Report: Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Retires? (Update)
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 24, 2009 11:59 AM EDT
55 comments
Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas.
Former PRIDE superstar, Mirko Cro Cop already hinted about retiring shortly after he lost to Junior Dos Santos. Now, The Sun is reporting that the Croatian has indeed called it quits:
MIRKO FILIPOVIC has decided to hang up his gloves following his UFC 103 defeat to Junior Dos Santos.
The mixed martial arts legend — once regarded as the most feared striker on the planet — called time on his career after admitting he no longer has the desire to continue fighting.
If true, Mirko will be ending his stellar career that saw him become one of MMA's legends by leaving a string of devastating head kick KOs, defeating the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Aleksander Emelianenko, and Josh Barnett, and by running through the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix.
UPDATE: Nokaut also confirms this:
Nokaut.com was able to exclusively confirm the news earlier today.
Said Cro Cop; "I have no motivation left and it's time to leave. Thank you all for supporting me."
One of the most severly struck by the news, is Zvonimir Lucic, Mirko's manager and most reliable cornerstone throughout Cro Cop's numerous battles. Following his last conversation with Mirko, Mr. Lucic was instructed to release all Team Cro Cop members from their respective duties.
UPDATE 2 [from Luke Thomas]: There is another story suggesting CroCop is not retired. We can't confirm it yet, so stay tuned as information becomes available.
UPDATE 3 [from Luke Thomas]: Mike Chiappetta is saying this article is proof CroCop is NOT retiring.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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Stand and applaud this man… for a great fighter has left us.
Good luck to you, Mirko. You provided us with enough devastating knockouts in this lifetime. Hats off.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Sep 22, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 11 recs
Well said. It’s always sad seeing a guy who’s body simply will not let him perform like he used to. God I dread the day that comes, it must be hard to deal with.
by attgnp on Sep 24, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry we never got to perform at his peak in the UFC, though he was fighting top-caliber heavyweights the entire time he was in PRIDE.
The fight I remember him most for is one he lost, versus Fedor. The top two heavyweights, arguably in their primes, going at it for the whole time in a tactical war. Still one of the best fights ever.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Sep 24, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can’t be an MMA fan and not respect Mirko for all that he has accomplished.
I feel lucky to have witnessed such an amazing fighter in his prime.
by cauliflower_ears on Sep 22, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the memories, Cro Cop.
fightlockdown.com
by The Legend on Sep 22, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I bet this hasn't been confirmed..
…and The Sun is just reaching to break stories, as usual.
by TDITZ on Sep 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Sun’s quotes are all from this interview, which has been floating around for a few days now.
My guess is that he will indeed retire, but The Sun doesn’t have any additional info to back it up.
by Chris Nelson on Sep 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i was thinking that too.
the part i quoted was them saying he has indeed retired. but yeah, as you said, there weren’t any additional info so i also have my doubts..
hence the, “if true”.. haha.
It is from the Sun after all..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 22, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might need to get that printed off and put in the media room.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Sep 22, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome
Please tell me you’ve got that available in a higher resolution. I’d love to have that s a large desktop background or maybe print out and hang.
I’ll miss Mirko, easily my favorite fighter of all time but I think he’s right in hangin em up.
by ChillMike on Sep 22, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i didn't make that.
i just found it off google. sorry.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 23, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man...
I really wanted to see Mirko/ Randy. Hell, even Crocop/ Liddell or Crocop/ Coleman II would be cool matchups
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Sep 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i say he does retire
but it wont last. it never does with fighters. marvin hagler is the only big name fighter that retired and stayed retired that i can think of in mma or boxing. give it around a 6 months to a year and their will be rumors of a fight with chuck, randy, or possibly big nog. that or or going back to japan. he is probably dead seriuos right now, but give it time. guys like ken shamrock, dan severn, kerr, and ricoo are still fighting well past their prime. it’s all about being a competitor and MONEY. if he does decide to stayed retire i say good luck and thanks for all the great fights.
by bdw on Sep 22, 2009 4:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He should get some kind of special on Spike, that would be awesome. Also, maybe make an appearance at the next UFC event (L.A. so I can be there of course hehe) and announce his retirement. He’d get an amazing standing ovation and a great send off. He deserves it.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Sep 22, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I've been listening to Duran Duran since Saturday nite...
hoping to amass some sort of cosmic intervention wherein CroCop finds a magic sword and starts lobbing off heads again.
In vain?
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Sep 22, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Mirko gets that burning desire to fight again, he will be back. I certainly hope that happens, he has been my favorite fighter from the first time I saw the magic that is his LHK
But if you are stupid, you will be beaten with a stick - Proverbs 10:13
by Ominous on Sep 22, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank you Mirko!
clap,clap,clap-clap-clap!
Thank you Mirko!
by lhasafi on Sep 23, 2009 1:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I stand and salute you Mirko
Thank you for everything you ahve done for the sport and me. You help make me the psychotic fan I am today. I remember not being able to wait to download your fights on the internet after Pride shows. You always conducted yourself as a gentleman, and I wish you well in the future.
by Nick Travaglini on Sep 24, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here’s a rumor from the UG. Though I can’t get the website open to confirm the source:
"Although it would be for the best to stay out, I would like to do 2 more contracted fights with the UFC and then end my career. Simply, fights and training are in my blood, I still haven’t made my final decision, it can happen that I finish everything day after tomorrow, but I would like to in fact still do it. After the Dos Santos defeat I was hot and the statements were not founded. Things are not all that black".
by Nick Thomas on Sep 24, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
can't open the site either..
If that’s correct, maybe he just said some stuff in the heat of the moment that he regretted.. I hope he returns.. There’s a lot more interesting fights for him out there.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 24, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
please be true, everyone write to mirko through his site and show your support!!
by cagefightonacid on Sep 24, 2009 10:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s another site but I can’t get it translated – http://sport.dnevnik.hr/clanak/cro_cop/mirko-nije-sigurno-da-prekidam-karijeru.html
by Nick Thomas on Sep 24, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From the UG:
Cro Cop says he wants to finish his two fights with the ufc and then do a final fight under k-1 rules, as that’s where he started
by Nick Thomas on Sep 24, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope this is true. Let him fight Randy if he loses to Vera..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 24, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Should I add that to the post or wait till it gets confirmed?
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 24, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
farewell mirko
you’ll be missed… I’m very sad to see one of the men who inspired me to watch mma go, but enjoy fishing in privlaka, you deserve it.
by cagefightonacid on Sep 24, 2009 10:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Im happy with his decision. It was the right time. There was nothing left for him to prove.
by Rabbit915 on Sep 24, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
"Right leg hospital, left leg cemetary"
Best. Line. Ever.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Sep 24, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Did anyone actually say that? Was it Mauro or Bas?
by ThomasJ on Sep 24, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cro Cop said it prior to his fight with Eddie Sanchez. It had been said prior to that, however.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Sep 24, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He said it about himself?
Kind of strange.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
by dnevil001 on Sep 24, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I seem to recall that he said that before the Openweight GP – or at least before his semifinal fight against Wandy.
And you’re 100% right, thetakeover. That line takes the cake.
by lhasafi on Sep 24, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cro Cop Retires
In light of this news, I’m reminded of a funny anecdote.
I recall, around the time that Randy Couture has announced his plans to return and fight Tim Sylvia, Cro Cop was debuting against Eddie Sanchez. At the time, I remember a radio show host fearing for Randy’s safety were he to face Cro Cop, with genuine concern that Couture could be killed in the Octagon by Cro Cop.
Two years later, Randy, though apparently on the downside of his career, is still taking competitive matches at age 47 while Cro Cop has retired.
Maybe Cro Cop will Randy his way back to the UFC and to the top of the Heavyweight division. The fact that I’m pretty sure Couture would be a prohibitive favorite were he to face Cro Cop two years after some had feared for the Couture’s life were the match to take place is funny to me.
Ultimately, he was too small for the modern-day heavyweights and lacked the skill set to make up for his diminutive stature. But, we’ll always have the 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix, for which I prefer to remember Cro Cop.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Sep 24, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
From one Croatian to another
You were always my favorite fighter Mirko. I loved watching you beat the piss out of many opponents in Pride. You were the most feared striker in the world. Winning the Pride GP was a huge accomplishment.
While I would have loved seeing him go out with a huge win, that does not often happen; even to chapions. Nobody ever remembers Muhammod Ali getting beat up by Larry Holmes and Trevor Birbeck and nobody should remember Mirko losingh his last few big fights, either.
A true warrior who recognizes it’s time to move on. There is nothing wrong with that. He’s made a ton of dough and still has his brains. I applaud the man.
by ThomasJ on Sep 24, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey Thomas – can you translate this news? video?
http://sport.dnevnik.hr/clanak/cro_cop/mirko-nije-sigurno-da-prekidam-karijeru.html
by Nick Thomas on Sep 24, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So can you understand the links Nick posted?
Maybe mirko changed his mind after getting some time to think about it.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 24, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not so great
I’m an American with croatian lineage and can only loosely understand the language. I will try in awhile. If I can’t make it out my girlfriend will be able to. I’ll get some sort of translation today if nobody else beats me to it.
Thanks.
by ThomasJ on Sep 24, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s the reason why i got into Pride. When i first starting watching MMA i only knew of the UFC. A buddy of mine at work told me about Pride and “This Bad Ass Croation Dude”. I saw him fight Aleksander Emelianenko and I was a fan from then on… Thanks Mirko..
by asmiley420 on Sep 24, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I still bet he fights Couture one day. Anyone want to take that wager?
by ThomasJ on Sep 24, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
doubt it now…not because mirko won’t return but because randy is seriously getting to the limit on how many more fights he can actually do at his age. a lot has changed in only the few years that randy returned from retirement.
by YoungGun on Sep 24, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I figure that fight will have to happen soon; perhaps at the end of the year?
by ThomasJ on Sep 24, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand how hard it must be for these guys to quit,
but between Randy & now CroCop this is why I never believe it when they say they are retiring. I wish him the best.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
by dnevil001 on Sep 24, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s kinda hard to see the dude who got me into martial arts and MMA quit, but good luck Mirko. You are a legend…
by ludakrish on Sep 24, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nooooooo!!!!!!! Say it ain’t so Mirko!
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
by Bandaka on Sep 24, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He was a man of Croatia. Honour him.
by IImastersII on Sep 24, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The paycheck “re-motivated” him to “UN-RETIRE”.
This is the second time he was demoralized in the octagon… First it was against kongo when he told big john (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIGHT): “Im too old for this shit”. The second time was against Dos Santos when he waived “NO MASS”.
Whether he comes back to competition or not mentally he is “RETIRED”.
by mmalogic on Sep 24, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I see no point in him continuing.
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Sep 24, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's "No Más"
Heavyweight fighters have lots of mass (ha!)
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Sep 24, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dont forget
SPIKETV is planning on running a BEST OF PRIDE series in primetime starting in january. some people were surprised that mirko was wearing a pride t during his walkout, but lorenzohas been seen wearing one alot too. this will be great for alot of the newer fans can watch fighter like cro-cop, big nog, wandy and hendo to name just a few that they might not be so familiar with, and for the hardcores that may not have every pride event on dvd.plus hopefully they will show the fights unedited unlike fox sports did. zuffa should have done this earlier, but it’s still cool. get ready to set those dvr’s!
by bdw on Sep 24, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For his retirement, a 21-High Kick salute.
I remember seeing “The Best Damn Sports Show’s Top 50 Best Damn Beatdowns”, a collection of highlight KOs from combat sports, many from PRIDE. I was stunned at the “Cro Cop” guy they kept showing kicking heads into the front row and he quickly became a favorite of mine. (That show also introduced my to an Axe Murderer and a bored Russian – at least BDSS was good for something)
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Sep 24, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
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