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.”
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.’
MEDIA STEW
Behind the scenes at UFC 188.
Dan Hardy has a new sorta UFC countdown show.
Chris Weidman: Rockhold Can’t Beat Me in Jiu-Jitsu, Stand-Up, or Wrestling.
Free Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson.
Kyle Kingsbury working to ‘destigmatize responsible cannabis use.’
Chael Sonnen calls Brendan Schaub to chat about Werdum beating Cain, maybe fighting Junior dos Santos.
Long watches.
…
TWEETS
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
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
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
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
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
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
I’ll buy them.
How about some #UFC189 tickets on you @danawhite when I beat @criscyborg 🙂 ?
— Faith Van Duin (@faithimmortal) June 17, 2015
Could be.
Kimbo is going to punched in the face. https://t.co/2tgx6ojzWV
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) June 16, 2015
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
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.