Tonight may be the last time we see MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop step into the cage.
In the lead to his fight tonight with Roy Neson, Cro Cop has openly expressed that he may retire after this bout—win or lose.
This news came as a surprise to no one, as the Croation fighter has looked unimpressive in his past few outings and, at 37 years old, it’s safe to say he’s not going to get any better.
While it will be a sad thing to see him go, MMA is a young man’s game and every fighter must walk off into the sunset eventually.
Cro Cops potential-last opponent is a dangerous one, as Nelson is a skilled grappler with big knockout power and an incredible chin.
So, what would a win tonight mean for Cro Cop?
In essence, a win tonight could mean whatever Cro Cop wants it to mean—it’s up to him.
If he decides to retire after tonight, a win would mean a happy ending to a beautiful and unforgettable career as a mixed martial artist.
If Cro Cop decides to go the other route and keep on fighting, a win tonight means… well, it doesn’t mean much.
Nelson is on a two-fight losing skid, so a win over him doesn’t hold much weight in the division.
Plus, Cro Cop is coming off two devastating losses, so the UFC will be in no hurry to bolster him back into contention.
If Cro Cop wants to keep competing, a win tonight will get him a mid-range opponent like Stefan Struve or maybe Matt Mitrione.
Retirement is the more likely road, though.
Cro Cop seems to know that his time in the sport has passed and goodness knows his fans would love to see him go out on a win.
Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewBarr8.
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