Page 1 of 1

Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:06 pm
by Hilltop
From http://mmajunkie.com/news/15191/mirko-c ... ermany.mma

White had signed Filipovic less than a month ago to a one-fight deal, the first time in more than nine years that he'd done that. He had worked out terms on two additional fights, but said he'd only put pen to paper for Saturday's bout.

He brought Filipovic back because he knew the Croat is still very popular, and Filipovic insisted he wanted to make a run for the title.

But instead of getting a shot at big names like Randy Couture or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and fighting his way into title contention, Filipovic opted to bolt for Japan.

"Isn't that a dirty [expletive] thing to do?" White asked rhetorically after being queried about Filipovic's deal with DREAM. "He [expletived] me. The first time in the history of the company I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and he [expletived] me."


He didn't keep his word," White said, who said he'd had a two-hour talk with Filipovic on the day "Cro Cop" texted and asked to be able to return. "He talked about honor and all this other [expletive] and he [expletived] me.

"He fed me this bull [expletive] about wanting to take a run for the title, and what I think he did was, he went out and did this. He turned down every other [expletive] fighter I offered him, because I needed him to fight Cain. He didn't just poke Al-Turk; he poked me, too."

As is his custom, Filipovic skipped the postfight news conference and could not be reached to comment on the DREAM deal.

This is just disappointing. As a huge Cro Cop fan, I hate to admit this, but he's just dodging good competition now. Now it's back to smashing creampuffs in Japan, or whatever else he considers a quick ego boost. What a shame.

I've seen all his MMA fights (I've seen a lot of his fights in K-1 too), and he's just never been the same since the UFC. Those beatdowns from Kongo, Gonzaga, and even Overeem have obviously done something to his psyche. He's not even close to being half as aggressive, and he's completely lost his killer instinct. The guy is afraid to take a hit and that much has been obvious in his recent outings. Man, I had high hopes when he announced he'd return to redeem himself, guess I was wrong. After that stunt he pulled off, it's safe to say we probably won't be seeing him in that cage again.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:33 pm
by jTF2
safe to say he won't ever be back in the ufc. good riddance. I'l personally even venture to say I won't bother downloading his fights even if it ends in a LHK.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:39 pm
by Cammo101
I stopped caring about Cro Cop after he was exposed in back to back fights by middle of the road UCF HWs.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:48 pm
by Nemesis21
He's been on the downside, since that Gonzaga head kick.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:55 pm
by Headliner
Yup.
He hasn't been relevant in awhile. His name value is still big, but his skills don't match anymore.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:33 pm
by CPT
I guess if he had a verbal agreement, it was a pretty **** thing to do. However, if he had lost the fight, Dana White was clearly going to send him packing again, which is probably why it was only a one fight deal to begin with. So I don't feel too bad for DW on this one.

I did like this quote though:

"He didn't just poke Al-Turk; he poked me, too."

:lol:

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:38 am
by Test of Wills
What a waste.

Best of luck in DREAM.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:58 am
by CPT
Even though losing Cro Cop isn't really a big deal at this point, this is exactly why the UFC doesn't usually sign one fight or non-exclusive contracts.

Nobody cares that CC came in and beat Al-Turk, but if someone like Fedor came in and beat a high profile guy (probably Randy), only to take that attention and go back to Japan, or M-1/Affliction, it would be a disaster.

It's just not worth it for the UFC, they only made the exception because it was a card in Europe that CC could help sell.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:19 am
by Cammo101
CPT wrote:Even though losing Cro Cop isn't really a big deal at this point, this is exactly why the UFC doesn't usually sign one fight or non-exclusive contracts.

Nobody cares that CC came in and beat Al-Turk, but if someone like Fedor came in and beat a high profile guy (probably Randy), only to take that attention and go back to Japan, or M-1/Affliction, it would be a disaster.

It's just not worth it for the UFC, they only made the exception because it was a card in Europe that CC could help sell.


They also made an exception because there was very little risk. It is not like Cro Cop could come in, beat Al-Turk, and suddenly be a star. The reason they will not do it for Fedor is it could make the UFC look bad in a way this didn't, by Fedor coming in, beating up the UFC champ, and then bailing.

Re: Mirko Cro Cop bolts for DREAM

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:53 am
by Hilltop
Headliner wrote:Yup.
He hasn't been relevant in awhile. His name value is still big, but his skills don't match anymore.

He's really just a relic of a bygone era. His ignorance to learn the cage, respect new disciplines, and adapt to the new game was his downfall. With Pride and the UFC out of the picture, he'll now be living off "tune up" matches for the rest of his career.