UFC: Mirko Cro Cop out of Bellator 200 main event against Nelson, Rafael Carvalho vs. Gegard Mousasi to headline

With just two weeks left for one of the most stacked card in the history of Bellator MMA, it has suffered a huge blow. MMA legend Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic has been forced to withdraw from the main event spot due to an undisclosed injury.

Cro Cop was scheduled to make his Bellator MMA debut in a rematch against veteran Roy Nelson. The bout was also scheduled as an alternative for Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix. The winner had the chance to chip in as a replacement if any of the four fighters get injured.

Fans were excited to see the comeback of an MMA legend due to his past accomplishments. Cro Cop was a grand Prix championship winner in three organizations namely K-1, Pride and Rizin making him the only mixed martial artist to win three World Grand Prix championships. He is also only one of the two fighters win a world Championship in Kickboxing and MMA. Cro Cop was had momentum on his side as he was on a seven fight winning streak. Nelson on the other hand was coming of a loss against Matt Mitrione who eliminated him from the grand prix.

The co-main event between Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho and challenger Gegard Mousasi is expected to serve as the main event for the card.

Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) will be defending his belt for the fourth time. He is undefeated since 2011 and is on a 15-fight win streak. Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is coming of a victory against Alexander Shlemenko on his debut at Bellator 185 after parting his way with the UFC.