Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic's crushing defeat at the hands of potential contender Junior Dos Santos at UFC 103 is the type of loss that has eye-opening ramifications for a fighter's career. While we've heard the same song and dance from Mirko over the past year regarding the possibility of a resurgence happening before his career finally ends, we haven't seen that fire in the Octagon as he's gone 2-3 in the UFC. Mirko is now changing the complete make-up of his training team in an attempt to re-kindle his past dominance:
"After the defeat by Dos Santos, Filipovic has announced drastic changes in the training methods and composition of Team CroCop,"
"Marjan Zizanovic is no longer his boxing coach. Instead, CroCop is now working with the Dutch Muay Thai legend Ivan Hippolyte, who these days resides in Zagreb. Filipovic will combine training at his own facility with visits to the Netherlands where he can train with top-notch sparring partners,"
"Igor Pokrajac, CroCop’s long-time friend and sparring partner, is also no longer in Filipovic's team. Pokrajac continues his career with the UFC, but is no longer training with Filipovic although the pair remain on good terms."
Zizanovic was vocal about the problems Mirko was having back in '07. He felt that the Croatian striker was focusing too much on absolute strength vs. explosive strength, being indecisive in his camps about what skills to work on, and switching trainers way too often. He told the world that he would change Mirko back into the killer we know and love if he had the opportunity, and Mirko gave him that opportunity.
Unfortunately, something went very wrong in the lead-up to UFC 103. CroCop put some of the blame on his preparation for his UFC 103 loss, and with the Ben Rothwell bout being all but confirmed -- it's no surprise that CroCop has acted on those thoughts that his preparation was lacking by replacing Zizanovic and purging his sparring partners.
Ivan Hippolyte isn't a bad replacement. He trained one of K-1's greatest fighters in Ernesto Hoost, and he currently trains K-1 Grand Champion Remy Bonjasky while also helping along fighters such as Gilbert Yvel, Paul Daley, and Antoni Hardonk. Bonjasky and the cast of fighters from Vos Gym weren't able to help Mirko defeat Cheick Kongo at UFC 75 when they flew out to Zagreb to help out a fallen friend, and Hippolyte will truly need to speed up Mirko's technical Muay Thai and kickboxing to give the Croatian a chance at redeeming himself.
We all want Mirko to succeed once again, but throwing head kicks and throwing single punches without stringing together combinations isn't the answer. Mirko hasn't set up his patented head kick with leg kicks in any of his battles in the Octagon, and he really needs to become more of a K-1 striker than a complete mixed martial artists. His takedown defense and BJJ was good enough in PRIDE to gain his feet again, but the huge problem for Mirko is that his striking game is now his most deficient skill. Can Hippolyte bring him back to form? I have my doubts.
HT: Index.hr (Translated by Fighters Only), Anton Tabuena