Mirko 'CroCop' Filipovic Wins 2013 K1 World Grand Prix

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Eight dangerous men entered one legendary kickboxing tournament today in Zagreb, Croatia, and only one was crowned the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. His name is Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.

It was precipitated by a dubious decision in the opening bout, but Mirko Filipovic has finally achieved his dream, beating three quality opponents in succession earlier today (March 15, 2013) to win the K-1 2013 World Grand Prix tournament in his hometown of Zagreb, Croatia.

However, it didn't come easy. The Croatian Sensation -- who was the runner-up in the prestigious tournament in 1999, losing to kickboxing legend Ernesto Hoost via stoppage -- struggled mightily in his opening bout, getting physically overpowered by unbeaten American Jarrell Miller and punished with knees to the body for much of their fight.

While I and many others saw the fight as a clear victory for Miller (check out the blow-by-blow coverage here), the judges disagreed, sending "Cro Cop" into the semifinals.

The Ukraine's Pavel Zhuravlev -- who upset one of Filipovic's countrymen in Catalin Morosanu -- was there to meet him. Being younger, bigger and faster, he was expected to avenge Miller in brutal fashion.

Didn't happen.

Cro Cop, an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran and Pride FC Open Weight Grand Prix Winner in 2006, came out with significantly more aggression, hurting Zhuravlev repeatedly with his patented liver kick and -- in one memorable instance -- sending him stumbling across the ring with a vicious left straight. In short, he looked like the Cro Cop who mixed martial arts (MMA) fans thought had died back in 2007, winning a legitimate decision over a very difficult opponent.

The finals, at least on paper, looked like another story altogether.

Before this tournament, I stated that either Badr Hari or Hesdy Gerges would win the tournament (read the preview and predictions here) and that I expected it to be Gerges. However, his first opponent -- Suriname's Ismael Londt -- had other ideas, attacking with insane aggression reminiscent of training partner Melvin Manhoef before breaking Gerges' nose with a flying knee in the third round and advancing to the semifinals.

Londt was originally set to face Hari, who battered an undersized but insanely tough Zabit Samedov, but Hari was forced to pull out because of a broken foot, leaving Londt to pummel reserve fighter Dzevad Poturak into submission. Again a bigger, stronger man -- one who fought for far less time to get to the finals -- Cro Cop's incredible run was expected to come to an end.

Didn't happen, either.

Again, Cro Cop displayed an intensity that had seemed long-gone, attacking with long punching combinations and dirty boxing in the clinch. In the second round, he even landed his legendary left high kick in similar fashion to the blow that felled Mark Hunt back at the K-1 Grand Priz in 2002, faking a straight to force Londt's hands down.

While Londt managed to rise from the blow, Cro Cop poured on the punishment to the end of the round and survived a late body bruising by Londt to win a unanimous decision.

Not bad for an old man, not bad at all.

While the pay-per-view (PPV) production left much be desired with annoying hosts, poor sound on the ring, and a video stream that died for about an hour, it's hard not to crack a smile at Cro Cop, 38, finally winning a K-1 World Grand Prix title. It's been a long time coming and it could not have happened to a better, more deserving veteran of combat sports.

 

[Deezy]

Why do I have the sneaky suspicion that this even has some funny business behind it.

Also, I thought K1 died a year ago.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

It almost died, was bought out in 2011 by a real estate firm that did nothing and then was bought out again last year by EMCOM. Hopefully the financial struggles are a thing of the past as it'd be shame for the most recognized pure kickboxing org in the world to have to shut up shop.

 

[Deezy]

FEG really fucked things up for a lot of fighting orgs. I still remember when K1 used to mean something, now there are like 312431854329 kickboxing promotions out there, and it just waterd down the sport.

 

[Franco]

Judges really carried Cro Cop through the first fight but from then on he really dominated and even landed a trademark left head kick. Ok show, it truly lacked more star power, and a big blow was Badr's injury after the first fight. Worth checking out IMO.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Yeah Mirko's first fight was 'iffy' but after that he really stepped up and looked good. Him winning it at 38 isn't that unreal when you consider 48 year old Bernard Hopkins is the IBF Champ.