Mirko Cro Cop

NEXT Cro Cop Vs. Ray Sefo!!!

2012-01-24T13:35:00.008+01:00

Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic next fight will be against K-1 legend Ray Sefo on 'Cro Cop Final Fight' event!
Fight will be on March 10th, 2012. in Arena centar Zagreb, Croatia and will be in K-1 rules.
But this fight will not be a last Cro Cop fight. After that Cro Cop want to continue his career in K-1! Mirko want to fight in K-1 qualification tour this year.

Mirko good luck!

Personally, I think that is bad decision (K-1 fighting). Mirko, you don't understand what is your biggest problem. You can't fight any more because you don't see kicks. You reactions are too slow now and you risk your life in every fight!!! Stop finally!!!

Najozbiljnije Mirko ako nastaviš možeš postati invalid. Ti dečki jako udaraju a ti to ne vidiš. Pa nije slučajno da si popio tolike nokaute od svakog i malo ozbiljnijeg borca unazad par godina. Čovječe imaš obitelj - posveti život njima, nemoj biti toliko sebičan!

More about this soon...

Cro Cop Retires, Ending Successful MMA Career

2011-10-31T15:10:00.007+01:00

When Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic moved to the UFC from Pride Fighting Championships, he was considered one of the most lethally-endowed strikers the sport had ever witnessed. A fierce animal of a man, he snatched the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix, with a decisive victory over Josh Barnett. Upon his UFC debut, the Croatian was expected to become an instant title contender, and remain so, for some time.

Unfortunately, a horde of injuries plagued Cro Cop's UFC career. Coupled with his extending age, it was felt that, leading into his UFC 137 bout with Roy "Big Country" Nelson, his chance at redemption would be nearing its final push. Sadly, it was not to be.

Nelson completely dominated Filipovic, leveling an arsenal of strikes which, ultimately, led to his post-fight retirement announcement. Both men were needed the win. Neither, however, needed it more than Filipovic.

At the height of his career, Cro Cop was virtually unstoppable. He stood firm, said little and preferred to let his actions do the talking. His most notable, and most lethal, weapon was a formidable high kick, nearly indefensible and capable of decapitating his opponents.

From K-1 to Pride, Cro Cop made his mark as a formidable opponent, rising to the third most prolific heavyweight fighter in history, behind Antonio Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko.

Though not a completely shocking event, it does come as a less-than-stellar footnote to a remarkable career in Mixed Martial Arts. As for his legacy, Cro Cop will remain a guiding light for those who look to topple the sport the right way. Through drive, hard work and dedication, he made the successful transition from kickboxing to MMA, improving with each successive contest.

He worked the cage as he did the media spotlight, quietly, stoically and always quick to deliver a poignant one-liner, when necessary. In the annals of Mixed Martial Arts, the feisty Croatian will always be remembered for the trail of bodies left at his feet. "Right foot hospital, left foot cemetery" will remain the moniker and warning of a man who evolved into one of the most feared athletes to grace the cage.

From sports.yahoo.com

Good bye Mirko and good luck in your life!

One more fight for Mirko Cro Cop?

The best Croatian MMA fighter of all time, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic will still do a farewell performance before a definitive retirement. And as things stand 11th December before a home crowd in Zagreb's Arena. The whole spectacle will prepare Mirko's former manager Orsat Zovko , who organized and Cro Cop's last fight in Zagreb (09.01.2000. was knocked out Stuart Green). "I'll try to somehow patch together for this fight. One tries to prepare for me a worthy farewell. " - said Filipovic Vecernji List.

UFC 137 Cro Cop Vs. Roy Nelson

2011-07-13T14:32:00.002+02:00

Cro Cop confirm - his last UFC fight will be at UFC 137 on October 29th in Las Vegas with Roy Nelson!

The Croatian press is reporting former PRIDE open weight grand-prix champion, Mirko Cro Cop has confirmed that he’ll take on “Ultimate Fighter” season ten winner, Roy Nelson at UFC 137 on October 29th in Las Vegas, Nevada in what will likely be his last fight inside the octagon.

The news comes via FightSite.hr who spoke to the legendary fighter just hours ago. Cro Cop also revealed, although he’s happy with the fight, he’s disappointed not to be facing long-time rival, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Cro Cop has never found his feet since making the switch to the UFC’s octagon, failing to pick up a win against anyone considered to be a contender in the heavyweight division at the time. His last loss was a third round TKO defeat at the hands of Brendan Schaub.

As for Nelson, he’ll be looking to prove his worth after coming under fire from UFC President, Dana White following his below par defeat at the hands of Frank Mir earlier this year. Prior to that he’d gone the distance and lost to current number one contender, Junior dos Santos.

Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Ready For Fight Against 'Big Nog'

2011-05-11T09:32:00.001+02:00

Source: FightersOnly

In another case of fighters taking matchmaking into their own hands, Pride FC veterans Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic are doing their best to set up a rematch for this summer's landmark UFC: Rio card.
While Nogueira recovers from double hip and knee surgery, his boxing coach Luis Dorea is looking to set his charge up with a suitable comeback fight. In a recent interview with Tatame.com, Dorea called for that match to come against Filipovic.

"I would like so much to see a bout between Nogueira and 'Cro Cop,'" said Dorea. "If it is not in August, it could be in September, October... But it is definitely the one I would like to watch. I saw Cro Cop say he wanted to fight him. They're two legends, two names... It really would be very interesting for the MMA world."

Speaking with FightersOnly.com, "Cro Cop" responded to Dorea and let it be known that a second fight against "Big Nog" would be one that he would welcome.

"Yes I saw the comments made by Nogueira's boxing coach and I agree," said Filipovic. "I am ready to fight Nogueira any time, even in Brazil in August."

Noguiera and "Cro Cop" first met in 2003 at Pride Final Conflict 2003, where Nogueira defeated Filipovic via second round submission.

Noguiera last appeared in action at UFC 110 in February of 2010, where he lost to current champion Cain Velasquez via first round knockout. "Cro Cop" met a similar fate in his last appearance -- which came at UFC 128 last March against Brendan Schaub -- losing via third round knockout.

Brendan Schaub win by KO

2011-03-20T03:42:00.003+01:00

Brendan Schaub win by KO 3:44 of the third round

Round 1
Schaub comes with a kick to the body and a few short uppercuts. The younger righty ties up with the veteran and they exchange thumping shots to the ribs. Referee Herb Dean splits them up and issues Schaub a “hard warning” for strikes that strayed to the back of Cro Cop’s head. Schaub brings Cro Cop down and eats an upkick as he stands from the Croatian’s guard. The American dives back in and Mirko closes up his guard, tying up Schaub’s arm briefly to stifle the punches. It doesn’t last long, as the “Hybrid” postures up and slams right hands into Cro Cop’s face. Filipovic hits the switch and scrambles to his feet, shoving Schaub into the fence with a minute to go in the round. Schaub drives forward and tries to trip Cro Cop down, but the striker hops backward and stays up. Not much action in the clinch down the stretch. Schaub lands a few knees to the gut and an uppercut before the horn.

TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Schaub
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Schaub
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Schaub

Round 2
Cro Cop fires a left high kick that’s partially blocked and Schaub takes him straight down. As Schaub stands, Mirko lands an upkick to the face. Herb Dean stops the action and issues Cro Cop a warning of his own, as Schaub’s knee was barely touching the mat (while his hand grabbed the fence) when the upkick landed. They resume and go back to the clinch. Schaub bullies Cro Cop into the fence and tries to come over the top with elbows. Cro Cop reverses and the heavyweights trade knees up the gut. Schaub’s bleeding profusely from the nose as they jockey for position along the perimeter. Herb Dean breaks them up and deducts a point from Schaub for further strikes to the back of Cro Cop’s head. Filipovic closes out the round with more elbows from the clinch. Replays show it was one of those strikes that cracked Schaub’s nose and cut him above the left eye.

TJ De Santis scores the round 9-9 (10-9 Schaub)
Chris Nelson scores the round 9-9 (10-9 Schaub)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Filipovic (10-10)

Round 3
Filipovic lands a low kick early in the final round and Schaub needs a break to recover. Upon resuming, he plows Cro Cop to the mat in the center of the cage. Filipovic ties up the right arm of Schaub and scrambles up, only to be taken right back down. Schaub works to pass, can’t and Cro Cop stands again. Two minutes to go and it’s still looking like anyone’s fight. Cro Cop initiates the clinch, but doesn’t do much from the position. They tie up again, and break just as quickly. Cro Cop stuffs a long shot from Schaub and tags him on the way up. Suddenly, Schaub lands a winging right hand behind the ear of Filipovic and the Croatian crumbles to the mat. Herb Dean rushes in to save the helpless Pride vet from further punishment at 3:44 of the third round.

Play-by-play from sherdog

UFC 128 Brendan Schaub vs. Mirko Cro Cop

2010-12-29T20:05:00.003+01:00

Confirmed on Croatian TV at December 29th!!!

At long last, Brendan Schaub has an opponent in place for his next fight: He's taking on Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 128 on March 19.

Schaub, who's coming off a great 2010 in which he went 3-0 inside the Octagon, had previously been linked to a meeting with either Frank Mir or Stefan Struve. But instead he'll take on Cro Cop, who will return to the Octagon for the first time since a lackluster loss to Mir in September.

The Schaub-Cro Cop fight is a big one for both. For Schaub, beating the legendary Cro Cop would be the biggest victory of his young MMA career and would establish him, at age 27, as one of the major up-and-comers of the heavyweight division.

But for Cro Cop the fight may be even bigger: The 36-year-old is one of the legends of the sport, but in the four years since he left Pride for the UFC, he has never really looked like the great striker who thrilled fans in Japan. If Cro Cop loses to Schaub, it could be his last fight inside the Octagon.

Article Source: fightersonlymagazine.co.uk

UFC 119 Mir win by knee punch

2010-09-26T06:15:00.004+02:00

UFC 119 Mir win by knee punch

Former heavyweight champion Frank Mir made a largely forgettable fight memorable with one swift strike.

Mir knocked out 2006 Pride Fighting Championships open weight grand prix winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic with a third-round knee in the UFC 119 “Mir vs. Cro Cop” headliner on Saturday at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Filipovic fell prey with just 58 seconds remaining in the match.

“It looked kind of ugly to be honest,” Mir said, “but I guess it’s better to pull of an ugly win than an ugly loss.”

The two men spent much of their encounter trading sporadic punches and neutralizing one another in the clinch along the cage. The crowd showered them with disapproval, their matchup hampered by lack of aggression. Then, in the final minute, Mir caught Cro Cop leaning in with a left hand and pulled his head into the fight-ending knee strike. A pair of follow-up punches finished off the Croatian on the ground, as referee Herb Dean moved in on his behalf.

The defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak for Filipovic, whose participation in the main event was put in jeopardy by an eye injury suffered during training. Once one of the world’s most feared heavyweights, the 36-year-old now stands at a mediocre 4-4 inside the UFC.

“My strategy was to take him down, but his takedown defense is good,” said Mir, who never got Filipovic to the ground. “I was trying to do well. Mirko’s dangerous.”

http://www.sherdog.com

VIDEO Cro Cop vs Frank Mir

VIDEO Cro Cop vs Frank Mir - last minute

Cro Cop sparring video few days before UFC 119

2010-09-20T19:54:00.020+02:00

Cro-cop's eye injury

Cro Cop sparring video few days before UFC 119

Very disappointing Cro Cop sparring!!! This is Cro Cop sparring video few days before UFC 119 and his fight with Frank Mir. Now Cro Cop have some problem with eye and he still has to pass exam to fight at UFC 119.
I think that all Cro Cop fans can be in serious depression :-(.
Sparring Fighters - Mladen Brestovec and Ajlin Ahmic

Good luck Mirko! :-(

UPDATE 1: Cro Cop passed exam to fight at UFC 119
Dana White on Twitter
"How many times do I have to tell u guys not to listen to internet BS? Cro Cop is 100% and fighting on sat."
UPDATE 1:
Cro Cop received 1.100.000 USD for this fight!!! (from Croatian largest web portal www.net.hr)

Cro Cop vs Mladen Brestovec

Cro Cop vs Ajlin Ahmic

Cro Cop went to Indianapolis to fight Mir

Mirko Cro Cop in Downtown Indianapolis carbo loading for the UFC

Mirko Cro Cop press conference before UFC 119

FALSE ALARM: CRO COP EYE UNINJURED, STILL FACING MIR

2010-09-18T00:20:00.003+02:00

FALSE ALARM: CRO COP EYE UNINJURED, STILL FACING MIR

Rumors started flying fast and furious on Friday when a report out of Croatia, from index.hr (popular but totally sensationalist and frivolous Croatian web portal), said that Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic suffered an eye injury in his final training session that put his UFC 119 headline bout with Frank Mir in jeopardy.

The calls immediately went out and all indications are that the report was a false alarm.

Everyone from Cro Cop’s new best buddy, Pat Barry, to his boss, UFC president Dana White, say that there is nothing wrong with the Croatian and that he is planning on fighting Mir in Indianapolis as planned.

White shot the rumor down via his Twitter account on Friday, saying, “Cro cop is fine. Rumor is not true.”

Barry told MMAWeekly.com that he spoke to Cro Cop on the phone on Friday and was reassured that everything was fine.

“He’s cool,” said Barry.

So as of Friday afternoon, everything is still a go for former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and former Pride Openweight Grand Prix champ Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic to headline UFC 119 next Saturday night.

UFC 119 Cro Cop Vs. Frank Mir

2010-08-16T15:20:00.004+02:00

UFC 119 Cro Cop Vs. Frank Mir

UPDATE: Cro Cop CONFIRMED fight with Frank Mir!!!!

Mirko Cro Cop:"I am aware that this fight will not go into full form because in this sport call five weeks prior to actually call in the last minute. Knowing that no other solution, I could not refuse the owner of the UFC which I ensured the existence and whose fans do not want to disappoint." - Google translator from Croatian language.

Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic will be stepping in for an injured Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 119, Fighters Only can confirm.

We broke the news of Nogueira’s withdrawal earlier and can now confirm that Filipovic is the replacement.

Nogueira’s injury is undisclosed at this point but a Brazilian source tells us it is one that requires surgery and is not an recurrence of the staph infection he suffered around the time of the first fight with Mir.

Filipovic’s inclusion in the UFC 109 headlining fight was notified to Fighters Only by sources close to the event. It will be the first time that the Croatian legend and former PRIDE FC title challenger has fought Mir, a former UFC heavyweight champion.

He has fought two former UFC heavyweight champions in the past, going 1-1 with Kevin Randleman and 3-0 over Josh Barnett while fighting in PRIDE, the Japanese promotion which once rivalled the UFC in stature.

UFC 119 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 25, 2010 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event will be the first that the UFC has hosted in Indiana.
Source: fightersonlymagazine.co.uk

UFC 115 Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Pat Barry

2010-06-13T04:13:00.043+02:00

EXCLUSIVE NEWS:
One hour before fight Slaven Vujic (Cro Cop friend) tell on Croatian TV that this fight will be definitely a last Mirko Cro Cop fight in UFC. At this moment we don't know will be this fight maybe a last Cro Cop fight in MMA career.
This fight will be 109 professional fight in Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic career (boxing, kick-boxing and MMA) .
Good luck Mirko. Leave UFC like a winner!!!
UPDATES:
June 15, 2010
Speaking via Croatian website, Jutarnji.hr, Cro Cop said:

“In addition to winning the Pride Grand Prix Finals, 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.”

“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.”

VIDEO - MIRKO CRO COP vs PATRICK BARRY

cop barry
Uploaded by rctcham. - More lifestyle, fashion and how-to videos.

Mirko Cro Cop after fight Press conference

Mirko Filipovic told the press that he was in the best shape of his career for UFC 115. Video courtesy of UFC.com.

Cro Cop submits Barry

Patrick Barry let Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic off the hook, and he paid a heavy price in the co-main event.

Filipovic weathered a pair of first-round knockdowns, waited for Barry to tire and made the most of the opportunities when they presented themselves. The 2006 Pride Fighting Championships open weight grand prix winner flurried on Barry in the third round, as he peppered the New Orleans native with accurate and powerful strikes before submitting him with a rear-naked choke 4:30 into Round 3.

"He caught me twice," Filipovic said. "The first one wasn't so hard. I fell down on my ass, but I felt nothing almost. The second one was good. I had double vision for a few seconds, but I managed to survive."

It was Filipovic's first traditional submission victory in nearly six years. The Croatian punctuated his late burst with a ringing right hand to the side of Barry's head. The Duke Roufus protégé, his offense in steep decline after the opening five minutes, fell where he stood, and Filipovic went to work against the cage. Ultimately, he transitioned to Barry's back, cinched the choke, minus the hooks, and solicited the tapout.

"He made space for me to choke him," Filipovic said, "and I just choked him."

UFC 115 Cro Cop Vs. Pat Barry Play-by-Play

CRO COP WIN by CHOKE!!!!!

Round 1
Barry aggressive from the outside, looking for right crosses, but can't land. A hard low kick lands on Filipovic's lead leg. Barry lands a short right hook that puts "Cro Cop" on his seat, but the former Pride star quickly jumps back up. Another low kick from Barry lands. A left-hand lead from Filipovic is blocked. The Croatian is noticeably slower than his opponent. Barry jumps in with another short right hook, which lands flush and again puts "Cro Cop" on the mat. Filipovic gets back up quickly, but has very little to offer Barry halfway through the first round. The left side of Filipovic's face is swelling badly, possibly due to a broken jaw or cheekbone. A low kick from "Cro Cop" is checked by Barry. The pair come forward, and clinch up, and Filipovic attempts a lateral drop which Barry partially blocks. In a wild exchange, "Cro Cop" lands a short uppercut. The pair smile, and actually momentarily embrace in the center of the cage in the middle of the fight. Barry lands another low kick, "Cro Cop" returns with a jab. A Barry head kick at the horn is blocked.

Jordan Breen scores the round: 10-9 Barry
TJ De Santis scores the round: 10-9 Barry
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Barry

Round 2
Two "Cro Cop" head kicks are blocked by Barry, but he lands a left kick to the body. Filipovic comes forward with a bevy of one-twos, but Barry blocks them all. The pair clinch into the fence, and "Cro Cop" throws hammerfists to Barry's thigh. As more fruitless punches to the thighs land, referee Yves Lavigne separates the pair. "Cro Cop" lands a side kick, and Barry throws a head kick which is blocked. Filipovic pushes him to the floor, controlling the head, before pushing forward and rolling Barry onto his back, into half guard. Cro Cop lands two right hands from the top and then goes to the mount. Barry turns his back and the Croatian sinks in both hooks. Cro Cop hits the head with his right hand and then looks for a rear-naked choke. Barry defends and lands an elbow fired backwards at the head.

Jordan Breen scores the round: 10-9 Cro Cop
TJ De Santis scores the round: 10-9 Cro Cop
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Cro Cop

Round 3
Cro Cop grazes a left-footed head kick off the face of Barry. Cro Cop connects with a crowd-pleasing axe kick that smacks Barry in the face. Barry clinches with the kickboxing legend. The fighters step back and Barry kicks Cro Cop’s right leg out from under him while he was throwing a head kick. Barry allows Cro Cop to stand. Cro Cop. Steps forward with a right jab and a left straight, but Barry ducks under the violent combo. Barry scores with a left-hook lead on the jaw. An uppercut and a wide right hook land for Cro Cop as Barry backs up to the cage. Cro Cop pushes him against the fence and sneaks in a hard left uppercut. Cro Cop controls the position and lands a hard knee to the body. Referee Yves Lavigne separates the fighters and Cro Cop takes advantage. Cro Cop unleashes his hands and clips Barry with a right and a left. Uppercuts from both hands peeper Barry's chin. Barry collapses and Mirko hops on his back. Cro Cop locks on a rear-naked choke with no hooks, and the gassed out and hurt Barry taps out at the 4:30 mark of round three.

source: www.sherdog.com

PICTURES - UFC 115 Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Pat Barry

Next pictures from ufc.com
Copyright Zuffa, LLC: All Rights Reserved.

Pat Barry after fight with Mirko (broken leg and hand)
photo by www.mmabay.co.uk

Crocop will be clashing shins with Pat Barry in UFC 115

2010-06-07T09:35:00.003+02:00

Originally Mirko Crocop Filipovich is suppose to face off Ben Rothwell and Pat Barry will be locking horns with Gilbert Yvel but the UFC made the switch and paired the two former K-1 strikers Crocop and Barry in a co main event showdown of striker vs striker in which in my opinion has the potential to be the fight of the night in the upcoming UFC 115 Liddell vs Franklin.

This fight is a sure bang for the buck and I’m betting it on the war god Ares that this one is going to draw blood for his blessings. A deadly left kick to the head from Crocop still remains to be seen but for sure those vicious leg kicks that Pat Barry fires like a Howitzer cannon is also a guaranteed fireworks. Despite Crocop’s lackluster performance in the UFC I don’t want to count him out for this fight because I’m a huge Crocop fan especially in his Pride days where he decimates his opponents with his head kicks and yes I said HEADKICKS! Crocop is a legend of the sport and it’s because of his legendary head kicks that had those heads rolling on the canvass more than any mma fighter ever achieving of getting half of those in their entire career.

Since his transition to the UFC’s octagon Crocop has never been the feared striker that he was known for in PrideFC Japan. He seems to struggle in the cage and couldn’t pull the trigger anymore. Most pundits say it’s because mentally he’s no longer hungry or motivated compared to the hungry young lions in the likes of Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and yes even Pat Barry. Pat Barry on the other hand like Crocop is an experience K-1 fighter and like Crocop he loves to hit hard and is probably salivating for a title shot somewhere in the corner of his mind. “I don’t hit hard, I hit scary” as Pat would like to put it. Pat Barry has 2-1-0 record in the UFC compared to Crocop’s struggling record of 3-3 so that would make Pat relatively a newbie in the UFC but it’s not much of an advantage for Crocop in terms of cage fighting experience. If we count in Crocops entire mma fights of 26-7-3 then surely he’s the veteran of the two. 20 out of those 26 wins is by knockout mostly if not all in devastating fashion (76.92%), 3 by submissions (11.54%) and 3 by decisions (11.54%) so the stats tells us that Crocop being a striker that he is still has a few submission tricks hidden in his sleeves (or should I say sporty Croatian briefs?) and Crocop has also proven that he can go to the distance which was evident in his classic battle with Fedor Emelianenko but lost to a unanimous decision.

Pat Barry on the other hand has an impressive mma record of 5-1-0 and he’s 5 out of 5 in the knockout department so that’s like 100% . But we don’t know if he has any submission skills or some ground game techniques if ever the fight does go to the ground which seems unlikely. Crocop though might resort to submission attempts like the way he surprised his fans by submitting Kevin Randleman back in Pride Shockwave 2004 with a guillotine choke. I’m sure Pat’s camp is prepared for the remotely impossible to happen which is Crocop doing Brazilian Jui Jitsu (He was formerly trained and coached in the grappling department by Fabricio Werdum who was a world champion in BJJ). Pat has to cover all areas possible not just the stand up game and he has to be careful of Crocop’s newly acquired ground and pound tactic as what Crocop have shown us in his last fight in UFC 110 which he elbowed and bloodied Anthony Perosh’s face like a mashed potato in tomato sauce. One thing we have to find out also is about Pat’s cardio in mma setting. If ever it does go to the distance (in which I hope not) then we will surely see if Pat has the gas to hold out a 3 five minute round war with the legend.

As for us fight fans particularly Crocop fans will always clamor and wish at the edge of our seats (or couches) that Crocop would somehow find the trigger to pull off his head kicks or probably cringe helplessly whenever he gets hammered by those sick leg kicks Pat Barry unloads after setting it up with a good jab straight combinations. As Pat said it about Crocop, “He is still the same Crocop … He is still as deadly as he ever was” so Pat for sure will have the mindset as if he is engaging the Crocop of old, the Crocop in his prime, the Crocop that struck fear in the mma world with his “Right Kick Hospital, Left Kick Cemetery” arsenal of death. Though I like both fighters but I’m certain only one is going to crash down hard on the canvass floor so who might it be? Crocop or Pat Barry? We’ll sure find it out on UFC 115 Liddell vs Franklin, Saturday (Sunday Phil time) June 12 which will take place in Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada.

Pat Barry discusses his UFC 115 fight with Mirko Cro Cop

2010-06-02T09:24:00.002+02:00

Pat Barry has the biggest fight of his life ahead of him at UFC 115 when he faces PRIDE legend Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 115. Barry defeated Antoni Hardonk at UFC 104 and is now 2-1 in the UFC but a win over the legendary Cro Cop could vault him into the mix for a shot at Brock Lesnar or Shane Carwin.

UFC 115 Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic Vs Pat Barry

2010-03-09T23:59:00.003+01:00

Official!
A pair of heavyweight strikers collide in June at UFC 115 now that Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (26-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Pat Barry (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) have agreed to a matchup.

Barry initially was expected to fight Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the June 12 event.

Although not officially announced by the UFC, UFC 115 takes at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

With Barry now fighting Filipovic, his original opponent, Yvel, instead fights Ben Rothwell, as MMAjunkie.com first reported.

Barry's opponent, Filipovic, recently evened his UFC record to 3-3 with a second-round TKO of late replacement Anthony Perosh at UFC 110. (Perosh replaced Rothwell, who was forced off the card due to traveler's flu.) Although sometimes slow and sluggish in the bout, Filipovic nevertheless controlled the pace of the fight and staked claim to the win, which moves him to 4-1 (with one no-contest) over his six fights, which have come in the UFC and DREAM.

A former World Combat League regular and former K-1 kickboxer (with an 18-6 record), Barry transitioned to MMA in May 2008 with the help of famed kickboxer turned MMA trainer Duke Roufus. After just three pro MMA bouts, he made his octagon debut and scored a devastating TKO of Dan Evensen via leg kicks at UFC 102.

Barry then got caught via guillotine choke by Tim Hague at UFC 98 but recently rebounded for a second-round TKO of Antoni Hardonk that earned him the night's "Knockout of the Night" award at UFC 104.

There is no 'mercy' in MMA

2010-03-02T09:31:00.002+01:00

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has an explanation for why he looked sluggish against late replacement Anthony Perosh in Australia on Feb. 21: Despite being in the hurt business, he did not wish to hurt anyone.

"I am very sorry that I had to hurt Perosh," he told a Croatian news site in a story that Fighters Only translated. "I tried to fight with as much consideration for him as I could. I even avoided the ground because I am seven, eight kilos heavier than he is. … I just couldn't do that to him when he was so bloody."

Beyond the expected understanding of fouls, "consideration" is not a word we hear often in the context of a prizefight. The goal is to render the other man a loser, which frequently involves hammering and battering him into semi-consciousness or submission. That Filipovic admits his attitude can change based on his personal feelings -- Perosh is a fellow Croatian -- or in a flash of mid-fight sympathy is a telling contradiction of a fighter's mindset. (And if you follow this sport with any regularity, you'll know it's one of many.)

Filipovic was not always so generous. In 2006, he turned Wanderlei Silva's face into something like a cantaloupe dropped from a fifth-story window; after doctors determined Silva could continue, Filipovic launched his dreaded high kick on the same side as the eye he had welded shut.

Knocking out a blind man is ruthless business. So what accounts for Filipovic's change in thinking? Dozens of fighters have expressed concern for their opponent's well-being, though most reserve it for the moments after the fight -- and bank account -- has been settled. The majority see injury as a necessary condition of winning or losing. Very few would take any actual delight in ending a career or snapping a limb. But it's not always a conscious decision: Frank Shamrock did not slam Igor Zinoviev in 1998 with the promise of ending Zinoviev's career, but I would wager he knew that was one of the possible outcomes. He and Zinoviev, like all fighters, entered with an understanding that injury without malice is still injury.

Being aware of those consequences isn't just about damage delivered. Had Filipovic pushed the issue, he might have been able to finish Perosh with a spectacular concussion and collected the bonus winnings for having the most impressive cap of the night. But it appears Filipovic's sense of ring morals interfered -- an easy choice to make when lucrative superstardom in Japan might have made that extra $50,000 an inconsequential deposit.

Japan was a Wild West of competition, where drug use, loose rules and excitement were valued above meandering and smothering victories. Japan in the '00s mirrored US MMA in the 1990s, which was railed for being unnecessarily violent and politically infected. Some of the sport's most violent moments came during this era: Gary Goodridge pinning and hammering a defenseless Paul Herrera, Tank Abbott's smirking brutality, bare-fisted hematoma festivals. Hurting someone unnecessarily wasn't something to be avoided. It was often the point.

This merciless offense was certainly due in part to barely skilled athletes and poor officiating, but isn't it possible that ultra-violence came as a partial result of not having to answer to anyone? Today's MMA athletes are quickly becoming corporate mascots for companies as homogenized as Reebok and Under Armour. Will Wheaties hesitate in putting Frank Mir on a box cover if he happens to snap Shane Carwin's arm in half? Are these considerations running through the subconscious in the brief instant when a fighter has to decide whether or not to be cruel?

If the new breed of combat athlete is as caring as Filipovic, it might be a powerfully compelling reason to never see fights contested between reluctant friends. Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva have sworn never to fight; Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine won't even entertain the idea. And if promoters force them -- as they've indicated they would in an effort to decide who the best fighter is -- we might find ourselves victim to this line of thinking. If Machida had Silva wobbled, going in for the kill might be impossible. And a fight hampered by that kind of hesitance is really no kind of fight at all.

Filipovic might have simply been taking the media for a ride, offering a sympathetic excuse for why he looked so lazy against a man who clearly had no business being in the ring with him. Or he might be a fighter who now allows his humanity to infect his fighting. Eventually, he will find himself against someone who has no such internal conflict. If Perosh had found himself in an advantageous position, would he have hesitated in pulling cartilage from the bone?

This is the problem with compassion in combat: It's an unwritten rule. And if you are prepared to show mercy to an opponent, you need to be prepared for the possibility that he will have absolutely none for you.

Jake Rossen is a contributor to Sherdog.com.

Crocop beats Anthony Perosh on cuts after two rounds

2010-02-21T17:18:00.006+01:00

Anthony Perosh wasn't dangerous opponent and he is Cro Cop friend, but Mirko Cro Cop was look good in this fight. Stamina problem is past now, so maybe we can see more good Cro Cop fights in the future. Maybe Cro Cop vs. Nogueira par 2??

VIDEO Cro cop vs. Anthony Perosh

Crocop beats Anthony Perosh on cuts after two rounds

A single elbow from Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic eventually ended the night for late replacement foe Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 today.

Perosh (10-6) lasted10 minutes against Filipovic (26-7) before the fight was stopped after the second round because of a deep cut on the head that caused blood to flow into his eyes. The cut was opened by a left elbow strike from Filipovic while Perosh was on the mat.

The fight was paused soon after the gash appeared to have the wound examined. A cutman said he could not close the cut, yet Perosh said he would carry on, much to Filipovic's surprise.

But once the round ended, doctors recommended that the fight stop.

"I appreciate his courage and his guts," said Filipovic, praising not only Perosh's desire to ifight with the cut, but also his willingness to take the fight with only a few days notice as a replacement for Ben Rothwell, who reportedly came down with a stomach virus.

Filipovic spent much of the fight stuffing Perosh's takedown shots. Although Filipovic never connected with his famous left high kick, he landed several left hands in the first round and connected on kicks to the body in the second.

(Posted by Sergio Non) content.usatoday.com

Ben Rothwellom is seek - UFC 110 Cro Cop Vs. Anthony Perosh

2010-02-19T10:51:00.005+01:00

UFC 110 Cro Cop Vs. Anthony Perosh

Ben Rothwellom cancel his fight with Cro Cop!!!
Cro Cop will fight with 37 years old Anthony Perosh from Australia. He holds a second degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Carlos Machado.
Anthony Perosh have 0-2 UFC score. He lost against Christian Wellisch and Jeff Monson.

VIDEO Anthony Perosh

More news soon .....

Ben Rothwell on Cro Cop: 'The Pit Bull Has Still Got Some Bite'

2010-02-18T14:48:00.004+01:00

Ben Rothwell on Cro Cop: 'The Pit Bull Has Still Got Some Bite'

Ben Rothwell on Cro Cop: 'The Pit Bull Has Still Got Some Bite' had 36 professional mixed martial arts fights before he finally got a shot in the UFC in October. It didn't go well.

Rothwell was beaten badly in his Octagon debut against Cain Velasquez at UFC 104, dropping his pro record to 30-7, and he says that loss led him to change the way he approaches his sport.

"My training for this fight has changed, of course, following the October match with Cain Velasquez," Rothwell told MMAFighting.com. "I made a decision to pack my things up in Iowa and move back to Wisconsin. I moved my life back there and decided to train full-time with Duke Roufus. He's been a long-time part-time coach for me since 2003, but I've decided to move back to Wisconsin and have him be my full-time coach. There is a great team down there with lots of energy and excitement and it's been really good for me and my preparation for this fight. I wasn't getting everything I needed in Iowa and just felt I needed a change. "

Rothwell will return to the Octagon on Saturday in Australia when he fights Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 110, and he says he's heading into that fight with a better attitude -- and with better training. In that respect, he thinks the loss to Velasquez will prove helpful.

"I have seven pro losses now and they've all affected me the same way," Rothwell said. "I wouldn't say they made me depressed, but each one of them made me realize I did something wrong and that I had to do something about it. I just try to learn from each defeat. There's no point sitting there and feeling sorry for yourself – that's not going to make you better. I just try to bounce back as quickly and strongly as I can."

At this stage in their respective careers, Rothwell is likely to have an easier time in the Octagon against Cro Cop (who's 35 years old and past his prime) than he did with Velasquez (who's 27 years old and just entering his prime). But Rothwell acknowledges that there's a certain mystique about Cro Cop. In fact, Rothwell says he's idolized Cro Cop for years.

"He's a legend and he's been fighting for a long time," Rothwell said. "I used to watch him as far back as 2000, and even watched footage of him in his K-1 days before I started fighting myself. This is a serious fight and he's a serious fighter. I had to do everything I could to give me the best possible chance of winning this fight. My training has picked up, I've moved myself to a new state and I believe I've given myself a great chance of winning the fight."

But while Cro Cop is just 3-3 in the last three years, Rothwell says he's not treating Cro Cop like a .500 fighter.

"One mistake guys could make in my position is that they go into a fight like this underestimating Cro Cop," Rothwell said. "They could be thinking that he's no good anymore or that he's finished. First of all, you've got to just look at the fighters that Cro Cop has lost to, in order to see that it's stupid to write him off. He hasn't been losing to chumps. He's been losing to good fighters. Maybe people don't realize how good Junior Dos Santos or Gabriel Gonzaga are. Also, when you've got everybody in the world telling you that you're done and can't fight anymore, yet you still want to carry on and prove them wrong – that's saying something. That shows me that Cro Cop's coming to fight and that he's got a lot of fight left in him.

Rothwell is going into this fight thinking he'll face the Cro Cop who was among the best mixed martial artists in the world during his days in Pride.

"It would be a massive mistake to take him lightly," Rothwell said. "I believe the pit bull has still got some bite left in him."

Rothwell said he's prepared so well for this fight that he doesn't need a specific game plan -- he's going to be ready no matter what happens when the cage door closes.

"There's nothing really to say about how the fight goes," Rothwell said. "This is the reason we fight the fights, to see what happens on the night. I have game plans, things I have trained for, but I am prepared for anything."

VIDEO Ben Rothwell vs Cain Velasquez

SOURCE: http://www.mmafighting.com

UFC 110 Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Vs. Ben Rothwell

2009-11-07T15:12:00.004+01:00

Cro Cop and Ben Rothwell in Works For UFC in Australia

AGAIN???
Unfortunately Mirko Cro Cop will fight again :(. We all know now that is not our good, old Mirko and we must looking another Cro Cop loss :(....

According to multiple reports, a bout between Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and Ben Rothwell is being set-up for UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia on February 21st.

Cro Cop is coming off of a disappointing loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 103 back in September. The bout ended with Cro Cop asking to have the fight stopped after he wasn’t able to see the younger, faster, and hungrier Brazilian tagging his grill with punches.

Nobody really knows where the talented striker’s head is at right now, especially after he announced that he contemplated suicide in his hotel room after the fight. In addition, the Croatian openly admitted that he was day dreaming of fishing back in his home country instead of thinking about what it would take to bring down a raging dos Santos.

Speaking of dominating losses, Rothwell was last seen getting mauled by Cain Velasquez at UFC 104 last month in Los Angeles. Although Rothwell proved that he can take a punch, Velasquez easily walked out of the Staples Center with a 2ndRound TKO win.

Here are the fighters rumored to be participating inside the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia:

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Ben Rothwell
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Wanderlei Silva

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic Officially Retires From MMA

2009-09-24T11:11:00.002+02:00

BREAKING NEWS

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic Officially Retires From MMA

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, one of the most feared fighters over the last decade, has decided to end his career following his loss to Junior Dos Santos last Saturday at UFC 103. The most famous Croatian cop, has decided to retire immediately, stating another comeback is not an option. 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, officially ending an era spanning 15 years of blood, sweat and tears at Cro Cop's headquarters.

Today is a sad day for all Cro Cop fans worldwide as one of the most beloved and inspiring icons in combat sports has decided to walk away from competition and hang up his gloves for good.

More information on Mirko's retirement will be available soon ....

SOURCE: Nokaut.com

UFC 103 Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

2009-09-20T02:06:00.021+02:00

UFC 103 Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

Junior dos Santos stopped Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in the third round by verbal submission after Cro Cop told referee Dan Miragliotta he could not see following a right hand that had landed to his eye socket.

Dos Santos (9-1) was the aggressor from the opening bell. He threw punches and kept Cro Cop off balance, not letting him get his vaunted left leg kicks off for the most part. Cro Cop threw a few, but none landed flush.

Despite a solid first round, dos Santos had a developing mouse under his left eye. He was not deterred. The young Brazilian kept moving forward.

Cro Cop (25-7-2) started moving into dos Santos, closing his striking distance. This slowed dos Santos down for a moment, but Cro Cop's left kick to his groin midway through the second frame slowed him even more. After a short rest, dos Santos motioned he was OK to continue.

The top heavyweight prospect changed up his strategy to start the third and final round. He worked to the body, and it paid dividends immediately. Cro Cop began to wobble after a series of punches and knees to his midsection found their mark.

Dos Santos pushed him up against the cage and kneed to the body. From there he moved upstairs and landed the punch that ended the bout. Cro Cop staggered and pawed his eye before looking at referee Dan Miragliotta, who stopped the bout at the 2:00 mark of the round.

ROUND by ROUND Mirko Cro Crop Vs. Junior Dos Santos

Round 1
Dos Santos lets his hands fly and backs Cro Cop up against the cage. Cro Cop defends his way off the cage and lands a kick to the right side of Cigano’s body. And another. Cigano is applying pressure with punching flurries, but nothing is landing clean. Finally a right hand gets through. Cigano explodes with punches, but Cro Cop is game. Cro Cop is sporting a lump over his right eye. He shoots for a single and fails as Cigano backs away. The Croatian goes to the clinch and briefly throws Cigano to the floor. The Brazilian is cut over both eyes. Cro Cop lands a sharp left straight that rocks Cigano’s frame. Cro Cop is starting to land. Cigano attacks with an uppercut and Cro Cop covers up well. Cro Cop’s defensive strategy is clear: he’s covering up and staying stationary instead of moving away. Cro Cop gets in another left at the horn.

Jordan Breen scores the fight 10-9 dos Santos
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Cro Cop
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 dos Santos

Round 2
Cro Cop fires a head kick that comes up short. Cro Cop lands a stinging low kick and Cigano belts him with a left hook. Cigano charges while unloading. Cro Cop shows good defense, but he’s not answering. Cigano continues to attack and lands an uppercut. Cro Cop covers and pushes him away when he gets close. Cro Cop misses another headkick. Cigano lands a stiff-left hand to the midsection. The crowd is starting to boo as Cro Cop does nothing. The fighters clinch and Cro Cop lands a left knee to the body. Cigano answers it with a knee of his own. The Brazilian falls to the canvas as Cro Cop lands a kick directly on the groin protector. Referee Dan Miragliotta gives dos Santos five minutes to recover. Dos Santos opens up a cut above the left eye of Cro Cop with a right hook. Cigano also connects with a body kick to end the round.

Jordan Breen scores the fight 10-9 dos Santos
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 dos Santos
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 dos Santos

Round 3
Cro Cop comes forward and lands a straight left. And another. Dos Santos is not phased. He answers with a solid body shot from his right hand. Dos Santos lands three knees to the body and a left hook. Another knee crushes Cro Cop’s body and he’s hurt. Cigano goes to the head with a knee and the Pride veteran is wobbly. Cigano continues the torrent of punishment with knees to the body. Cigano lands a right hand to the left eye of Cro Cop and the Croatian quits. The fight is over. Cro Cop took the punch directly on the eye and then waved to referee Miragliotta that he was done. The official time is 2:00 of round three.
http://www.sherdog.com/

VIDEO Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

MMA Videos | Dos Santos VS Cro Cop Video

PICTURES Mirko Cro Cro Vs. Junior Dos Santos

Mirko Cro Crop Looks To Destroy Junior Dos Santos At UFC 103

2009-09-17T14:46:00.001+02:00

Mirko Cro Crop Looks To Destroy Junior Dos Santos At UFC 103

The co-main event at UFC 103 features Mirko Cro Cop fighting against Junior Dos Santos on Saturday night at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Cro Cop will be facing a younger Dos Santos in this heavyweight fight. What some would seem as an upset should he beat his younger opponent, a win could put him back into title contention. Both of these fighters have alot on the line, so fans should look forward to an action packed event.

Mirko Cro Cop comes into this fight with a record of 25-6-2. The more experienced fighter has uncanny knock out ability and crushing left kicks that he will need to use against the less experienced Dos Santos. The 35 year old was once the most feared striker in MMA at one point in his career. Known for his high left kick, if he can combine his hands and feet more, Dos Santos could have a long night. Cro Crop is very capable of knocking Dos Santos out early if he can connect with one of his powerful left kicks.

Known for his incredible strength and punishing boxing technique, 25 year old Dos Santos comes into the fight with an 8-1 record with six of these victories by way of KO/TKO. His only two fights in the UFC have resulted in first round knockouts. The 6'4" 238 pound Brazilian fighter will look to punish Cro Crop with devastating punches throughout the fight. Dos Santos will look to get this victory in his hopes to make it to a title fight in the near future. He does come into the fight respecting the ability of Cro Crop.

"Cro Cop has to be respected. People may say he is not the same but, for me, he continues being one of the most dangerous MMA fighters. He can finish a fight with only one hit. He left kick is very good and I need to take care with his left hand too,"

Bodog Sportsbook has listed the odds for this fight and the payout for Cro Crop is at -140 and +110 for Dos Santos. This is sure to be an interesting fight as both fighters bring two different styles to the octagon.

Cro Cop Stays With UFC, To Fight In September

2009-07-14T15:45:00.002+02:00

Cro Cop Stays With UFC, To Fight In September

Dallas will host Cro Cop and Brazilian Junior Dos Santos on September 19.
Mirko Filipovic`s manoeuvre has succeeded, he will stay with the UFC organisation, under the terms which suit him most! This means more fights, which means more money and more chances of retiring with the most valuable champion belt which two free fights offer at the moment.

They showed how much they wanted Cro Cop in the UFC cage, because owner Lorenzo Fertitta, otherwise a billionaire, personally arrived in Croatia to talk to Mirko and offered him a new contract, under the conditions which favour him more.

Of course, the Croatian fighter took the deal. Fertitta confirmed this in a conversation for the Las Vegas Sun, saying that everything has been arranged and that Mirko Filipovic would be fighting at least three times in his organisation. The first fight is scheduled for September 19 against Brazilian Junior Dos Santos.

The fight will take place in Dallas and if the Croatian fighter wants to the everything by the book, he might be fighting for the coveted belt in the second fight already. This would be the pinnacle of his career and he would be able to leave this sport behind.

BREAKING NEWS - Lorenzo Fertitta in Zagreb

2009-07-04T00:27:00.002+02:00

Lorenzo Fertitta makes Mirko Cro Cop an “offer he cannot refuse”

Another turn has been made in the Mirko Cro Cop caseas UFC COO Lorenzo Fertitta took a private plane to Cro Cop’s home in Zagreb, Croatia to make the former PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix champion an offer he simply cannot refuse.

According to Croatian website Index.hr Fertitta flew into Croatia to meet with Cro Cop for a few hours where it seems that the fighter may very well be coming back in the UFC fold.
“A source tells us that CroCop got an offer that is simply non-refusable,” the article states. “CroCop will almost certainly look at the returning to the strongest MMA league in the world currently knows.”

A part of the negotiations is reporting that Cro Cop would be able to compete more frequently where his deal over the phone with UFC President Dana White had Cro Cop competing almost every 6 months which lead to further reports that Cro Cop signed with the Japanese based DREAM promotion.

However, Cro Cop along with his manger have vehemently denied those reports and is still a free agent. Last month at UFC 99 Mirko Cro Cop made his return to the Octagon for the first time since UFC 75 back in September of 2007 and picked up a first round TKO victory over Mostapha Al-Turk and evening up his UFC record to 2-2 and making his overall MMA record at 25-6-2 with 1 no-contest.

CRO COP'S WIN WON'T BE OVERTURNED

2009-06-17T08:57:00.010+02:00

All about Cro Cop vs Al Turk here

UFC'S RATNER: CRO COP'S WIN WON'T BE OVERTURNED

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic’s sudden UFC return brought a hero’s welcome from hundreds of Croatian fans perched in Lanxess Arena. The UFC 99 bout’s ending and aftermath were a different story.

In real time, Cro Cop hurt opponent Mustapha Al-Turk with a punch and finished him off against the cage. But after referee Dan Mirgliotta waved the bout off, a replay revealed an inadvertent eye poke had taken Al-Turk out of the game.

Al-Turk’s manager, Ken Pavia, told Fighters Only he would contest the decision.

“We are going to appeal that. We don't think it's right that it should be a TKO,” said Pavia. “The referee should have got onto the eye poke. Look at Henderson vs. Franklin at UFC 93 in Dublin. Franklin got a timeout when he got eye-poked.”

Marc Ratner, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Monday told MMAWeekly.com an appeal was not possible.

“It’s very simple,” said Ratner. “By the unified rules... first of all the referee didn’t see the foul. What you’re asking is can we go to instant replay. You’re saying now that the fight’s over, can you take a look at it? If the referee had seen the finger and stopped the fight immediately, he could have given a stop for five minutes to recover, and then if (Al-Turk) couldn’t have gone on, it would have been a no-contest.”

Ratner, who headed the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) prior to current Executive Director Keith Kizer, chalked the incident up to a judgment call on Mirgliotta’s part.

“In any sport, a judgment call cannot be overturned,” he continued. “It’s one of those things that happens, but nobody saw it around the Octagon until the replay.”

A similar controversy occurred last July when Kevin Burns accidentally poked Anthony Johnson in the eye in the final round of their fight at “Silva vs. Irvin.” Referee Steve Mazzagatti did not see the infraction and ruled the fight a TKO after Burns finished off Johnson. Pavia’s subsequent appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission was rejected for “lack of remedy.”

Pavia and Al-Turk were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

source: mmaweekly.com