick. Cigano lands a stiff-left hand to the midsection. The crowd is starting to boo as Cro Cop does nothing. The fighters clinch and Cro Cop lands a left knee to the body. Cigano answers it with a knee of his own. The Brazilian falls to the canvas as Cro Cop lands a kick directly on the groin protector. Referee Dan Miragliotta gives dos Santos five minutes to recover. Dos Santos opens up a cut above the left eye of Cro Cop with a right hook. Cigano also connects with a body kick to end the round.

Jordan Breen scores the fight 10-9 dos Santos
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 dos Santos
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 dos Santos

Round 3
Cro Cop comes forward and lands a straight left. And another. Dos Santos is not phased. He answers with a solid body shot from his right hand. Dos Santos lands three knees to the body and a left hook. Another knee crushes Cro Cop’s body and he’s hurt. Cigano goes to the head with a knee and the Pride veteran is wobbly. Cigano continues the torrent of punishment with knees to the body. Cigano lands a right hand to the left eye of Cro Cop and the Croatian quits. The fight is over. Cro Cop took the punch directly on the eye and then waved to referee Miragliotta that he was done. The official time is 2:00 of round three.
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VIDEO Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

MMA Videos | Dos Santos VS Cro Cop Video

PICTURES Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

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