Cro Cop released from UFC contract, free to compete for Rizin FF

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic is free to fight again.

The UFC has officially released Filipovic, it announced in a statement Tuesday obtained by Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting. The 41-year-old heavyweight is currently serving a suspension due to a USADA violation that will keep him from competing in the U.S. until November 2017, and he requested that the UFC terminate his contract.

The release was expected, since Japanese promotion Rizin FF announced July 15 that Cro Cop would participate in an openweight tournament later this year.

Filipovic has not fought since a TKO win over Gabriel Gonzaga in April 2015. He compiled a 5-6 record in the UFC after legendary runs in the PRIDE and K-1 promotions saw him become one of the biggest stars in MMA.