Interviews
20/07/09 - CroCop talks UFC, Lesnar, Dana White
Mirko 'CroCop' Filipovic talked to Croatian site Index.hr about signing a three-fight deal with the UFC recently. The below is a translation of that article from its original Croatian language version.
If you enjoy the interview, plese give Index.hr a 'hit' by clicking this link (even though you probably can't read Croatian...) CLICK HERE
Is the contract with the UFC now signed?
"Yes. To my great pleasure, I signed a contract with American UFC for three more fights. The first will be in Dallas September 19th against Brazil’s Juniors dos Santos."
Why UFC and not Japan? What changed your mind?
"I was motivated by what the UFC has become. It is the only global association of fighting at this point which has weight and reputation in the world. Unfortunately, Dream has not reproduced the legendary Pride where I once fought, while on the other hand the UFC has grown in every way. Japan currently cannot compete with the UFC either financially or in the sport sense."
Are you sorry about that? Our impression was that you always preferred ring to cages.
"Of course I'm very sorry. All that I have achieved in this career, I achieved in Japan. I do not owe anything to Pride or Dream, but to the Japanese audiences I say thank you very much. My appreciation and respect continues. I hope they will understand my decision. In today, the time of global recession, I do not see that it will be possible for someone to close the gap with the Americans (UFC). Maybe they will, but for not for several years [by which time] I will not be in this sport. "
Your opponent has already confirmed the fight a few days ago. What do you know about Junior Dos Santos?
“He is a lion, one of the emerging stars along with Cain Velasquez, who is foremost. I know that because of training with Minotaur [Nogueira], that he is a very good boxer and a great grappler. I saw his knockout against Werdum and his last fight, in which he also got the knockout. Overall, he is a great fighter, never to be underestimated. However, I expect victory.”
The aim is of course the heavyweight belt. Who is next and what order after Dos Santos?
"I'm gonna take it fight by fight, but the belt is my goal. My second fight [of this UFC contract] should happen around the New Year, but we will see how I'll be after Dos Santos. There's an event 4th of January, so maybe then hopefully I could again be in the ring. I do not know, I'm going to do this fight and then see what is next in line. "
How do you look at the heavyweight competition in the UFC? Winning the belt will not be an easy task.
"Competition is extremely strong. There are several legends like Couture and Minotauro, and strong fighters like Lesnar, Mir, Velasquez, Carwin ... As I said, I should go fight by fight and be focused on what is next."
I assume that you saw the recent fight for the "unification" of the heavyweight title between Lesnar and Mir. Was the result what you expected?
"I'm wasn’t expecting anything, but I must point out that his victory is a defeat for the sport as such. Don’t get me wrong, Lesnar is a fearsome and very dangerous opponent, but I am old school, I prefer skill and technique. This win was a defeat of martial skills. Much of what he achieved in the fight is a result of pure power… Of course, Lesnar has quality sparring partners, is an experienced wrestler and a man who learns very quickly. But he is yet to have a real struggle. He does not have many fights in his career and I would love to see how he would react to two or three good low kicks."
Speaking of low kicks, how is your knee?
"The leg and knee are great. All better and better, and I believe that it will no longer be an issue."
Fertitta arrived in Zagreb to meet with you and this is proof of how high you are regarded in the world of MMA. Did he surprise you when he said he would personally come to Croatia?
"I do not know why Fertitta decided to personally visit, but I am very happy with that. I am very pleasantly surprised in him as a person. Before, I only had a brief chance to meet, and this time we have spent five, six hours together. He is a modest and measured man."
Do you think you were targeted by the UFC because of substantial expansion of work in Europe and Asia?
"I do not know anything about it and I would not want to speculate. As I have said, I am a fighter, and they are the employers and the reasoning I leave to them."
How did Dream respond when you had to cancel a reported agreement?
"I'm sure that they were sorry. I was sorry, but this time the sporting challenge overruled everything. In addition, they are currently not financially capable of competing with America. Comparing Dream and UFC's levels at this point is funny. Once it was otherwise, and the Pride level meant a lot. Today it is not so."
In Japan, you are still a big star, bigger than the UFC name is over there…
"I'm very sorry for the Japanese audience. I did not want to disappoint them and if I am never again to fight in Japan, I can only say that I experienced there the most beautiful martial arts days. I made my name in that country and saw all the best of the nation. However, life is life and a better offer is a better offer. "
Although the majority of the best fighters in the world are under contract with the UFC, Fedor Emelianenko is still not in the cage…
"Fedor probably has his reasons, I respect them and do not want to hypothesise about it. This is a man who I very much appreciate and respect and he is very dear person. Of course, I would be delighted were he to come to the UFC because that would open the possibility of another fight between us. I still have a great desire for revenge against him."
Are you still in disagreement with Dana White?
"Dana White is my employer, and this is the end of the matter. I'm sorry only that individuals, behind my back, disputed certain points unnecessarily. I was a fighter on the free market and I signed a contract according to the best offer. And we all know that the only valid contract is written on paper and with a signature. But there is not issue [with White]. "
Is it true that you called White 600 times after it was published that you signed for Dream? (White was harsh about Mirko after it was reported he signed for Dream)
"Personally, to me that is very insulting. I do not know why it is said that I have called 600 times when it is not true. This is actually the more accurate truth: I called him exactly zero. I only sent him a text message. I do not know his reasons for saying this, but to me, this statement cast me in a negative light. It made me out as nagging and two-faced. I do not like anyone so much to spend so much time calling them, if my life depended on it! Indirectly this statement is degrading to me."
Article translated from original Croatian language piece at Index.hr (please click the link to give them a ‘hit’, even though you most likely don’t read Croatian too well…) CLICK HERE
John Joe O’Regan
John.fightersonly@gmail.com
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