Photo: Sherdog
Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac(right) in action
Saturday night at UFC 140 Mirko Crocop’s protégé Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac will face Ultimate fighter veteran Krzysztof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski. Pokrajac is coming off a victory against Todd Brown with a first round TKO in his last UFC outing and Soszynski a decision victory over Mike Massenzio at UFC 131. The polish experiment also has a decision victory over fellow Croatian fighter Goran Reljić at UFC 122. The Zagreb native currently sports a record of 23 wins and 8 losses in his professional MMA career with his most notable win over UFC veteran James Irvin.
Photo: Sherdog
Krzysztof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski is out for blood
Igor recently left CroCop Team and has joined the Croatian Top Team in Zagreb which has added a different element to his pre- fight training. Pokrajac is the last remaining member of the three Croatian fighters which entered the UFC around the same time. Mirko Cro Cop has retired from MMA and Goran Reljić was released from his UFC contract leaving Pokrajac the job of representing Croatian MMA in the UFC. The bout Saturday night should turn out to be an all-out war as both fighters like to stand in the pocket and throw the leather. This fight could go either way as both guys have very heavy hands and good take-down defense.
Photo: Sherdog
Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac
This fight is too close to call but I think it will come down to conditioning and which guy has the better chin. The fight will be televised for free on Ion television and for more information on broadcasting of the fight visit www.iontelevision.com. I also will be doing a one on one video interview with Igor Pokrajac later in the week for croatiansports.com. If there are any specific questions you want me to ask Igor just post it in the forum and I will try my best to get them in during the interview.
Small Highlight Video of Igor Pokrajac
Written by Mike “Croatian Crippler” Rožić
You can follow the Croatian Crippler on Twitter @CroCrippler.
@ Plasaj
Good question to ask.Thanks
@ Dinamo Dennis
Yes Stipe is in the UFC but Pokrajac,Reljic and Mirko all came to the UFC around the same time. Miocic came after them.
Pitaj ga zasto se zove “The Duke”?
Stipe Miocic is in the UFC ?? Its not only Igor.
There’s always checkers in the crowd, fans everywhere, If anyone kept up with the elections is shows where dijaspora votes came from, chile, argentina, australia, canada, iran, etc, losa bila 45′ rasula nas preko svijeta.
This event is in Toronto this weekend, I really wanted to go but I won’t be able too which kinda sucks.
I’m sure there will be some checkers in the crowd though.
Nice piece here Crippler. That’s very cool that you’re going to the show in the Tdot too, enjoy that!
I don’t know anything about Igor other than this article, but it appears that he’s got a great shot at it, and so I’d have to say, go get it Igore!
Why don’t you ask Igor “How has your game/approach changed since you started fighting in the UFC?”
@Robby Matesic
Most of the guys on the Croatian Top Team are relative unknowns at this time. I do know however that Goran Reljic was there training with Pokrajac recently and so was Anthony Perosh for a couple days. Not sure if Reljic is now with CTT also.
@Ante Kvartuc
Its full steam ahead hopefully I get some good interviews Saturday along with the Pokrajac interview.
This site is a team effort and without you and Denis this site would be nothing. You guys also deserve a huge Congrats.
@ Crippler
I’m stoked for you man. You went from 0-100 mph in two months time after asking to be our MMA writer. And look at you now, credentials to UFC in your own backyard.
Can’t wait to see how it goes. Congrats on the hard work thus far. Now you’re on the big stage. Enjoy!
Great article and I look forward to this UFC 140. I saw the Reljic/Soszynski fight and it was close. Reljic was dominant and then he lost steam. Pokrajac looks faster, more precise and more agressive than Reljic so I’d bet on him to win.
Another great article Crippler! What other fighters are with Croatian Top Team?
@Ante B
zelg little crocop galesic is fighting for Bellator Fighting Championships and he lost his first fight with them. No word when he fights next.
Stipe hasn’t been booked for another fight yet but rumours say Travis Browne might be next but Stipe said he would update me when he knows.
Also thanks i will keep them coming.
Crippler,
Excellent article, keep it up! Also, what’s been going on with Zelg Gelesic? I haven’t heard about him in a while. Also, who does Stipe Miocic fight for? Have you heard any updates as to when he’s fighting again?