(Photos by Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
At Saturday’s UFC 128 post fight press conference, promotion President Dana White made the announcement that former PRIDE champ Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovi? (27-9-2, 1NC) had fought for the last time with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“Cro Cop” fought “TUF 10″ finalist Brendan Schaub in the opening bout of the pay-per-view card of last nights UFC 128 event, losing in the third round to the much younger fighter by TKO (punch) at 3:44. It was the second straight defeat for the Croatian fighter putting his overall record with the UFC at 3-5. Filipovi? was knockeed out in his previous fight, in the third round as well, by former heavyweight champ Frank Mir last September in the headliner for UFC 119.
“I was talking tonight about how tough Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ is,” UFC president White said. “At his age and with the wars he’s been in, to see how he gets in there with these heavyweights now that are bigger, stronger and younger than he is – and he still holds his own – it’s a testament to what a great fighter that guy was in his prime.
“I have all respect for Mirko ‘Cro Cop,’ but yeah, I’d have to say tonight is probably the last time we’ll see ‘Cro Cop’ fight again. I don’t think I’d have an argument from ‘Cro Cop.”
UPDATE: Quote from Dana White via MixedMartialArts.com