Mirko Cro Cop has announced that the final fight of his illustrious career will come in 2018 against the winner of the Rizin Heavyweight tournament The Croat spoke to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour that he will face Tsuyoshi Ko…
Mirko Cro Cop has announced that the final fight of his illustrious career will come in 2018 against the winner of the Rizin Heavyweight tournament The Croat spoke to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour that he will face Tsuyoshi Kohsaka on Rizin’s Dec. 30 event in Saitama, Japan. Cro Cop’s plan to wind down his […]
Legendary heavyweight knockout artist Mirko Cro Cop last competed at a Rizin Fighting Federation tournament in Japan last December. Cro Cop ended up winning the tournament and announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts soon thereafter. The Croatian has announced a retirement multiple times, but he has always returned to action at some point. It
Legendary heavyweight knockout artist Mirko Cro Cop last competed at a Rizin Fighting Federation tournament in Japan last December. Cro Cop ended up winning the tournament and announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts soon thereafter.
The Croatian has announced a retirement multiple times, but he has always returned to action at some point. It seems as if this time may be no different, as Cro Cop recently took to his official Facebook page to call out Fedor Emelianenko for a ‘farewell fight’:
The two have actually met once before, facing off for the Pride heavyweight championship in 2005 in a bout that “The Last Emperor” won via unanimous decision.
While Cro Cop’s future is unclear, Emelianenko is set to take on Matt Mitrione in the co-main event of Bellator NYC, which will be presented live on pay-per-view (PPV) on June 24, 2017 from New York City.
Perhaps Bellator could ink a deal with Cro Cop and set up a rematch between him and Emelianenko in the future.
Legendary heavyweight striker Mirko “Cro Cop” Filopovic has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts according to a report from Croatia Week. Cro Cop last competed this past weekend in the Rizin Fighting Federation Open-Weight Grand Prix Tournament in Saitama, Japan, winning three straight fights to take home the tournament crown. Despite his successful performance,
Legendary heavyweight striker Mirko “Cro Cop” Filopovic has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts according to a report from Croatia Week.
Cro Cop last competed this past weekend in the Rizin Fighting Federation Open-Weight Grand Prix Tournament in Saitama, Japan, winning three straight fights to take home the tournament crown. Despite his successful performance, the 42-year-old knockout artist said that he’s dealing with ‘health problems’ and that he would no longer be competing:
“That was definitely my last tournament. I have health problems and this is definitely the end of my career,” Filipovic said. “I know I have announced my retirement before, but this is definitely it.”
It is indeed the second time he has announced his retirement, as he withdrew from a scheduled UFC Fight Night 79 bout in 2015. Filipovic said that he was dealing with an injury at the time and that he would no longer be fighting, although it was later announced that he had been popped by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for a potential anti-doping agency. The UFC cut ties with the Croatian and he was suspended from fighting in the UFC for two years.
Cro Cop will undoubtedly be remembered for his legendary run in PRIDE, and although his success in Japan may not have transferred over to the UFC as well as many had expected, he remains a legend of the sport as does his lethal left high kick.
A legend in combat sports may finally follow through with his retirement plans. Mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing icon Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic told Nova TV (via MMAWeekly.com) that he simply can’t go on after 20 years of wear and tear:
“I signed a contract for 15 fights with Rizin! I’m kidding of course. This is definitely my last major tournament, my last tournament, definitely this is the end of my career. I have health problems and I cannot continue.”
Cro Cop is leaving the door open just a tad bit as far as having a farewell fight goes. The roadblock would be the Croatian’s knee.
“The only option remains some farewell fight, but this is only if I rehabilitate my knee. I never want to go through what I went through during the preparation for this tournament. I know that I have often said I am ending my career, but this is really the end.”
Perhaps Cro Cop’s performance at Rizin 4 was all that he had left. The final Pride FC open-weight Grand Prix champion turned back the clock at the Rizin FF World Grand Prix 2016 tournament. He knocked out Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Baruto Kaito, and Amir Aliakbari to take the open-weight Grand Prix title.
Despite hinting at retirement in the past, Cro Cop insists that this time it’ll stick.
“It will be difficult, that’s for sure. People who know me tease me because of how many times I have retired, but I promised my family that this time it is final.”
If he does indeed retire, Cro Cop will not soon be forgotten in the world of combat sports. He has won championships in Pride FC and K-1 as well as competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has fought and defeated some of the best MMA and kickboxing fighters of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBwv3x5Rh4s
A legend in combat sports may finally follow through with his retirement plans. Mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing icon Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic told Nova TV (via MMAWeekly.com) that he simply can’t go on after 20 years of wear and tear:
“I signed a contract for 15 fights with Rizin! I’m kidding of course. This is definitely my last major tournament, my last tournament, definitely this is the end of my career. I have health problems and I cannot continue.”
Cro Cop is leaving the door open just a tad bit as far as having a farewell fight goes. The roadblock would be the Croatian’s knee.
“The only option remains some farewell fight, but this is only if I rehabilitate my knee. I never want to go through what I went through during the preparation for this tournament. I know that I have often said I am ending my career, but this is really the end.”
Perhaps Cro Cop’s performance at Rizin 4 was all that he had left. The final Pride FC open-weight Grand Prix champion turned back the clock at the Rizin FF World Grand Prix 2016 tournament. He knocked out Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Baruto Kaito, and Amir Aliakbari to take the open-weight Grand Prix title.
Despite hinting at retirement in the past, Cro Cop insists that this time it’ll stick.
“It will be difficult, that’s for sure. People who know me tease me because of how many times I have retired, but I promised my family that this time it is final.”
If he does indeed retire, Cro Cop will not soon be forgotten in the world of combat sports. He has won championships in Pride FC and K-1 as well as competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has fought and defeated some of the best MMA and kickboxing fighters of all time.
At the Rizin FF World Grand Prix Finals event held at the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan early Saturday morning, the new Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix Champion was crowned.
MMA/Kickboxing legend and former winner of the PRIDE FC …
At the Rizin FF World Grand Prix Finals event held at the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan early Saturday morning, the new Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix Champion was crowned.
MMA/Kickboxing legend and former winner of the PRIDE FC Open Weight Grand Prix tournament, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic advanced to the finals with stoppage wins over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the quarterfinals earlier this weekend, as well as Baruto Kaito in his first of two fights on Saturday.
Cro Cop would go on from his semifinal victory over Kaito to meet Amir Aliakbari in the finals of the tournament. Aliakbari defeated former PRIDE Heavyweight Title contender and UFC veteran Heath Herring in the quarterfinals, as well as Valentin Moldavsky in the first of his two bouts on Saturday in the semifinals.
In their meeting in the Rizin FF ring in the Open Weight Grand Prix tournament finals,
Below are complete results from the Rizin FF World Grand Prix Finals 2016 event:
Rizin FF World Grand Prix 2016 Finals Results
* Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic def. Amir Aliakbari via TKO (strikes) to win the Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix 2016 tournament.
* Kron Gracie def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2.
* Erson Yamamoto def. Hideo Tokoro via submission (armbar) in round 1.
* Rena Kubota def. Hanna Gujwan via KO (body kick) in round 3.
* Andy Nguyen def. Miyu Yamamoto via submission (armbar) in round 1.
* Kizaemon Saiga Dillin West via TKO (strikes) in round 1.
* Gabi Garcia def. Yumiko Hotta via TKO (punches) in round 1.
* Hayato Sakurai def. Wataru Sakata via TKO (punches) in round 2.
* Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic def. Baruto Kaito via TKO (knee to the body) in round 1.
* Amir Aliakbari def. Valentin Moldavsky via split decision.
Tenshin Nasukawa def. Dylan Kawika Oligo via submission (choke) in round 2.
At the Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix Finals event held in Japan early Saturday morning, MMA legend and former PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix Champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic moved on to the finals by knocking out Baruto Kaito in the semifinal bout he…
At the Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix Finals event held in Japan early Saturday morning, MMA legend and former PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix Champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic moved on to the finals by knocking out Baruto Kaito in the semifinal bout held early in the show.
Featured below are video highlights from Twitter that show the devastating former K-1 and PRIDE/UFC star Cro Cop knocking out Kaito with a vicious body shot in the very first round.
A fresh Cro Cop, who also finished Bellator MMA fighter and Rizin FF’s first ever Grand Prix champion, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal earlier this weekend in the Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix quarterfinals, will now move onto the tourney finals where he will meet Amir Aliakbari.
