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Mirko “Cro Cop” Ready for Pat Barry at UFC 115

It wasn’t too long ago that MMA nerds around the world tirelessly debated ‘whose fighters are better? UFC or Pride?’ Well, Zuffa ended up purchasing Pride, and yadda, yadda, yadda, vets from the now deceased Japanese promotion like “Rampage” Jackson, “Shogun” Rua, “Minotauro” Nogueira and Anderson Silva have all gone on to win UFC gold […]

cro cop

It wasn’t too long ago that MMA nerds around the world tirelessly debated ‘whose fighters are better? UFC or Pride?’ Well, Zuffa ended up purchasing Pride, and yadda, yadda, yadda, vets from the now deceased Japanese promotion like “Rampage” Jackson, “Shogun” Rua, “Minotauro” Nogueira and Anderson Silva have all gone on to win UFC gold (in other words, they’ve hung in there just fine…)

Of course, one of Pride’s biggest stars, who has yet to truly deliver in the UFC is Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic; a dude that because of his ability to violently disturb vital body functions with his kicks, arrived in the Octagon with a ton of hype. The Croatian has gone just 3-3 in the UFC, however, and hasn’t really looked like his old brutalizing self. Well, in a recent interview with UFC.com, Cro Cop stated that part of the reason for this, was a serious knee injury he had that required three surgeries.

“I had a very bad injury two years ago and of course it reflected on my kicking,” he said. “I was afraid to kick, especially because the wound was still fresh. It was suicide according to the doctor, but I decided to take a fight (at UFC 99 against Mostapha Al Turk) and I decided to take another fight with (Junior) Dos Santos (At UFC 103), which wasn’t a smart idea in that condition, but I’m a fighter. I like the sport, I like fighting, I like competition, but obviously you need to make decisions with your head and not with your heart. Now, the leg is finally completely recovered.”

Well, here’s hoping Cro Cop is healthy so his bout this weekend with fellow bomber Pat Barry, is as good as everyone hopes. To bet on UFC 115 head here.

Josh Koscheck Apologizes for Recent Remarks Directed at GSP

Earlier in the week we passed along comments Josh Koscheck reportedly made at the TUF 12 media day, when the welterweight contender said he was hoping for more stringent, Olympic standard, drug testing to be introduced into MMA. Koscheck was talking about such matters because “B.J. Penn and his camp” had apparently warned him that, […]

Earlier in the week we passed along comments Josh Koscheck reportedly made at the TUF 12 media day, when the welterweight contender said he was hoping for more stringent, Olympic standard, drug testing to be introduced into MMA. Koscheck was talking about such matters because “B.J. Penn and his camp” had apparently warned him that, yup, here we go again, Georges St. Pierre is “on steroids.” The MMA Junkie report also included a quote from ‘Kos’ stating that he hopes the welterweight “doesn’t grease up” and “gets off that juice” before the two fight again post-TUF 12 (comments that Koscheck made while also insisting he personally wasn’t accusing GSP of cheating, but rather, he was just passing along “hearsay”…)

Well, here just a few days later, it seems as though Koscheck has taken a minute to reconsider what he said last weekend, and the renowned fighter has issued an apology to GSP (there’s nothing like unsubstantiated rumors to really class up a fight). In a follow up report from MMA Fighting, Koscheck was quoted saying:

“Media stories on comments I made about rumors of GSP are in no way factual,” Koscheck said. “I’m known for polarizing comments, and I got caught up in hyping TUF and our fight. I was wrong, and apologize to GSP for trying to invalidate his hard work and talent.”

And there you have it folks…time to move on?

Junior Dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson Confirmed for UFC 117

While speaking with MMA Fix’s Dave Farra late last month, Roy Nelson did his best ‘can’t confirm-won’t deny- even a dimwitted Doberman can put this together’ act, indicating that he would most likely fight Junior Dos Santos next. Well, Mr. Nelson is a man of his ‘read between the lines’ word, as the UFC has […]

While speaking with MMA Fix’s Dave Farra late last month, Roy Nelson did his best ‘can’t confirm-won’t deny- even a dimwitted Doberman can put this together’ act, indicating that he would most likely fight Junior Dos Santos next. Well, Mr. Nelson is a man of his ‘read between the lines’ word, as the UFC has confirmed today that the heavyweight will indeed face the fellow contender Dos Santos, August 7^th at UFC 117.

So, there you have it, and with Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida already confirmed, the main card for the Oakland event has 3 pretty sweet bouts set. It will be interesting to see what kind of game plan Nelson comes out with. Now of course, both Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve know all too well just how “Big Country” the TUF 10 winner’s fists can be, but Dos Santos also hasn’t had much trouble scrambling opponent’s consciousness with his striking. Someone should really bring Struve in on this as he should be the expert; Nelson bombed out the reedonkously tall Dutchman in 39 seconds, while Dos Santos needed 54 seconds…Wonder who Struve will be cheering for?

Dos Santos hasn’t really had his ground game tested thus far in the UFC, and while he trains with the Nogueira brothers and is reportedly pretty good on the mat, Mr. Nelson is a BJJ black belt (equipped with one of the finest bellies the sport has to offer…). Pretty damn important fight as the winner will probably get in line behind Cain Velasquez for a title shot.

“King Mo” Lawal Predicting Chuck Liddell by KO at UFC 115

If you’re a big time fan of Rich “Ace” Franklin (which is totally cool as long as you didn’t buy a copy of “Cyborg Soldier”) then you might be interested to know that Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, is predicting that Chuck Liddell will KO the former middleweight champ at UFC 115. Now, […]

If you’re a big time fan of Rich “Ace” Franklin (which is totally cool as long as you didn’t buy a copy of “Cyborg Soldier”) then you might be interested to know that Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, is predicting that Chuck Liddell will KO the former middleweight champ at UFC 115. Now, if you follow Strikeforce, you’re more than well aware that Lawal’s rapid ascension in the sport is not only due to his sick wrestling skills and developing MMA game; he’s also extremely ‘quotable.’

Speaking to Tap Out Radio (and thanks to Bloody Elbow for the tip); here is some of what Lawal had to say about this Saturday’s main event tilt:

“I got Chuck by knockout. Unless Rich decides to just stick and move, I think Chuck could catch him and hurt him.”…”Other than Nathan Quarry, who has Rich Franklin ever knocked out?”

“Rich’s chin has been always suspect because Rich has been hurt. He got hurt against Wanderlei and he did every dance move against Vitor Belfort. Vitor just clipped him, didn’t land anything solid.”

Interesting analysis. It does seem like Franklin’s hoping to take the bout into the later rounds, and one would think he’ll look to ‘stick and move.’ Maybe he’s hoping to repeat his ‘that left a mark ‘body-kick stoppage of Matt Hamill at UFC 88? At any rate, the debate about Franklin’s chin aside, not too many dudes have responded well to getting blasted with Liddell’s right hand. Should be a good one. To bet on it head here.

Josh Koscheck Wants Olympic Standard Drug Testing for GSP Bout

If Georges St. Pierre fans are sick to tears of having the UFC welterweight champ tossed into the ‘who’s on the juice’ gossip mill, they may have to invest in more mouchoir en papier (that tissue for you anglophone fans), as apparently this undead horse has survived all the GSP vs. BJ Penn II drama after […]

If Georges St. Pierre fans are sick to tears of having the UFC welterweight champ tossed into the ‘who’s on the juice’ gossip mill, they may have to invest in more mouchoir en papier (that tissue for you anglophone fans), as apparently this undead horse has survived all the GSP vs. BJ Penn II drama after all (when it took a real sh-t kicking). Looks like heading into the champ’s rematch with Josh Koscheck, performance enhancing drugs and even ‘grease gate’ are back on the table.

According to a report from MMA Junkie, while speaking at the TUF 12 media day recently (Kos and GSP are next season’s coaches for those of you testing the MMA waters), Koshcheck was quoted saying:

“B.J. Penn and his camp gave me a little phone call. They were saying, ‘Yeah, he’s on steroids. He’s this; he’s that.’ I said, ‘Yeah, there’s a possibility.’ The guy is pretty ripped all year round.”

“I would love to do it; why not?” Koscheck asked. “I think Olympic-style testing would be great for our sport. At least you do it a couple times out from the fight.”

Now of course, St. Pierre vehemently reiterated that he is innocent of all charges, and also stated his desire for Olympic standard drug testing, saying he would even “give my body to science.” Maybe if more rigorous testing is implemented this issue will finally die (although since when do people not talk about PEDs in the Olympics?). To read more about the recent back-and-forth head here.