Cro Cop leaves UFC

[Wrestling Station]

COLOGNE, Germany – Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic's return to the UFC was a short one.

Not long after stopping Mostapha Al-Turk in the first round of UFC 99 on Saturday at Lanxess Arena in his first fight in the UFC since back-to-back losses in 2007, Filipovic informed UFC president Dana White that he had signed a three-fight contract with the Japanese-based DREAM organization.

White had signed Filipovic less than a month ago to a one-fight deal, the first time in more than nine years that he'd done that. He had worked out terms on two additional fights, but said he'd only put pen to paper for Saturday's bout.

He brought Filipovic back because he knew the Croat is still very popular, and Filipovic insisted he wanted to make a run for the title.

That proved not to be the truth. After turning down much tougher opposition, including Cain Velasquez, who defeated Cheick Kongo later on the card, he wound up with the lightly regarded Al-Turk.

But instead of getting a shot at big names like Randy Couture or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and fighting his way into title contention, Filipovic opted to bolt for Japan.

"Isn't that a dirty [expletive] thing to do?" White asked rhetorically after being queried about Filipovic's deal with DREAM. "He [expletived] me. The first time in the history of the company I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and he [expletived] me."

Filipovic looked unsteady and hardly impressive in defeating Al-Turk, who is winless in the UFC. He never landed one of his vaunted kicks and the fight ended not from a punch but when he poked Al-Turk in the eye with his finger.

Referee Dan Miragliotta didn't see the poke, so it was regarded as a clean blow and Filipovic won by stoppage.

Filipovic was fighting five months to the day after knee surgery, one of several injuries he said kept him from performing at his best in his first stint in the UFC. Before the fight, he called his 1-2 UFC record "the black spot" on his career.

While speaking with reporters on a prefight conference call, Filipovic seemed enthused about his return and said he was gunning for a title shot. All the while, he apparently knew he was in it for a one-fight deal.

He texted White on the UFC exec's cellular phone and told him he wanted to return. White said Filipovic declined numerous opponents.

Apparently, Filipovic, who is from Croatia, wanted to fight in Germany and use the UFC bout as a tuneup. He did and is now DREAM bound, but he'll almost certainly never fight in the UFC again.

"He didn't keep his word," White said, who said he'd had a two-hour talk with Filipovic on the day "Cro Cop" texted and asked to be able to return. "He talked about honor and all this other [expletive] and he [expletived] me.

"He fed me this bull [expletive] about wanting to take a run for the title, and what I think he did was, he went out and did this. He turned down every other [expletive] fighter I offered him, because I needed him to fight Cain. He didn't just poke Al-Turk; he poked me, too."

As is his custom, Filipovic skipped the postfight news conference and could not be reached to comment on the DREAM deal.

source: mmajunkie


So he was short of money and got some good debit from UFC and said what the heck im not fighting there anymore as I will be beaten like a pig!

what a washed up fighter!

 

[MikeRaw]

That sucks. I like him, and was hoping he'd stick around. But, I guess he signed a one fight deal for a reason.

 

[X-Sterl-X]

Cro Cop beat the worst heavyweight in the UFC by an eye poke, hes washed up. Hes lucky he didnt face Cain, after what he did to my beloved Cheick Kongo he would of made Cro Cop look like the little bitch he is.

 

[Klide]

I watched this guy fight in Japan and he was awsome but I really never saw him fight in ufc

 

[X-Sterl-X]

He beat Mustapha Al turk by poking him in the eye and hitting him while turk was recovering, he was 1-2 before leaving UFC the first time, he sucked. Cain Velasquez would have made very quick work of him. Kongo beat Cro Cop pretty bad and Velasquez controlled Kongo. Cro Cop would have never got a title shot. He would have gotten stopped by Ngueria or Mir/Lesnar or Arvloski on the way there seeing is how he doesnt wanna fight Kongo again or Velasquez. Hes simply a bitch. He turned down Dana on real competition and took on the human punching bag Al-Turk, and got the win on an eye poke. I fucking hate Mirko.

 

[seancarletonzero]

Mustapha Al- turk would have lost even with the assistance of a baseball bat and that was the point to get Cro Cop a fighter that was almost impossible to lose to, I honestly think even Kimbo Slice would OWN Al-turk!

 

[X-Sterl-X]

Idk if your right man, Turk may have been swinging like a complete idiot but Cro cop wasnt doing much either. If Turk could of hit one of those punches it might have been over. That poke looked very on purpose to me, you don't swing your your fist with a finger out. IDK, I hope the decision is overturned and it will be forever known that Cro Cop lost to Turk... Him leaving the UFC after getting his record back to .500 against such a shitty fighter shows the real fighting spirit of Mirko Cro Cop, nothing.

 

[xtremebadass]

LOL reminds me of Lex Luger during the Monday Night War. "Oh yea Vince, I am with you tell the boys I am with you" he then turns around and stabs Dana in the back lol. NEVER NEGOTIATE OVER THE PHONE

 

[Exxon]

lol, not a good business move on Cro Cop part, but still kind of funny hearing Dana's reaction. Honestly, I don't think Cro Cop can fight inside an Octogon.

 

[Switchy]

Sorry to bump but it's been rumoured Cro Cop has now signed a big money contract with UFC to stay and will probably be fighting Junior Dos Santos at UFC 103.

I don't think anythings been confirmed though by Dana White so nothings 100%.

 

[Christian]

yup mirko vs jds

 

[xtremebadass]

Yea I hear it's a 3 fight deal. Crop Cop should stay away from Gonzaga though lol

 

[Wordlife]

I agree man! (oh and btw Mike, everytime I care to take a look at your sig, I can't help but laugh)