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23/02/10 - CroCop admits relenting on Perosh in interests of sportsmanship
Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic has admitted he held back once he had opened up a massive cut on Anthony Perosh’s head at UFC 110. In an interview he gave to Croatian television on arriving back in his homeland from the Australian event, Filipovic said that he did not ‘go for the kill’ when he had Perosh cut and struggling, because it would have been unsporting.
“I admire Perosh for accepting the fight. There were much better fighters there who turned it down but I understand why; they did not have time to prepare. [But] I am very sorry that I had to hurt Perosh. I tried to fight with as much consideration for him as I could. I even avoided the ground because I am 7, 8 kilos heavier than he is.
Filipovic added that UFC president Dana White had questioned why he did not finish Perosh off. “I just couldn't do that to him when he was so bloody,” he said. The comments are unsurprising given that Filipovic is generally one of the most sporting fighters in the mixed martial arts game (although PRIDE victim Dos Caras Jr. might disagree). Also, he and Perosh know each other well; Perosh is of Croatian heritage and has trained Filipovic’s team mates in the past.
It was not all bad news for Perosh though. He took a beating but he accepted the fight on condition that he get a multi-fight contract. He ended up with a four-fight deal, although there is nothing to say he will not be dropped if he loses his next clash.
Filipovic’s comment that there were “better fighters there who turned it down” is interesting. A Croatian MMA site had reported that the fight was offered to Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson among others, but the report was dismissed as improbable as they both fight at light-heavyweight - but of course would be walking around more as heavyweights. There is no way of knowing (as yet) who was offered the fight but Filipovic has at least confirmed that more than one fighter was.
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