Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs. Mirko “CroCop” Filipović
Mirko “CroCop” Filipović will make his return to the octagon on October 29th at UFC 137, against the Ultimate fighter 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson. This is the last fight on CroCop’s existing UFC contract and it might be the last time we see the Croatian legend fight in the UFC. Both fighters are coming off of two consecutive losses and the loser of this fight could be looking for a new employer. Filipović has stated that this is his last fight in the UFC organization but with an impressive win that could easily change.
“The fight with Mirko is a dream come true, as an athlete to fight one of the best fighters in the world as in the legend “Mirko CroCop.”
~Roy “Big Country” Nelson to Fighter Spirit MMA
CroCop vs. Barry
In preparation for this fight CroCop has enlisted the services of fellow UFC heavyweight and former opponent Pat “HD” Barry. Barry arrived in Croatia earlier in the week and will be the Croatian fighters sparring partner leading up to the night of the fight. Including Barry in Mirko’s training camp could ignite the spark in Crocop’s once feared striking game and a return to the win column.
“First day in Croatia and I have a new black eye to match my @Stefan Struve eye!!! Every day here makes me miss the gloves even more.”
~Pat “HD” Barry via Twitter
In recent fights the Croatian has hesitated in the striking game and this has resulted in two consecutive knockouts. Crocop’s toughest opponent these days is no longer his inexperience on the ground but it’s his willingness to engage in the fight. Mirko has lost that killer instinct he was once known for. He no longer is willing to get in there and mix it up as he once did. Does Mirko “CroCop” Filipović still have what it takes to be a threat in the UFC heavy weight division or has father time caught up to the Croatian?
We will find out the answer on October 29th at the Mandalay Bay events center in Las Vegas Nevada at UFC 137.
CroCop Responds to Loud Mouth Sonnen
Chael Sonnen
Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen recently made various derogatory comments about the former Pride open weight grand prix champ and his country of origin, Croatia to Fighters Only magazine. Sonnen spoke about Mirko’s time as part of the Croatian Parliament.
“A member of the Croatian parliament couldn’t get his own mother out of a speeding ticket. What are they going to do, lead their 200-strong military into a battle? My hometown could invade Croatia in 15 minutes and while Mirko stands there holding a dart and a spitball, you will understand what he was really elected to.”
~Chael Sonnen to Fighters Only Magazine
Sonnen also made comments about CroCop during a UFC fan question and answer session before his fight at UFC 136 vs. Brian Stann.
“He’s been dropped more times than the ball in times square.”
~Chael Sonnen to Fans at UFC Fan Expo
(10:15) Chael Sonnen to Fans at UFC Fan Expo
Sonnen has no reason to attack CroCop in the media as they are not even in the same weight class,and there has been no previous confrontation noted between the two fighters. A fight between the two is not even a consideration and could never happen. There is over a 40 pound weight difference between the two fighters. Also some of the comments made about Mirko are just ridiculous and disrespectful.
Mirko Filipović is not known for responding to trash talk made by other fighters. CroCop has throughout his career done most of his talking in the ring and not by mouthing off to the media. In an interview though with F2F Sports in Croatia, Filipović had enough and gave his thoughts on Chael Sonnen.
“You can tell by his face that the man is slow. That he is stupid and that he has the IQ of a child’s shoe size.”
~Mirko CroCop Filipović to F2F Sports
The full interview can be viewed here. Enjoy, it is an amusing interview with the Croatian Fighter.
~Mike “Croatian Crippler” Rožić
@NIZIC
True…
Ziva Istina “let me clarify for the uninformed………..I watch MMA to see violence and destruction”
___________________________________
“the uninformed”, what? Has there been a study done about what else MMA fans typically watch? or is that just your imagination?
And you’ve put yourself in some wretched company, as you’ve admitted to watching MMA, then proceeded to tell us all who the typical MMA fan is; are you in that group of “most MMA fans”?
Forget it, I’m just busting your chops; you don’t have to defend yourself anymore.
let me clarify for the uninformed………..I watch MMA to see violence and destruction, much in the same manner people pull off to the side of the road or slow down when they see a large accident.
Most MMA fans are the same people who watch and are into cockfighting, dogfighting, bullfighting, and gay porn
@Shinobi, I know. You did a better job in your most recent post, stressing that Ziva’s “reality” is HIS “reality”, HIS imagination, HIS “negativity”. Ziva can’t even apply the term “homer” properly; when have you ever heard a national who roots for his nationality or is optimistic about his national team being described as a “homer”, LOL.
@nizic
What I meant was, that he (ziva) generalizes mma fans and mma fighters into. a group of people ofwhat he generaly thinks they are and how they act, without knowing the true facts.
@Ziva, you are one stupid bastard, either your reading comprehension is that of a retard, or you are delusionally self centered, or both. Are you an anti-Croat plant?
Can YOU understand what Hamilcar wrote dumb dumb?
Hello, hello, YOU said YOU watch MMA, then (in the same post) YOU said people who watch MMA watch cockfighting, dogfighting, bullfighting, and YOU compared MMA to gayporn; therefore, YOU are telling everyone YOU watch gayporn, bullfighting, dogfighting, and cockfighting. That’s called digging a hole and jumping in it, no?
@ante…..thanks buddy, just trying to bring some realism here.
@nizic….what hole did I dig???? I misread a comment on my ipad and my automatic speller screwed a few words in a response. No need to be bitter. Now go back to your masses. Unlike a majority of the homers who post, I don’t type with my emotions.
@Shinobi, when you say someone has “generalized,” you’re saying that what someone is saying is generally true, rather than just someone’s own personal imagination.
@Ante B, are you being sarcastic? It seems to me Hamilcar illustrated how Ziva Istina dug himself a hole, and jumped in it.
Ziva Istina is by far the best poster on this site, hands down. Stari, congratulations, after I read the gay porn comment, my coffee is now all over my keyboard. Svaka cast, cestitam.
@Ziva istina
I have been involved in martial arts since i was a kid, and i have been a fan of MMA since the first UFC, and still am till this day, but i can tell you i have never purchesd or have worn any afflication, tapout or similar t-shirts. Its not that i have anything against it, its just not my style.
So there you go generalizing again.
Not all martial arts are a sport, most were created as a form of self defence. Martial arts such as ju jutsu, judoka, karate, and tae kwon do, were invented to protect ones self, but as time went on, some of those martial arts evolved into a sport , with rules and regulations implemented, some of those are olympic events. Just like the UFC when it begin, i agree it was more like a spectacle than a sporting event. But that to has evolved over the years aswell, with rounds added and certain rule changes to accomodate the fighters health and well being. Modern UFC and mixed martial arts, are a sport and anyone that cant see that, are obviously ill informed or have no knowledge about the industry.
Good for them….now if only all the fans of mma would learn how to dress and stop wearing the affliction tshirts or similar tshirts with a sports coat. Need to learn how to dress like an adult.
@Ziva Istina
You have totally generalized on who watches and who takes part in MMA, and it couldnt be further from the truth.
I dont watch MMA to see someone get hurt, i watch it to see who will come out on top, who will outwit who, which fighters skill sets will prevail, who will outlast and who has more heart and desire to be announced the winner. It has nothing to do with watching someone get hurt, if theres a knockout or submission during the fight, great! i aint going to lie its fun to watch, but its not the only reason i watch it.
I dont watch bullfighting, cockfighting, or dogfighting, i think its cruel and unjust for something to be forced to fight with no choice in the matter. I love my pit bull terriers, but i would never force them to fight for my enjoyment.
You also said that all these fighters were after school bullies. How did you come to this conclusion? have you met any of these fighters? do you know from personal expierience? or are you just generalizing again? I know for a fact that not all were after school bullies, from the guys i know who are involved in MMA, none would fall in this category. Acually some were the ones being bullied at school, but most are involved for the love of martial arts.
Ziva Istina: “I like watching it for the same reason I like watching a good car accident, for the visual factor of seeing someone get pounded.”
“The reason I will watch is the same reason many others will watch……its enjoyable to see someone hurt. The same people would watch cockfighting, bullfighting, dogfighting, etc….”
“Or as Bernard Hopkins oncesaid….”It’s gay porn.” ”
———————————————————————-
So then it’s safe to say Ziva likes watching gay porn, cockfighting, bullfighting, dogfighting, etc….
It’s all subjective. To me, MMA is not a sport. If you need a judge to issue scoring assignments to determine the winner, then that to me is not a sport. It’s a competition, much like playing monoploy or some board game. I never imagined after-school bullies would have a program to market their abilities.
The reason I will watch is the same reason many others will watch……its enjoyable to see someone hurt. The same people would watch cockfighting, bullfighting, dogfighting, etc….
Or as Bernard Hopkins oncesaid….”It’s gay porn.”
@Ziva istina
You have a warped definition of what sport is…..
May you please describe to us what the definition of sport really is?
Nope….boxing is a present-day circus.
@ Ziva Istina
Do you call boxing a sport?
@ Ziva Istina
What’s your definition of a sport?
How is this a sport?????? Beating the crap out of your opponent while running around fenced cage is not a sport. I like watching it for the same reason I like watching a good car accident, for the visual factor of seeing someone get pounded.
skills, athleticism, strength, endurance is needed for dancing. You wont see me calling Dancing with the Stars a sport.
@Robby Matesic
Well said!
@Ziva Istina
MMA is a sport! It takes skills, athleticism, strength, endurance to be a sport. MMA does all of this. Its definitely not organized after school backyard fighting. To think so and continue to believe so, is just being flat out ignorant.
Collecting and running after a pay check is not a bad thing.
This stuff is not even a sport. It’s organized after school backyard fighting that you can see on youtube. Credit to Dana White for organizing it and making some good money in the process.
I love Mirko Cro Cop always, but I think I was way more interested into seeing GSP fighting. GSP is the 2nd best in the world right now although some debate he’s better than Anderson Silva. GSP will be missed on the card and now this card went from awesome to lacking. Penn vs Diaz should be a nice main event though but it’s not “must watch”.
Sonnen is a punk no doubt about it. He may be talented but he rarely knocks anyone out. He wins on straight durability or gets overmatched like Anderson Silva did to him.I have no respect for him, the guy is clueless as Mirko said.
Now the card is still decent, Mirtione is someone I had my eye on. He hasn’t done a whole lot in UFC and getting a huge spot here. Hopefully he takes advantage because it’s a big spot for such a young competitor. I remember when he destroyed Kimboslice, it was hilarious. Cheick Kongo is a good guy to go up against, he is an animal. That match will be good but other than that it’s not that great. Cro Cop vs Nelson will be the big match of the night and of course will be going crazy for Mirko. Roy Nelson is a disgrace to the sport, as he prides himself on being this fat guy in the cage. He takes punishment but eventually gets taken down by great speed. I hope Mirko goes out on a high and beats this mockery of a fighter.
I see WWE has mentioned which is the first time I’ve heard it on the board…I got two words for you…CM PUNK
@Croatian Crippler
I have enjoyed watching tito ortiz wailing on him since then.
@NIZIC
I feel ya….he deserves it.
mi bi ga zaklali……….
@ Shinobi
I remember when shamrock did that shit at summerslam I think it was in Hamilton. Shamrock got what he deserved when he came back to MMa he got knocked out by everyone hahah.
@Croatian Crippler
Well said, you hit the nail on the head with that analysis.
It’s pointless to critique Mirko at this point in his career. The answer is simple; he peeked in 2004-06 with his fight against Fedor and then later winning the open weight grand prix when he was 32 years old. After 32 years in sport as demanding as MMA, it’s a slippery slope downhill.
It’s always difficult and sad to see a dominant legend in any sport continue to compete with losing results. But I believe when all is said and done, he’ll still be considered one of the greatest and most dangerous fighters of all time.
This will be his last fight and I’ll be watching.
@f-friendsbrother
I never said Crocop hasnt lost some of his speed. He probably has lost a bit, but his main concern is not throwing any punches or kicks in his fights. He is able to stay in there with top contenders without even throwing ten punches in the fight until the opponent realizes that and attacks. That usually results in the KO. Crocop in K1 and MMA fought both ways again depending on his opponent. Mirko wasn’t just a counter puncher. He fought smart and would either counter or attack depending on opponents.
The bottom line is Crocop doesn’t have the killer instinct he once had. He no longer sets up his strikes or uses his kicks to his advantage. He just sits in front of his opponents and doesn’t throw anything whether it be a counter or an attack.
If Crocop actually throws his strikes and doesn’t just sit back, he MIGHT have a chance to take out Nelson either by KO or Decision.
The fight is in his hands and we will find out next Saturday what the future holds for the legend.
Mirko should have retired years ago. I know he is still collecting checks, but whats the point of tarnishing his record, status and reputation? Fighters who have dragged out their carreers to long, lose that aura and wont be thought of in the same esteem, as someone who retitres on top of their game. Mirko after his loss to gonzaga, should have thought to himself, if i can lose to a tomato can like this, maybe its time for me to call it quits. Mirko lost more than that match that night, he lost his drive, belief in himself and that killer instinct he once possessed, and once you lose that, there is no point of hanging around and making an arse of yourself.
Dont get me wrong, i have been a great admirer of cro cop over the years and been watching him since his debut as a feared striker against Takada, and have enjoyed watching him add more dimensions to his fight game, and become a true mixed martial artist. Thats why it hurts me to see how much he has fallen. October 29th will be telling on where he really is, but win or lose, mirko should hang up the gloves for good.
Now for that punk chael sonnen, theres one line you should never cross, and that disrespecting ones nation and country and this piece of shit, crossed that line. I know it stems from jealousy, that mirko has more of a name and more money then himself, but you just dont go there. Just like when ken shamrock ripped down the croatian flag at a wwf paperview event. These type of insults should never be forgotten, weather they were spur of the moment coments/actions or part of building their persona, it is inexcusable, and these two fucks have made my shit list, given the chance they should be dealt with!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txOvKOO5JIs
@Croatian Crippler disagree wholeheartedly. He has lost his speed to be able to counter. When he fought JDS he was completely outclassed by youth.
But again when has CC ever been the first to engage? Even in his K1 days he would back peddle and wait for the perfect opportunity. The reason it worked back then is because he had the speed and power to pull it off.
Let’s not kid ourselves CC is too old for the fight game. Whoever loses this fight needs to retire.
Sonnen likes to talk smack. His post interview, was WWE style. You were almost ready for Jim Ross to say “It’s going to be a slobberknocker”. Side note He LHK’d current WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio when he fought as Dos Caras Jr.
CroCop will likely be done after this fight. He’s past his career and has been for awhile. It’s going to be hard for Mirko to knock out Nelson, as you can see he seems to have an iron chin. Nelson though has 1 punch KO power (As evident vs Schaub).
If Nelson takes him down (big IF), fight will be over.
Prediction: Nelson in Round 2 via sub
Cage=Ring sorry
@Robby Matesic
Ya your right it started after the Gonzaga fight. Crocop thought he was going to just steam roll everyone in the UFC without training. I’m not sure if the readers on here know but Crocop before the Gonzaga fight was partying with Jean Claude Van damme in Croatia couple weeks before the fight. It just shows how much he was concentrating on training. He also didnt start training in a cage until recently which is a big difference compared to a cage.
Van Damme and Mirko hung out?
I hear they were filming Timecrocop. OH!
@Wallace @Miro Balej
Ya there could be a chance in japan but PRIDE is no longer in business. The UFC bought them out and there is no longer open weight fights boys. The only organization that might do open weight fights is DREAM in japan and they don’t pay their fighters. Not a chance these two will fight for free and there are under a UFC contract. Also Sonnen has said numerous times he would never fight in Japan.
@F-FriendsBrother
Willingness to engage in a fight doesn’t just mean to attack an opponent. It means your willingness to actually fight and throw strikes whatever the situation. Whether it be counter striking or not. If you watch a lot of Crocop’s older fights he does both counter and attack depending on his opponents skill set. These days all he does is fake hes going to throw a punch but never does except for a left straight every now and then or he will just push them away. Thats because his unwillingness to engage in a fight!!!
When has CC ever engaged? Maybe when he fought Yoshida (a judo specialist). He fights using a counter striking style.
@Cro Crippler,
Once again, well written and entertaining. Keep up the great work.
@Wallace,
Good stuff with the comments. Sounds like you know your shit about MMA too.
cro cop > see you in PRIDE ,.
and againts Japaness fighter
The thing I don’t like about this sport is seeing a guy taking strikes while he’s already unconcious on the canvas, it’s like almost literally beating a dead horse. I like stand-up fighting myself.
And it’s good to know how to fight, it’s alot of fun for sure; but it’s not the answer, brains beats brawn. “no shit”, I know -haha.
The most vicious, violent, horrific Knock Out I ever saw in ANY combat sport was when Igor ‘Ice Cold’ Vovchanchyn Knocked out Francisco Bueno: Igor caught Bueno with a very stiff overhand right – that rendered Bueno unconcious – what happened next was surreal – Bueno falls forward from said punch in almost super slow motion, to the point where Igor actually double clutches – THEN, THE RIGHT CROSS – OH THE HUMANITY! and a left hook to boot. Bueno escaping that alive is the equivalent of a person jumping out of the burning hindenburg and landing in a hay stack.
Article: “A fight between the two is not even a consideration and could never happen. There is over a 40 pound weight difference between the two fighters.”
Actually, they’d do it in Japan: “open weight grand-prix” ring a bell?
Cro Cop has fought opponents 40+ pounds heavier than him more than once; Cro Cop has been outweighed by his opponents in probably 75% of his fights.
Boxing weight classes are archaic; MMA weight classes are slightly more up to date.
Granted, the more heavy the fighters are, the less difference. For example, the difference btwn a 140lb fighter to a 170lb fighter is greater than the difference btwn a 200lb fighter to a 230lb fighter, etc. – it’s the ‘Law of Diminishing Returns’. – still, the weight classes are archaic.
Great article! I totally agree with you. Cro Cops biggest problem is his willingness to engage. It started happening once he joined the UFC. Especially after the Gonzaga fight. Hopefully we will see the left high kick one last time considering this might be his last fight in the UFC or possibly his career.
Another good interview from the legend Mirko CroCop
http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/10/21/mirko-filipovic-i-want-to-prove-to-everybody-that-im-still-cr/
Hello readers of CroatianSports.com here is another funny video of CroCop and Pat Barry in Croatia. I guess Mirko is California Dreaming about a win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmD_8wFFTUU&sns=em
Chael Sonnen is a tool, always has been. The Brazilians hate him too for all the shit he’s talked. He’s A LOT of talk, and he does it for publicity. I fucking hate the guy, but he’s smart.
CroCop will knock big country out with his foot and that’ll be the end of his career.
Father time caught up with Cro Cop a while back. He is done. That and this caged animal fighting system is not the same thing as what he did in Japan. Dude is collecting a paycheck at this point in his career and there is nothing wrong with that.