Morning Report: Mirko Cro Cop wants rematches with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson, Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem

It’s pretty wild to think that Mirko Cro Cop has only been beaten 11 times.

Considering the era he dominated in Japan, it’s even more wild to think it’s not too late for him to even some scores on those losses.

The former PRIDE and K-1 Grad Prix champion did just that in his return to the Octagon in April, scoring a TKO against Gabriel Gonzaga in Krakow, Poland.

“Beating Gabriel made me very happy,” Cro Cop said via his official website. “And as long as fighting in the UFC is making me happy, then I hope to continue.”

Gonzaga pulled off arguably the biggest upset in MMA history when he knocked Cro Cop out via head kick at UFC 70 in 2007.

Now, the Croatian is looking for more rematches.

“This is something I really want to do,” said Cro Cop. “It’s something I owe to the sport and I owe it to myself to beat some of those guys.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like another tussle with Josh Barnett is on Cro Cop’s wishlist.

“Some of them, yes, some of them, no,” Cro Cop says. “With Josh Barnett I will not fight, definitely. We fought three times and I beat him two times. Technically it was three but the first time I cannot be incorrect and take it as a victory.

“He was hurt after 30 seconds. We fell down and he hurt his shoulder. I was declared as the winner but it wasn’t victory. But let’s say we fought two times and two times I beat him fair, and I like Josh Barnett a lot. There’s no point to fight him.”

Cro Cop doesn’t mention Mark Hunt, Frank Mir or Brendan Schaub, but still has some options among active UFC fighters who have beaten him.

“But [Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira is definitely there, Roy Nelson is definitely there, and some other fighters. Junior dos Santos is definitely there. And perhaps [Alistair] Overeem too.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

‘It would be wonderful.’ Jose Aldo welcomes pre-fight brawl with Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 189. ‘After everything they spent, they won’t cancel this fight for anything.’

Dat elbow. Lyoto Machida claims ‘illegal shot’ was turning point in loss to Luke Rockhold. ‘I think it wasn’t on purpose, but I think it happened, it made me bad.’

‘This guy came here, I pissed.’ Jose Aldo and Andre Pederneiras explain botched random drug test in Brazil. ‘I’m an athlete and they want to prove anything, so I went there and did everything right, everything I had to do.’

‘The altitude was the same for everyone.’ Head trainer Rafael Cordeiro says Fabricio Werdum beats Cain Velasquez ’10 out of 10 times.’ ‘I think people should stop finding explanations for results.’

‘I see several things.’ Alistair Overeem believes he is the fighter to ‘expose’ Fabricio Werdum’s ‘weaknesses.’

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

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Behind the scenes at UFC 188.

Star-divide

Dan Hardy has a new sorta UFC countdown show.

Star-divide

Chris Weidman: Rockhold Can’t Beat Me in Jiu-Jitsu, Stand-Up, or Wrestling.

Star-divide

Free Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson.

Star-divide

Kyle Kingsbury working to ‘destigmatize responsible cannabis use.’

Star-divide

Chael Sonnen calls Brendan Schaub to chat about Werdum beating Cain, maybe fighting Junior dos Santos.

Star-divide

Long watches.

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TWEETS

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My son CJ wanted to pray for Vitor Belfort tonight before heading to bed with my wife. Such a good boy! https://t.co/EypuFltdpS

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) June 17, 2015

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Eu acabei de achar essa foto fazendo a #happyface !!! Eu com 9 anos #Baaah @ MAHEKAL BEACH RESORT https://t.co/nutoKMyihl

— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) June 17, 2015

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Get well soon.

Thank you @danawhiteufc @ufc got to remove wires and screws today thanks to Dr.Antoine Chehade @SeaforthOsurg pic.twitter.com/PIrdN8qzfv

— JohnTheBull Makdessi (@JohnMakdessiMMA) June 16, 2015

Check out my bruise journalists… #yourmajesty pic.twitter.com/cpvkYZgEl7

Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) June 16, 2015

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Congrats.

Patrick Cote is the Brazilian Top Team’s newest Black Belt http://t.co/E9jn5O4hG2 pic.twitter.com/2LgnfFDNaN

— Brazilian Top Team (@brtopteam) June 16, 2015

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Excited?

Time to take care of business with Mr Creepy.. Aug 8th @ufc fight night #Nashville pic.twitter.com/QCPZLHKGrL

Dustin Ortiz (@DustinOrtizMMA) June 16, 2015

Well I guess it’s official Derek Brunson vs Sam Alvey. UFC Fight Night 73 in Nashville, Aug 8 live on Fox Sports 1

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 17, 2015

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Never forget.

#raiseup #tupac http://t.co/stvo5inzuP

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) June 16, 2015

#TheRealest #TheiLLest #Goat #LongLivePac @2pac pic.twitter.com/jv8STH4D9R

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) June 16, 2015

Today’s running tunes #happybirthday #rip #tupac https://t.co/rFKcJk5liU

— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) June 17, 2015

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I’ll buy them.

How about some #UFC189 tickets on you @danawhite when I beat @criscyborg 🙂 ?

Faith Van Duin (@faithimmortal) June 17, 2015

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Could be.

Kimbo is going to punched in the face. https://t.co/2tgx6ojzWV

— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) June 16, 2015

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (June 16 2015)

Ian McCall vs. Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Sam Alvey vs. Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

It’s pretty wild to think that Mirko Cro Cop has only been beaten 11 times.

Considering the era he dominated in Japan, it’s even more wild to think it’s not too late for him to even some scores on those losses.

The former PRIDE and K-1 Grad Prix champion did just that in his return to the Octagon in April, scoring a TKO against Gabriel Gonzaga in Krakow, Poland.

“Beating Gabriel made me very happy,” Cro Cop said via his official website. “And as long as fighting in the UFC is making me happy, then I hope to continue.”

Gonzaga pulled off arguably the biggest upset in MMA history when he knocked Cro Cop out via head kick at UFC 70 in 2007.

Now, the Croatian is looking for more rematches.

“This is something I really want to do,” said Cro Cop. “It’s something I owe to the sport and I owe it to myself to beat some of those guys.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like another tussle with Josh Barnett is on Cro Cop’s wishlist.

“Some of them, yes, some of them, no,” Cro Cop says. “With Josh Barnett I will not fight, definitely. We fought three times and I beat him two times. Technically it was three but the first time I cannot be incorrect and take it as a victory.

“He was hurt after 30 seconds. We fell down and he hurt his shoulder. I was declared as the winner but it wasn’t victory. But let’s say we fought two times and two times I beat him fair, and I like Josh Barnett a lot. There’s no point to fight him.”

Cro Cop doesn’t mention Mark Hunt, Frank Mir or Brendan Schaub, but still has some options among active UFC fighters who have beaten him.

“But [Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira is definitely there, Roy Nelson is definitely there, and some other fighters. Junior dos Santos is definitely there. And perhaps [Alistair] Overeem too.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

‘It would be wonderful.’ Jose Aldo welcomes pre-fight brawl with Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 189. ‘After everything they spent, they won’t cancel this fight for anything.’

Dat elbow. Lyoto Machida claims ‘illegal shot’ was turning point in loss to Luke Rockhold. ‘I think it wasn’t on purpose, but I think it happened, it made me bad.’

‘This guy came here, I pissed.’ Jose Aldo and Andre Pederneiras explain botched random drug test in Brazil. ‘I’m an athlete and they want to prove anything, so I went there and did everything right, everything I had to do.’

‘The altitude was the same for everyone.’ Head trainer Rafael Cordeiro says Fabricio Werdum beats Cain Velasquez ’10 out of 10 times.’ ‘I think people should stop finding explanations for results.’

‘I see several things.’ Alistair Overeem believes he is the fighter to ‘expose’ Fabricio Werdum’s ‘weaknesses.’

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Behind the scenes at UFC 188.

Star-divide

Dan Hardy has a new sorta UFC countdown show.

Star-divide

Chris Weidman: Rockhold Can’t Beat Me in Jiu-Jitsu, Stand-Up, or Wrestling.

Star-divide

Free Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson.

Star-divide

Kyle Kingsbury working to ‘destigmatize responsible cannabis use.’

Star-divide

Chael Sonnen calls Brendan Schaub to chat about Werdum beating Cain, maybe fighting Junior dos Santos.

Star-divide

Long watches.

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Star-divide

Star-divide

Get well soon.

Star-divide

Congrats.

Star-divide

Excited?

Star-divide

Never forget.

Star-divide

I’ll buy them.

Star-divide

Could be.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (June 16 2015)

Ian McCall vs. Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Sam Alvey vs. Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.