‘CroCop’ to rematch Jarrell Miller at GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES

A long-awaited grudge rematch will headline GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES on Saturday June 21.

Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic (22-8, 12 KO’s) was originally set to face Sergey Kharitonov, a fellow PRIDE FC veteran, but the Russian was forced out with a hand injury.

‘CroCop’ will now face American heavyweight Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller (21-1, 9 KO’s) in a fight which will air live across the USA on SPIKE TV.

“In March last year, Miller and ‘CroCop’ took part in a tournament in Zagreb, Croatia. ‘CroCop’ was awarded the decision but it was very controversial,” explains Cor Hemmers, GLORY matchmaker and Head of Talent Operations.

“It was the first ever loss on Miller’s professional record. He was furious. When he calmed down after the event he defined the result as ‘paying his dues’ but now, just over one year on, he has a chance to settle the score.

“Of course ‘CroCop’ believes the decision was the right one, he doesn’t want to hear any complaints. So on June 21 he will be looking to get a second win over Miller but this time without it going to the judges.”

Miller doesn’t want the fight going to the judges either. Shortly after signing his bout agreement, he stated, “On June 21 I am going to whup ‘CroCop’s ass - again!” and said that on this occasion the Croatian legend “is going down”.

A finalist in the 2007 Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament in New York, Miller is also undefeated as a professional boxer. He sports a 9-0-1 record and has all his wins inside the distance, the most recent being a TKO victory in New York two weeks ago, on May 15.

Miller has also previously competed in the World Combat League, the now-defunct kickboxing league headed by action movie star Chuck Norris, where his victories included a 2008 win over Pat ‘HD’ Barry.

Filipovic needs little introduction to fans of full-contact fighting. A veteran of PRIDE FC, K-1 and the UFC, he is one of the few fighters to have found success as a two-sport athlete, securing major championships in both MMA and kickboxing.

He suffered a controversial decision loss in his last outing, a fight with Remy Bonjasky at GLORY 14 ZAGREB in March. Most observers felt Filipovic deserved the nod from the judges but it went to Bonjasky and now Filipovic finds himself going into this bout off a loss.

GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES takes place at The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles on Saturday June 21 and airs live on SPIKE TV.

It will be followed immediately afterwards by GLORY: LAST MAN STANDING on pay-per-view. Three world titles will be awarded during the event.

One will go to the winner of the eight-man middleweight tournament, one will go to the winner of the heavyweight fight between Daniel Ghita and Rico Verhoeven, plus Marc De Bonte will look to retain the welterweight title when he faces Canadian contender ‘Bazooka’ Joe Valtellini.