Mirko Crocop planning return to mma

[Best80smovieRAD]

I could see the UFC bringing him back for his name but he would have to win his first fight to stick around longer than that

mmajunkie

At 37 years old, Croatian combat-sports legend Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic believes he will again compete in MMA.

Despite walking away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship after an October loss to Roy Nelson, Filipovic told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) and USA TODAY Sports that he is training in the sport and envisions a return to MMA.

"Concerning my retirement from the UFC, I said it was my last fight for the UFC and last fight on the present contract, but I did not say, 'I won't keep fighting,'" Filipovic said. "I never said that. I think the best thing to say is that I was born to fight."

After leaving the UFC, Filipovic had surgery to repair torn muscles and tendons in his arm. He has returned to training and said he feels like an athlete reborn.

"I feel like a little kid," Filipovic said. "I'm so happy. I'm training every day. I usually train twice a day, and Thursdays and Sundays are supposed to be my days off. But even on those days I'm training at least once. I have to do at least one session each day to be happy."

Filipovic (27-10-2) is under contract with K-1, a kickboxing promotion hosting a 2012 World Grand Prix that boasts a $1 million grand prize. The company will visit Los Angeles in September, and Filipovic next will appear in a round-of-16 fight in Tokyo in October.

Filipovic is 2-0 in kickboxing matches since leaving the UFC. The former Croatian police officer said he was offered an MMA fight for September but was forced to turn it down when he could not settle on contract terms.

However, after the K-1 tournament is over, "Cro Cop" said he would begin to field offers for an MMA contest.

"If you ask me, when I look deep into my soul, of course I would like to fight MMA again," Filipovic said. "People don't get it. Martial arts is my life."

Filipovic has competed in professional combat sports since 1996.

He fought 10 times for the UFC and 24 times for the now-defunct PRIDE organization, including a tournament championship in the 2006 PRIDE Open-Weight World Grand Prix. He is also a two-time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist.

"K-1 was my first love, but even as recently as this week I was sparring kickboxing, and it was so difficult not to throw them on the ground and look to ground and pound," he said. "Even while I'm preparing for the K-1 grand prix, I'm training on the ground with grappling several times each week.

"My motivation now is to prove to everyone that I'm still capable of being in the cage. I'm not old. I'm 37, but I can do things that fighters 10 years younger cannot.

"I will prove that, or I will die trying."

[Ash]

I knew once he won those last few fights he had that an MMA return was inevitable.

[Buckery]

I recall someone saying that on this forum too. That when Filipovic wins some kickboxing matches that he would once again want to return. Good call if it was you.

He always seemed like an undersized heavyweight to me. I think he could really stir the pot at 205. Shame this isn't a legit option for him.

I don't know what it is with older fighters either but they throw less and less leg kicks as they age. Sure, I can see why that would happen but when it's your bread and butter you have to find a way to stretch those as long as you can. For a while there I wasn't even sure Mirko could get his leg up there anymore because he didn't attempt a head kick for a few fights.

Personally (depending on their training), I think fighters should be given opportunity to fight at least until they're 38, 39 or 40 years old. Mirko is on the way to retirement for sure but he probably has 3 or 4 fights left.

Then again that Gonzaga headkick might have shortened his MMA life by a year or two

[split decision]

Faaaaaaaaaaack! Why can't some athletes just accept that they're done? Sure, it must be difficult to come to terms with aging, eroding skills and watching new generations of evolving fighters with arsenals that you never had at your disposal.

What his camp or his family should do is force him to sit down and watch the spectacular knockouts he suffered over the past five years in addition to his lackluster and largely ineffective offense (rewatching the fight against Mir would put him to sleep). He's not the Mirko of 2000 anymore, not even close!

[TheIcon]

Im sorry Crocop has 0 fights left in him unless it is with a one armed homeless man blindfolded gagged and missing a few toes. He was once one of my fav fighters but he should have hung up the gloves a long time ago. Having a passable fight once in a great while doesn't mean he should still fight.

[Greezy]

kongo got about 3 miles to the gallon is his last fight and mirko laughed. if i can only train hard enough to get 4 miles to the gallon i should be able to get the split decision!

[ATroms]

As long as Mirko doesnt come back to the UFC, than im fine with whatever he wants to do in terms of still fighting. One FC might be a comfy place for him? Maybe he could fight Sylvia/Arlovski and see where that takes him? Nothing wrong with having it out with a few older guys like himself of his own era to give himself closure to a damn good career. Surely, even he must know deep down that if he were back in the UFC, he would be going to sleep in nearly every fight. I doubt Dana would have any interest anyways. If hes trying to get Bonnar/Forrest to retire, surely he wouldnt invest in Mirko once again...

[LordZardoz]

I don't know what it is with older fighters either but they throw less and less leg kicks as they age. Sure, I can see why that would happen but when it's your bread and butter you have to find a way to stretch those as long as you can. For a while there I wasn't even sure Mirko could get his leg up there anymore because he didn't attempt a head kick for a few fights.

There was a bloody elbow breakdown about why Crocop's effectiveness deteriorated so much. Part of it was blamed on him not setting up his strikes the way he used to. Part of it was a dependence on trapping a guy in a corner in a ring which of course is not an option available in a cage. The reasoning given seems plausible enough.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/7/27...-cop-filipovic

As for Crocop not thowing leg kicks like he used to, I think it is mostly due to not setting it up like he used to. The article blames it mostly on Mirko's footwork turning to ****. I would also add that Crocop's opponents have pretty much scouted that move.

END COMMUNICATION

[Buckery]

Im sorry Crocop has 0 fights left in him unless it is with a one armed homeless man blindfolded gagged and missing a few toes. He was once one of my fav fighters but he should have hung up the gloves a long time ago. Having a passable fight once in a great while doesn't mean he should still fight.

True but if he's motivated to try and finish a fight or two he should be able to put together a couple of more decent fights. He has looked extremely lackluster and gun-shy but he's also shown some pretty good moments too. In his last fight against Nelson we actually saw the guy try to fight for the first time in a while.

Following surgeries he says he feels good. Considering the heavyweight landscape right now I'd say throw him back in there and see what happens. Fight by fight contract. I'd expect he can go 3 or 4 more, even with his recent KOs to pretty good competition. Throw Mirko Oli Thompson or the guy who just beat him, Phil DeFries, as a comeback fight.

[Cavity Creep]

So, I guess I'll be the one to say it...

CroCop's Back!!!