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Quoteworthy:
"I suppose nowadays in the fight game there are no easy fights. I'm stepping up as usual and hoping to take a big scalp come June 13th. I feel good. I feel like I've got the tools and the know-how and the skill to deal with him and beat him.... You know, I've got a good stand-up game -- probably not as good as his -- and I've got a good ground game. I'm a good wrestler. My jiu-jitsu's good. I've got a good chance and I believe in myself, that's the most important thing.... It's only three and a half weeks away. It is quite short notice, but hey, you know, I'm stepping up and I'm going to take it to him. We've had to change all the training. It is quite short notice, and it is a steep learning curve to change my game. I've been working eleven weeks to deal with Todd Duffee, but that's changed now and true intelligence is adaptation to environment, so if I can adapt to my environment I can demonstrate true intelligence."
Mustapha Al-Turk — who was originally slated to face undefeated American Top Team (ATT) heavyweight Todd Duffee at UFC 99: "The Comeback" at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, on June 13 -- talks about his preparation (and chances) against his new foe, Pride FC 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix winner Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. The former British Cage Rage heavyweight champion came up short in his Octagon debut against Cheick Kongo, losing via brutal technical knockout. Cro Cop didn't have much luck against the Parisian, either, dropping a unanimous decision back in 2007, which forced his exit from the promotion. Does Al-Turk really have the tools to topple the Croatian and send him packing once again or will Cro Cop have the last laugh courtesy of his trademark Mohican head kick?