Mixed martial arts veteran and former UFC competitor Mirko Cro Cop has locked in a fight contract with Bellator MMA. With Cro Cop having neglected his previous USADA enforced suspension, many fight fans have come to wonder what Bellator MMA plans to do with the fighter.
Cro Cop failed a drug test for an illegal substance during his tenure with the UFC that landed the fighter a two year ban retroactive to Nov. 9, 2015. While it has been more than two years, the fighter has not been inactive for his two year requirement.
After being dropped from the UFC roster, Cro Cop went on to fight under the Rizin promotion on multiple occasions. Now the fighter is set to face off against fellow former UFC competitor Roy Nelson at Bellator 200.
Speaking to MMANytt.com, Bellator CEO Scott Coker offered his thoughts on the matter.
“Look, Mirko fights in RIZIN in Japan and USADA has a relationship with the UFC and they have the whole time.
“Why didn’t they go after them two years ago when he fought for RIZIN? Why is this a question? Is this just popping up because he’s fighting for Bellator at our two hundredth event?
“If you wanted to take action, you should’ve taken action a long time ago.
“When we booked him we didn’t even know there were going to be any issues. He’s already fighting so we thought he was going to be able to fight.”
“Listen, USADA works with the UFC, they’re doing their own thing, so good for them, go do it.
“I just feel like the timing of it is, you know, it’s little bit questionable.”
“At the end of the day, if you really wanted to enforce it, you should’ve enforced it two years ago when Mirko fought in Japan.”
Bellator 200 goes down May 25 inside the SSE Arena in Wembley, London, England.
