Comments on: Cro Cop vs Mizuno (fight video): DREAM 1

By: Jay K.

Jay K. — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:26:22 +0000

Dissapointed at the fight. The entire time I was picturing Kongo as his opponent during this fight and it’s clear to me that Cro Cop will never return to the UFC. Even his opening knee to the head was partially deflected by this can prior to the can’s defeat. I wish him well, but as for returning to the UFC, Nope.

Jay K.

By: Beef

Beef — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:01:48 +0000

Yes #43 I was also taking note of Cro Cop expanding his game. Yes, we only saw the added moves on his feet, but I wouldn’t doubt that he is adding to his takedown defense and ground game as well.

This could be the perfect opportunity for him to “practice” these new skills and it looks like he could be serious about returning to the UFC and/or fighting more serious competition.

I too am hoping that we will soon get to see a new and improved Cro Cop with more skills and the old fighting instinct.

By: Pleau

Pleau — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:38:36 +0000

This fight doesn’t tell us much obviously. However this is the first time I’ve ever seen Cro Cop use knees in the clinch and standing elbow strikes… very interesting…

By: bp

bp — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:27:52 +0000

Yeah, I miss the old Cro Cop before he got to the UFC. I think he got back on the roids again and now he can kick ass. Hell, I cant fight worth a sh*t and am a fat bastard, but I think I can beat that guy that Cro Cop fought.

By: Mike Wolfe

Mike Wolfe — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:12:58 +0000

I hope he’s getting his mojo back, and if he has to pound a few nobodies, fine. But to re-claim his status as a top MMA fighter, he’ll have to fight and win against more competitive opponents. The question in my mind is whether he’s going to ride his rep. for some easy paydays like this one, or whether he’s going to make a serious comeback. Can’t tell from this fight.

By: SteveXtreme

SteveXtreme — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:15:24 +0000

Perhaps I did speak rather harshly of Crocop. I apologize. I just stressed that to try and better get my comment about Team Takedown across. I was/am a Crocop fan. But I don’t believe i’m thinking any different than any other Crocop fan when I say I want the old Crocop back. Hell I would love for him to beat Fedor and make a triumphant and dominant return to the UFC. But I don’t think that will happen.

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:40:48 +0000

“Let’s stop talking about washed up Cro Cop and start talking about Team Takedown”

people who make comments like that piss me off..

washed up??

a fighters washed up after losing 2 fights in a row??

well, hell,
if that’s the case, why is Chuck still headlining?? he’s lost two in a row before..
what about randy couture, he’s lost two in a row before but i bet you’re still hugging his balls..
the great Dan Hendo.. hmmm.. would you say he’s washed up too??

no one has the right to say that Cro-Cop is washed up after a freak KO loss and a close decision loss.. and the fact is.. no matter how good or bad you think he looked in his last fight.. he won.. in devistating fashion and in under a minute, mind you..

By: Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:24:07 +0000

I am glad to see that Cro cop can still beat the shit out of a punching bag….C’mon could he get a better guy to fight. What a waste of 56 seconds of my life.

By: Derek B.

Derek B. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:15:00 +0000

“If Tatsuya Mizuno is the toughest competition Mirko Crocop is willing to face ”

also Cro-Cop fights whoever they put in front of him. He’s never been that fighter who says “no i’m not going to fight him” he always fight who the match makers put in front of him.

By: Derek B.

Derek B. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:12:10 +0000

it’s about money Steve. Mizuno isn’t the toughest opponent for Mirko. Everyone knows that just by watching the fight. You have to understand this is an entertainment sport. If it weren’t for the fighters who brings people to the stands then there would be no sport today.

Plus there were alot of Cro-Cop sporting fans when he made his debut and when he fought in europe. He’s not mainstream here in america..just like if americans fighters went to Japan nobody would care about them except for the hardcore fight fans.

Just how the cookie crumbles. This is why Brock Lesnar is in the UFC.

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:10:43 +0000

Yeah, he’s probably still relevant in Japan, where they are so much more knowledgable and the sport is pure. Let’s hope he fights Sakuraba next – that would draw 20K+ fans and would really show American audiences what “real” MMA is. Screw all these TUF-laden cards in the US – who needs them when you could watch real fighters like Tamura, Takimoto, etc.?

By: SteveXtreme

SteveXtreme — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:02:57 +0000

If Tatsuya Mizuno is the toughest competition Mirko Crocop is willing to face then the only crowd he’s going to draw is Japanese fans. Nothing wrong with that, but if his DREAM is to make it back to the UFC, short of beating Fedor he is dreaming.

By: Derek B.

Derek B. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:35:40 +0000

SteveXtreme

Jake Rosholt, Johnny Hendricks, Shane Roller, and Eric Bradley are not going to bring thousands of fans to watch a fight like Cro-Cop does. Perhaps a few years down the road they will, but as it stands Cro-Cop is a way bigger asset to MMA.

By: Derek B.

Derek B. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:33:10 +0000

I just did some research on the takedown. Seems like they like to convert wrestler into Mixed Martial Artists. I’m a huge fan or turning wrestlers(not like wwf) into MMA’s. I’ll keep my eyes open for the members of the team.

By: SteveXtreme

SteveXtreme — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:31:21 +0000

All I’m comparing is OLD news to NEW news. Crocop is OLD and not relative anymore. Jake Rosholt, Johnny Hendricks, Shane Roller, and Eric Bradley are NEW and they are on there way up. Not down! I (and i’m sure Team Takedown) do respect what Crocop did when he was on top of his game, but he’s not anymore. I understand how hard it is to let someone go, but maybe just maybe if you do he’ll comeback. Wouldn’t that be nice?

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:28:00 +0000

#23 and #24 no one is pissing on Team Takedown! I just thought it was odd that that with all these Cro Cop opinions in pops Steve with Team Takedown!!

Okay….I’m ready to talk Team Takedown now…….anyone else?

By: bubbafat

bubbafat — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:09:44 +0000

Amen Slater. And to Zack, “Let’s stop talking about washed up Cro Cop and start talking about Team Takedown.” Sounds like a comparison to me. I’m not taking anything away from the boys at Team Takedown, they are incredible athletes. I can’t presume to speak for them, but… I’m sure that even they don’t want to be used in that context, and put in the same sentence as someone that they should sincerely look up to inside and outside the ring. Whether it’s a direct comparison or not.

By: A.C Slater

A.C Slater — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:58:32 +0000

Croatians are a crafty people.
I hate to speak in generalizations, but all Croatians are descendants of the now-extinct race of little-people called Leprechauns. The shrewd dealings of Cro-Cop’s ancestors is evident in his poker face. (The man doesn’t smile, if he did, the heavens would rain molten iron.) His recent poor showing is just the beginning of the greatest trick his people have ever pulled—he’s going to kick defeat itself in the head. That’s right, Cro-Cop is going to find a way to high-kick an intangible distinction, an idea, a connotation. This will be his greatest triumph, and boy are you all going to look silly.

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:49:07 +0000

bubba – I don’t think anyone was comparing up-and-comers to future hall of famers, but I do have to question Cro Cop’s relevance to the sport right now, and how interesting he is as a topic. I’ve hugged his nuts with the best of them, but his actions since the GP have been very strange. This fight did nothing to convince me that he’s back.

By: bubbafat

bubbafat — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:33:08 +0000

“Future” would be the key word there. Not quite yet. Superstar status in the MMA world is something Mr. Filipovic has earned. Let’s not compare up and comers to the already established greats as it insults them both. No matter how bad their last couple performances may have been.