Photo:UFC.com
I had the opportunity to have a chat with Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac before his UFC 140 bout with Krzysztof Soszynski at the UFC media center in Toronto, Canada Thursday night. We covered a wide range of topics including his thoughts on the Dinamo v. Lyon Champions league match played Wednesday night alongside his training routine. The Duke also let me sit in on one of his training sessions: I will post the video and pictures of that later in the week.
Igor is a class act and on behalf of CroatianSports.com, I would like to thank him for the interview opportunity. I will also be covering the rest of the UFC 140 events culminating with Igor’s fight on Saturday night and I hope to see lots of Hrvati in the crowd. Also tune in to the Croatiansports.com’s ‘LIVE’ Sunday night show as I will be sharing my experience of UFC 140 with Denis and Ante. Catch Igor Pokrajac Saturday night in his attempt to climb to the top of the UFC light heavyweight division by defeating the Polish Experiment. Cro Cop might be gone, but we may have another Croatian (light) heavyweight to support, starting now.
“I came here to win.” –Igor Pokrajac during interview with the Croatian Crippler
Interview by Mike “Croatian Crippler” Rožić
You can follow the Croatian Crippler via twitter @crocrippler.
@ Nizic
What about organizing an interview with the legend George Chuvalo for the site. Hes a legend of boxing and the only man never to hit the canvas even after two fights with Muhhamed Ali.
@shinobi i think he looks more Like Torontos own heavy weight CHAMP and Hrvat George Cuvallo I see him all the time I I’m a close friend of the family
Great first interview crippler. You were right about him taking out the polish experiment.
I think he said his dad is from Bosna near Livno…
Great job Crippler. Too bad the audio went bad towards the end. For those who didn’t quite hear, his tata is Hercegovac. He’s most likely a Hajduk fan….His fight is the last prelim so I hope it doesn’t get chopped between the cutoff from tv to ppv.
@Croatian Crippler
When someone tells me “Croatian Sports.com” is working, the first thing I think about is all the comments that we get day in day out. The second thing I think about is your addition to the website. What you have done in less than 2 months time is amazing.
Your interview would be interesting even to a non MMA fan as you went far and beyond the typical “cookie cutter” interview and tied in Croatian soccer as well as the diet/favorite croatian dishes to your interview.
A couple of sites that have picked up your interview:
http://fightsite.hr/ufc/pokrajac-dosao-sam-ovdje-pobijediti-video/
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/mma/hrvatski-borac-na-ufc-spektaklu-dosao-sam-po-pobjedu.html
http://www.nokaut.com/index.php?id=12&lang=h&solo_news=9435
Once again, thanks for being part of the team and enjoy yourself at UFC 140 in Toronto!
nice, big ups to murter:)
@Croatian Crippler
U take it to a new level every time you post. Nice job man, very informative.
Its going to be difficult for the duke to take out the polish experiment, but i wish him all the best.
P.S. Crippler, if you grow a full goatee and held a glass full of rum and coke, you would look just like Julian from the trailer park boyz.
Man i love that show, great canadian sitcom.
Nice job dude very proud of you keep up the good work
@Rozic Fuck Your out in the the stix ,But I have to say great great interview That’s cool that you got this up and coming croatian someone else I can Follow Because he seems to have lots of heart for croatia and croatian people I like the way way he represented himself he seems like a real cool guy to hang around with too I hope to see alot more some more stuff from this Hrvat , Keep up the good work “CRIPPLER”….-U-
What a nice guy. Great job crippler.
Just another update guys on Cro Cop. Looks like he had succesful surgery on his bicep and will be going back to K1 kickboxing. Check out the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S46ylHkg-jk&feature=player_embedded#!
Igor was on target at the weigh ins coming in at 205 and his opponent 206.
@Ante
Not sure if he roots for Hajduk or Dinamo but i will ask him tomorrow.I can tell you though his boxing coach is a dinamo lol.
@Nizic
i’m from the kw area cambridge.
Great interview…I hope Igor Pokrajac becomes a real force to be reckoned with in the UFC.
I bet the farm he is a hajduk fan both parents from that region the way rozic talked about manic and Igor being sure that the fix was in he seems true to being wrapped in white Rozic once again good on you the interview looked great by the way Rozic whare in Toronto you from I am from Etobicoke -U-
Crippler,
Were you able to decipher if he was a Dinamo or Hajduk fan?
Thanks for all the great comments guys. Igor looks ready to go after his training last night he was already on weight so thats a good sign.
He says his mom is from Murter near Sibenik
@Armada
I thought I heard something like mom from Gospic/Lika, dad from somewhere near Bosnia… either way great job Crippler… you were a little nervous but you kept your poise, which is amazing for the first time!!! Keep up the great work.
I know he trains out of Zagreb, but where is Igor from “on the coast”?
Super job Rozic!
Look out Ryan Seacrest, You’re a natural man!
But I gotta say once that “Plasaj” question was asked the interview really took off 😉
P.S. Good thing you we’re holding the mic or I wouldn’t have known who was the UFC fighter!
U Boj U Boj!
Fucking awesome job Crippler, definitely best pick-up for CroatianSports.com!!!! This is what the site should be all about…svaka cast man, you already have a shot waiting for you should we ever meet. Keep it up!!
I luv this guy wow igor you are a class act good job crippler never really followed UFC before igor your interview makes me want to follow I know in my heart igor will be victorious ZA Dom SPREMNI rob NIKADA -U-
Great job Crippler!!!
Excellent interview!