Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

International mixed martial arts star Mirko Cro Cop has left the UFC and joined the new Japanese based promotion, DREAM, it was announced at a Wednesday press conference.

"I'm very excited to be here again," he said. "I'm so excited to be part of this."

Cro Cop (22-6) was expected to be one of UFC's premier attractions and a heavyweight title contender when he signed a six-fight deal in December 2006, but after stopping Eddie Sanchez in his first fight, he dropped two straight, losing via knockout to Gabriel Gonzaga and dropping a lackluster decision to Cheick Kongo most recently in September.

Afterwards, he contemplated retirement, but a reported clause in his contract that allowed the UFC to renegotiate his deal following two straight losses was invoked, and the two sides mutually agreed to part ways.

During the DREAM press conference, the 33-year old Cro Cop stated that he would like to return to the UFC's octagon one day, but still felt more comfortable fighting in a ring, which will be utilized in the new promotion.

Cro Cop also announced he'd be fighting on the promotion's first event, which will be held March 15 at Saitama Arena. No opponent has been named yet.

DREAM promoters also apparently scored another international coup, as world top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko announced in a pre-taped statement that he and the upstart M-1 Global organization would work together with the new group.

Other notables affiliated with the group are highly regarded lightweight Kid Yamamoto, Shinya Aoki, Mach Sukurai, J.Z. Calvancante, and Royce Gracie.

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