Bitter Divorce: Cro Cop Quits the Cage
Posted by Chad Edward on February 15th, 2008UFC President Dana White announced via letter to Croatian sports website Javno Thursday that he has terminated heavyweight Mirko Filipovic’s contract pursuant to a clause that allows renegotiation after Cro Cop lost two consecutive fights.
At the same time in Tokyo, Cro Cop shocked a press conference announcing the creation of a new Japanese mixed martial arts promotion called Dream.
“I’m very excited to be here again,” Cro Cop said. “I’m so excited to be part of this.”
Cro Cop scored a single victory in the cage while disappointing twice, in a vicious knockout to Gabriel Gonzaga and a grueling tussle with Cheick Kongo.
Cro Cop indicated he preferred fighting in a ring, but hoped to return to the Octagon one day.
White welcomes him whenever he’s ready.
The 33-year old explained, “I left because I couldn’t wait any longer. I asked for a fight earlier, as early as March 1; but, I was offered May, or even later. I asked for a rematch with Gonzaga in Zagreb; but, he lost to [Fabricio] Werdum, so that fell through. And I’m in shape, I gained muscle mass, I’m 105 kilograms and I want to fight.”
Cro Cop’s departure from PRIDE to the UFC in December 2006 was exciting, most predicting a virtual coronation as UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Cro Cop, however, was unprepared for the Brazilian Gonzaga and uninspired versus the Frenchman Kongo, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of White, Cro Cop, and MMA fans.
Cro Cop admitted, “The last two years I’ve been in some kind of mental blockade. I was empty before fights, depressed, I hated myself. I’m sorry to have disappointed my English fans who welcomed me like a king.”
Dream will be a homecoming of sorts, returning Cro Cop to his comfort zone.
The promotion is a collaboration between ex-K-1 and PRIDE executives. Norifumi Yamamoto, Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai, Gesias Calvancante, and Royce Gracie have all joined Filipovic at Dream.
The Saitama Super Arena will host the first fight card March 15 when Calvancante and Aoki will finally showdown and Cro Cop will return versus an unnamed opponent.
