UFC 115: Mirko Cro Cop Talks Retirement - "I Am Now Too Old for This"
by Nick Thomas on Jun 14, 2010 10:54 AM EDT
in MMA News
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In an interview with jutarnji.hr:
"In addition to winning the Pride Grand Prix Finals, [UFC 115] it’s my favorite fight of my career [but] most of the training proved to me that I am now too old for this…I don’t know about a new contract with the UFC. I believe that I gave this game a lot, I fought with the greatest fighters," Cro Cop said.
"For 20 years I lived this life and now I have no motivation for the fight, no mental strength for all the Spartan training. I am no longer so hungry for victory. I will not stop training, but if I am asleep I’ll stay in bed and practice an hour later."
"I have some [seminar] contacts around the seminar circuit in the U.S., Australia, Europe and even Brazil," Cro Cop said.
-- transcribed by fightersonlymagazine.co.uk
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Glad to hear. Hope he stays retired.
Some other fighters need to follow his lead.
by JeremyShane on Jun 14, 2010 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Couldn't agree more
This is an incredibly sharp perspective to have on one’s own career. Especially a sport overrun with ego/adrenaline-soaked delusions of self.
by asa on Jun 14, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We've know this for awhile Mirko....
We love you man, but we seen that fire go out after Kongo blasted you in the balls like 10 times. Hang it up, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
The fire went out before that....
I think after winning the GP he had accomplished all he needed to.
He looked off against Eddie Sanchez, and never really looked like his “old self” again. The closest he’s looked to his Pride days was that last round against Barry when he unloaded
Got the Summer hatin on me cus I'm hotter than the sun. Got the Spring hatin on me cus I ain't never sprung. Winter hatin on me cus I'm colder than ya'll; and I will never I will never I will never Fall.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by Patrick Tenney on Jun 14, 2010 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 15 recs
Well now that you took the initiative, I can follow along...
Yeah? Remember last year when Lebron won the MVP? Who took home the real MVP? You know, the one the comes with a damn championship?
by zakkree on Jun 14, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry Truck, but Panda isn't your friend.
I'm a lover not a fighter
by spectaa on Jun 14, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
That is just a big yawn after a night of cuddley cuddles... :)
by truck on Jun 14, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
I had this one too, but I don’t like my Panda too scary.
I'm a lover not a fighter
by spectaa on Jun 14, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
More like Cro Cop Panda
…and I am Pat Barry learning a very expensive lesson.
I didn’t expect to make payments on flesh…
Godless killing machines!!!!
I get more rec's then a Toyota!
by DayGeaux on Jun 14, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He's lucky Barry broke his hand on his jaw...
This fight would have ended in the first if Barry was able to throw that right again.
by gavingavinkindgavin on Jun 14, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions
come on now should of could of would of, just stop speculating. Maybe Pat should of not done so much little boy fan boyism. Like he was some 9 year old kid meeting Derek Jeter outside Yankee Stadium or somoething. Not to mention is cardio which was just gone about 1 min into the 2nd. Barry has no one to blame but himself I don’t want to hear shit about that hand. Bottom line Mirko beat his ass and then choked him out with a good old Cro-choke !!!
"I wanted to prove that I'm not too old ..."
“… and now that I’ve proven that, I’m feeling a bit too old for this.”
█♣█
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 Jun 14, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I know but he said that he felt he had a few years left in him
and that he was still fresh in between training sessions which was a sign that he was not too old.
Anyone else think maybe he was making sure he got his bonus first? It struck me that maybe the whole “don’t be stingy Dana” was him basically saying that his contract is up, so if he Dana wants to makes sure he stays with the UFC he better open his wallet – starting with a sub of the night bonus (and maybe some other lockerroom bonuses for finishing the fight). Once he had that in the bag he could reveal his plans of retiring…just a thought.
Pyle’s triangle shoulda been sub of the night
Actually,
I thought he sounded done in the post-fight presser.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jun 14, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
The youtube videos don’t show it, but, if you were watching live, someone asked Mirko about his future with the UFC, and Mirko said he’s staying with the UFC but alluded that it might not be in a fighting role. I can’t remember the exact quote.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jun 14, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If it's true that he really has no motivation to train,
then yes he should retire…
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 14, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
If it is the last time he fights I think it was a great way to go out.
It was a very fun fight and both fighters put on a show. A great way to exit the game.
Same goes for Liddell. He may have lost, but the fight was very entertaining and he lost to s class act in Rich Franklin. Could you imagine if it was Tito that KO’d him… :S
It was nice to see Mirko go after him with full confidence when he was throwing those kicks and combinations. I was so happy I stood up.
and for Liddell, it was kind of sad to watch, but it’s what he wanted.
Tito would’ve spit on him and called him something unintelligible. He’s really good at kicking people when they’re down. I also don’t think he can hang with any of the top fighters in the lhw division anymore and I can’t wait till someone demolishes him.
He said Dana shouldn’t be stingy and give him sub of the night
by dreamers_12345 on Jun 14, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Rogan doesn’t like it when guys take the mic from him, but he probably didn’t care about it this time.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jun 14, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll admit, I shouted "PRIDE NEVER DIE" in the bar when he got to monologue.
If you're not watching Treme, you're a bad person.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jun 14, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Good for him...
Knowing when to get out is the sign of a mentally fit guy.
He has had an awesome career and I hope he sticks around the sport outside of being a fighter.
Exactly, good for him.
Good way to go out with a submission victory.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Jun 14, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not believing this just yet..
The last time a Croatian paper came with news on Mirko, it was total bullshit.
He's made similar statements in the past, if I recall
Either way, I think he’s in a pretty good position. If he goes out, it’s on a win. After this last showing, he could potentially have a couple more interesting match-ups: Randy, Kongo or Gonzaga rematch, Rothwell, maybe Duffee (just to put an unusual one out there).
He said almost the same exact thing previously, about not wanting to live the lifestyle, etc.
When you're rich you don't write checks - Randy Moss
by s.r.genovese on Jun 14, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Must be pretty exhausting
coming down from the training camp, and the rush of the fight, hard to feel motivated for anything, let alone alone another fight.
So many panda jokes. Goddamn, if I had woken up earlier I could have been the first one to make them!
by dreamers_12345 on Jun 14, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions
Here's to you Mirko
My favourite fighter ever.
He never seemed to get the respect he deserved, perhaps it’s because he was a very bipolar fighter. He could put together performances that gave him the best highlight reel of any fighter and bad performances where he didn’t seem to try or care.
But he’s had a career that’s spaned over 14 years fighting the best guys in the world. It was 1996 when he fought JLB in K-1. He fought some of the best fighters in the world in MMA and K-1 making him one of the biggest stars ever in Japan.
His career in K-1 was much the same as in MMA, he could beat anyone out there when he was on form, but he could completely lose interest in fighting and make you question how he could do it to himself to lose to bottom tier guys like Michael McDonald or Cheick Kongo, who aren’t half as talented.
I think he will always be remembered as one of the most dangerous fighters ever, but only when he wanted to be. It may have divided the fans into believers and non believers, but whatever side you chose you knew you were seeing something unique and inspiring when he would turn it on.
In his last fight he seemed to right some of the wrongs of his past. Barry gave it to him good in the first round and as Peter Aerts famously noted that the longer the fight goes, the more likely that Mirko would lose, the opposite happened this time. He came in with good conditioning, dug deep, kept his focus and raised his game – something I have never seen him do – bettering Barry in every aspect of the game. His attitude outside of the cage seemed to match his attitude inside, he was open to the media and was cooperative with the promotion trying to right some of the other wrongs of his past.
Although this new approach may have been too late to reach the top again, I think he proved something to himself just as much as he did to his doubters.
It was a rollercoaster ride following you Mirko, but you gave us some of the best times in the sports history, and a badass highlight reel to inspire fighters and fans alike. You will be missed.
by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2010 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
I am so dam glad to hear this news today I really am. Becasue I was actually disapointed he did not retire after he took the Mic from Rogan. I really thought he was going to do it then but this will do a few days later.
.He could not ride off into the sun set much better then this. He goes out on a memorable win and gave his fans one last moment to cheer for him and feel so dam good. I was so so afraid he would go out like Chuck or so many others in prize fighting bloody and Ko’ed looking dead on the mat. That is just never the last picture any fan wants to remember of there favorite fighter. So thanks Mirko I wish you all the best
As a Cro Cop fan
I always want to see him fight again, i’m thinking this is to get more money for another contract.
"The left hand brings death, but the right one even I am afraid of."-Mariusz Pudzianowski
Don't let the door hit ya!
Thank CHRIST!
He won a fight against a one dimensial b level fighter with one broken hand and a broken foot.
do you have a
bunch of tribal tatoo’s, where only foiled Affliction shirts and tell everybody you meet that you “train mma”?
by blueballlefty on Jun 14, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't
be surprised if there was something major lost in translation here, if he is done this is a great fight to go out on, he actually looked a little like the old Cro Cop in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He is one of my all time favorites even though I’ve had to watch a lot of his old fights on video. If he is done the only thing I can say is WAR CRO COP
I thought he'd want to pay Ganzaga back
before he throws in the towel. Either way I’ll stand by my one of my favorite fighters ever
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