Mirko "CroCop" Re-Signs with DREAM, Overeem Possible in July
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 12:19 PM EDT
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PrintAccording to a translation by Robert K over at FreeFightVideos.com of a Sportal website news item, Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic has re-signed with DREAM in a three-fight extension that will see him possibly take on rival Alistair Overeem in a K-1 rules match in July:
Mirko Cro Cop will return to Japan for his comeback fight after today announcing a three fight deal with FEG, the parent company of Dream and K1. Leading Croatian sports website Sportal broke the news. Cro Cop's first fight will most likely take place in July.
“The wish of the Japanese promotions is for me to fight Overeem in a K1 rules bout in July. I’m all for continuing our battle from last year.” said Cro Cop.
The Japanese promotion Dream where quick to react after it was revealed that Cro Cop was close to signing a deal with the UFC. Dream has offered Cro Cop three fights, two under mixed martial arts rules. One of those could be a December bout with Fedor Emelianenko. Since his 2005 loss to Fedor, Cro Cop has had a strong desire to rematch the worlds best MMA heavyweight
Rumors are also swirling that Mirko will be included in a potential Heavyweight Grand Prix by the promotion. Names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Sergei Kharitonov, Semmy Schilt, Gilbert Yvel, Alistair Overeem, and potentially Mark Hunt have all been rumored to possibly be in the mix for the Grand Prix.
UPDATE: Added the Sportal.hr Website Link. This is the specific article that was translated by Robert K.
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Agreed
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting
Gotta wonder how word of him fighting in Germany even came about if he hadn’t already agreed to do so. I was under the impression that he had a contract clause that re-activated his original UFC deal after taking three fights abroad.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
Good question..
I was wondering the same thing. Did the UFC actually drop him at some point? I imagine they don’t really need him at this point. He would have been a nice draw in Germany though, so that’s a bit of a stretch.
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by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
CC has no chin. After seeing Carwin flatten Gonzaga, he decided to not come back to the land of the giants and the heavy-handed. Conjectures of course. =)
This doesn’t answer my question though. Contractually, CroCop was rumored to still be under Zuffa’s umbrella, but was allowed to take some bouts overseas as a period to get some confidence, get healthier, etc.
It now appears that the UFC either dropped him, or never actually kept him on contract.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
My suspicion is that they offered to take him back at a lower contract price (I’m sure their lawyers wrote that in somehow) and CroCop balked. Unfortunately for CroCop, he’s not worth 250k a fight because he will get killed in the UFC heavyweight division. And in with stubbornness and pride, he refuses to drop to light heavy.
CroCop will do better in Japan where they will try to put him up against cans or put him in fights where the rules favor him.
This seems most likely to me
He likely would have only been worth his exorbitant price tag in a bout with Couture, so that’s probably why it was originally rumored. The UFC may have just released him quietly. They’re probably better off going their separate ways. Sadly, I think Crocop is nearing his careers end. The fights with Overeem and Fedor are probably the two fights I’d most like to see before he calls it a day (which, I would venture to say, will be soon after he gets mauled by both).
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
A K-1 rules bout against Overeem plays to Mirko's strengths
Will he win? Hard to say at this point, but either way it should be a damn good fight as the rules play to his strengths and the parts of AO’s game which are his weakest. The strongest part of Alistair’s standup game is the clinch and his knees. Of course under K-1 rules you can only throw 1 knee per 2 hand Thai clinch. Hari as dynamic offensively as he is has horrible defense, as noted in Brent’s how not to punch, and a notoriously Arlovskiesque chin. Mirko should fair well against AO in K-1 rules. I wanna see it.
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
It does play into his strengths if he trains for K-1. The only problem is that Overeem’s newfound power is a daunting task to overcome.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
My thoughts exactly
I just think Overeem is the far more aggressive fighter at this point in their respective careers.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
And Mirko doesn’t do well against aggression.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
He does fine against aggression he’s a counterpuncher. See his fights against Wand. He didn’t do well against Kongo because Kongo was pot shotting his balls. Overeem was able to bully and clinch him because of how much bigger and stronger he was. He may be able to bully him against the ropes in this too but he can’t clinch and take him down. I honestly see Mirko kicking the hell out of Overeems legs and maybe actually even counterpunching a little. Mirko’s punches are very straight he should be able to use them with better effect without worrying about any TD defense.
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I should have said ‘bullying’.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
You’re referencing the old CroCop, the CroCop that was elusive in the ring and could work it better than almost anyone with the exception of maybe Fedor.
Overeem’s power is a huge advantage now. Even if he is unable to takedown CroCop in a K-1 bout, I have no doubt he can corner CC as he did in their DREAM matchup and pummel him.
The misconception is that CroCop still has that speed, and he really needs to focus on K-1 only training to build it back up. That’s the x-factor.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Word
Good post Roling. Old Crocop is still there. Somewhere. He may only have a couple high level performances left in him but somewhere down in there he’s got a last hurrah left. MIRKO KILL!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Trust me...
As a hardcore fan for a very long time, I’d love to see the old CroCop come back out of the woodwork and LHK a legitimate top ten opponent, but his speed is lacking.
It was evident in his UFC days, and I think one of the problems was that he feared the elbow strikes from the guard so much that opening himself up when he kicked wasn’t a great idea in his mind.
His quickness is what usually refutes that. The kick Gonzaga caught was definitely not quick. And his overall performances since haven’t indicated a quickness he usually exudes.
K-1 training could help that, and I remember specifically reading a few interviews from training partners stating that he has, in fact, slowed in his striking. I believe Remy said that, but he also indicated that it would likely be a huge training point to hit.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s pretty noticeable when you watch his old fights and his recent fights.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder how big an issue
all the knee problems have played in that. I know with my bad back and my bad left knee that I’m nowhere near as spritely as I was even just 2 or 3 years ago. And i’m in my prime.
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
This seems likely to me as well. He wouldn’t want less money, and he didn’t want to cut the weight, so the UFC said bye-bye.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
But he still has fights left on his UFC contract supposedly. I think its a leave of absence kind of situation. They let him go take the more lucrative opportunities elsewhere
I remember specifically reading that if he won a certain number of fights or had another number of fights total, his contract would be re-activated. Seems that once the Couture fight was no longer a possibility, they weren’t interested in paying his fee on that existing contract.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
Yeah, but the UFC could have simply dropped those and said bye to the CroCop. That seems ridiculous to me considering he is a draw in Asia, but I’m not sure exactly what else could have happened. Is this still the hiatus situation?
Three fights isn’t a terribly long extension
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they have little interest seeing him get killed.
One Coleman is enough, yeah?
If he has another few fights in Asia and doesn’t die, then they can kick him back in to the system.
Conjecture, obviously.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
Nope.
I don’t know why people were assuming he was fighting in the UFC, although this is not official either.
He said it himself that he was entertaining offers from everyone still.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
No one was assuming anything
But when Couture is openly discussing the fight, there’s obviously some substance to the idea. You’re avoiding the rest of the argument; that he still has/had a contract with Zuffa.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
If he is entertaining offers from others, how would he still have a UFC contract?
My answer is no, he doesn’t.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude..
Read up. I’m not going to retread on account of your narrow vision. Even Smoogy corroborates that fact.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
I believe it was an agreement that after a few wins he would return, but it would be a new contract, and they would still have to agree to it (which is not 100). Zuffa loves to lower fighters pay after they do something like this, and I don’t think Mirko is the type of guy that likes getting his pay cut at 50.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
So exactly what part of my assessment are you disagreeing with?
Sounds like you’re just conjecturing on the minor details. Real good..
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
Interviewer: Where will you make your comeback?There is a great possibility that I will be fighting for the UFC in Cologne, Germany. I don’t know my opponent yet. But I’m very confident that we’ll come to an agreement with the UFC and that I’ll fight for them in June. There are other offers on the table also.
There are other offers on the table also.
He was talkinga bout other promotions like DREAM and Affliction.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes the point is that he was the one who was saying that the UFC in Germany deal was going to happen too. People were assuming he was going back to the UFC because he said it was very confident that he was going back to the UFC. He was the source on the story.
He didn’t say he was in negotiations with Dream or Affliction he just said there were offers on the table(which I’m sure most guys have multiple offers on the table when they finish a contract) but he was to the point with the UFC of actually discussing opponents for a fight.
Ha. Mirko cares about $$$, as well he should.
He is aging and only has so many BIG fights left in him.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Ring is way better suited to his style
Mirko likes to be able to work and corner people. Easier to stay out of trouble in a venue with no tight corners
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup, fighting in a ring all your life would do that to anyone.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s probably not even top five in the UFC. Make that yen, I guess.
by Derek Suboticki on Mar 13, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions
I think in a weird way, I’d agree that he’s closer to the bottom end of ten, considering that guys like Gonzaga and Kongo would be rated above him in a UFC-only ranking on account of their victories over him. I think he either loses his next two and calls it quits, or loses his next two and drops to 205. Then he potentially picks up two wins on the road against lower tier competition, and maybe tries his hand at the UFC again. I think his days as a legitimate contender at 220 are over, but he still has a lot of appeal as a draw. If he can somehow be competitive at 205, there are a lot of interesting fights for him there.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
Equals bullshit
He could easily make the cut to 205.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
Dude walks around at about 220. You’re trying to tell me that if he gets pounded out twice more, that given the decision between retiring and cutting 15 pounds, he’d retire because he can’t do it? That’s bullshit. He is capable, though perhaps not willing. He’s even said in past interviews that he could but would fear losing power.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
I don’t think anytime soon. He intentionally bulked up after his stint in the UFC, which would make that difficult in the immediate future. It’ll also be harder because of his age (34).
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he tried bulking up to add power. I honestly don’t know what he weighed against Choi, but he has traditionally walked around at 220. But my scenario is hypothetical for a reason. If he’s facing the end of the road and he wants to continue, he could drop the weight. To say that it’s emphatically not a possibility is absurd.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
It’s certainly overstated but one should consider a couple key points:
- If I recall correctly, he was closer to 230 or so in his most recent outings, meaning the cut would be pretty drastic unless he really took a fair bit of muscle off.
- He is getting older and on top of the knee injury, weight cutting is gonna be difficult to say the least.
- He has openly shown disinterest in dropping to 205 lbs.
Given all of those, I don’t think Supremacy is overstating the likelihood, though he/she might be overstating the ability for Cro Cop to actually drop the weight.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
235 is about his walk around weight now
30 lb weight cut = unlikely
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 13, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
You do know that cutting weight is not the same as losing weight, right? 15 – 20 lbs are just water weight that can be rehydrated right back.
These would be 30-35 CroCop lbs, which are very different than the average pound.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Mar 13, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
No I didn't know that.
Whoever would have guessed that Alistair Overeem could weigh in at 205 and then walk out to the ring at 225 the next day. I always thought he went to the gym and put on 20 lbs of muscle overnight. Mirko is a lean 235 for walking around and 230 in fighting shape. Thats 25 lbs of water weight. He’s never cut in his life you think he’ll be able to do a 25 lb cut?
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 14, 2009 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions
So you’re saying that Mirko who walks around 225 (not 235 with juice like you believe) can’t lose 10 lbs and then cut another 10lbs of water weight to make 205. Even then, he would be one of the smaller 205’er in the UFC.
I didn’t know Mirko is a special type of human being who cannot possibly lose that kind of weight. I finally see the light. Mirko is made of steel and iron. He is not a mere human being. No one in the UFC could take this kind of superman. You win the argument. Congratulations!
How much did Coleman cut..
…to make light heavy?
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
Cro Cop weighed in for Dream 6 at 102.7 kg (226lbs), he weighed in to the Kongo fight at 220lbs. I think perhaps people are overstating how much so called bulking up he has done because he’s pretty much the same now as he was when he was in the UFC.
In the UFC when he’s not on roids hes about 220 in Japan when you can basically walk into the ring with a needle sticking out of your ass, hes about 236 or so..
Ha
For serious though, if he wanted to lose a good ten pounds and then cut the remaining 5-15 lbs, he could absolutely do so. Supremacy’s point was unequivocal; it was a no, plainly stated. As if I’m mad to suggest Crocop could drop. It would be a matter of his desire, and my whole hypothetical involves him reaching an end of the road at 220+. It’s just conjecture, but the situation I posed is A) quit or B) drop to 205. And I can assure you Crocop wouldn’t just throw his hands up and say “I can’t possibly lose 10 pounds and cut 5-15 more!”.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
At Dream 6 (the Overeem fight) he came in at 226lbs, I don’t get where you are coming up with the 236lb number. Yes he might of bulked up a bit for the Choi fight(I couldn’t find weigh in numbers for Cro Cop vs Choi) but unless he cut ten pounds of weight for the Overeem fight for some odd reason your statement just isn’t holding water because he’s running about the same as he was in the UFC.
Added...
The original article link from the Croation News Site Sportal.hr has been added. It took some digging around with Google Translate, but there it is.
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