Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic will face former Strikeforce champion Muhammed Lawal in the 2016 Rizin Fighting Federation open weight grand prix quarterfinals at Rizin 3 on Dec. 29 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The promotion on Monday announced the pairing, along with another quarterfinal bout that pits the returning Heath Herring against Amir Aliakbari.
Filipovic will carry a four-fight winning streak into the match. The 42-year-old heavyweight last competed at Rizin 2 on Sept. 25, when he submitted Hyun Man Myung with a first-round arm-triangle choke.