These days the boys from Cro Cop team are training in full force. After a long break and highly demanding recovery process, Mirko Cro Cop is ready to fight in MMA again. All problems with injuries are history and Cro Cop is very optimistic to start another chapter in his career: „I feel great, the recovery process is going well and we train at high intensity now. I never had such a strong desire to prove myself and I'll climb up again, or die trying.“ Mirko's next fight is set for June 13th in Germany, which means that he's back in the UFC, a place that he didn't have his best moments: „I decided to fight in the UFC again, because of the stronger competition in the heavyweight division. My next opponent will be Mustapha Al-Turk. I didn't do well in my first three appearances - I wasn't myself. By returning to the cage I want to prove that I can still fight at highest level, no matter when or where.“, claims Cro Cop. UFC 99 will be Cro Cop's first fight this year with the possibility of three fights coming by years end. „It's hard to talk about concrete plans, but I would really like to fight at least three times this year. I wish to fight against quality opponents and to fight my way up to a title shot but for now, I'll focus only on my next fight and after that we'll see what's going to be on the menu next“, says Cro Cop. Although the UFC 99 card looks stacked, it seems that the UFC officials can see the benefits of hiring a top European fighter for their first ever UFC show in Germany. „I want to say thank you Mr. Dana White for your interest and for an invitation back to the UFC. I owe you a lot from our first deal, and I'll make it up to you.“, promises Cro Cop. All news related to Mirko Cro Cop's career are posted on Mirko's official MMA-ID profile on http://www.mma-id.com/CROCOP and Mirko's official homepage http://www.mirko-crocop.com. http://www.mirko-crocop.com/?id=4&solo=102
Good to have him back. I guess the Germany rumours were true all along. Kind of a late announcement though!
The landscape in the heavyweight division of the UFC has changed a lot since he's left. Hard to place Cro Cop. He might not even be in the top-ten anymore. I think some of the new guys would take him to the woodshed. I guess that's why he's getting a tune-up fight against Turk. Another Sanchez. Who would you put Cro Cop up against afterward, supposing he beats Turk? I'd like to see him fight the winner of Nogueira/Couture. I'd also really like to see him fight Shane Carwin.
I'd really love to see the Pride edition of Cro-Cop in the UFC, but I don't think that guy exists anymore. If he faces Carwin or Cain Velasquez, I think he ends up on his back eating tons of elbows. It'd be sad to see. If he looks so-so vs Al Turk then take on the winner of Nog/Couture, kina an old school battle. If he looks great... see above post
Read a thread over at "shitdog" that was translated from Croatian. It said that in Cro Cop's deal with the UFC, there is a negotiated rematch with Big Nog.
Cro Cop needs to start at the bottom of the rung and work his way up. He never had a chance to build up his resume and get comfortable fighting in UFC. He's also been exposed with opponents pressing him instead of being stalked by Cro Cop with the inevitable leg kick to the temple. I'd like to see him have 1 or 2 fights before faces guys like Couture and Big Nog again.
Theres a new video on mmanews.com that cc says he isn't even training kicks at all, that he is focusing only on his boxing and ground stuff. So hopefully his improved boxing will make him more deadlier.
that's smart on his part, it's hard to win consistently with kicks in the UFC because there are so many wrestlers that will put you on your back if you rely on using kicks too much. Pat Berry is going to find that out eventually too and then we'll see if he has a ground game.
I don't think the UFC wants to hype him up like they did last time. I'm sure it'll make its way to the main broadcast somehow, though. They can't go to Germany and not have him on the main card.
