CroCop: If UFC monopoly cuts me there is no where else to go, I'll retire

source: lowkick.com

"There's one fight left on my UFC contract. I will have this fight, regardless of what the reporters think. However, there's a possibility that the UFC will insist on not allowing me to fight. I will accept their decision. It's time to retire, despite the fact that I want to continue. Next year, it will be 20 years since my first fight... I had a great career, and I don't regret anything. But I don't want to finish it defeated.

"I'm very sorry. I was more than ready for my last two fights, but still, I was unable to see the punches coming. I would like to apologize to all my fans. Believe me, I'm also very disappointed."

"There's no other options. UFC is a monopoly. Soon, they'll swallow Strikeforce, so I have basically nowhere to go. The Japanese market is dead, DREAM is dead, and the tragedy in Japan annihilated all the other Japanese MMA promotions."

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Text above comes from videos below, which are conducted in Croatian.

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tags-: UFC Strikeforce Dream Cro Cop Mirko Filipovic video

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3/29/11 10:38 PM by jbapk

"And remember what Matt Hughes did in 2001 after he had those two bad losses to Dennis Hallman and Pele?"Heads up kid: You do not understand mma, you are ignorant of the history of the sport.Stop posting like you have any insight worth sharing, you do not.Stop talking nonsense and sit back and learn and maybe someday you will have something worthwhile to add to the conversation.

3/29/11 10:12 PM by Ryan Cox

If he fights again it needs to be against someone like Couture or Big Nog who are closing in on the same stage of their careers. I'm tired of seeing him getting knocked out by young fighters who are in their physical prime. Couture would be a more level playing field. The fight game has taken a toll on both of their bodies.

3/29/11 3:02 PM by Josey Wales

CC has lost so much speed. Take a look at CC vs Wand 1 and the difference is unbelievable. 45 ammy boxing, 23 K-1, and 39 MMA fights have taken their toll. You can't expect to train in your basement and compete with the best these days. CC should have gone over to Golden Glory an trained there.

3/29/11 11:30 AM by RIPLEY

He needs to hang it up. He said it himself and has been implying for several years that he doesn't care so why should his fans. I love him for what he did in Pride but every fight since the first can that he crushed in the UFC I saw him losing big. And he rarely failed to do just that. Great guy, great career and unfortunately all things must come to an end. His end was 3 year ago.

3/29/11 5:56 AM by per

Most people agree that it is now time for Cro Cop to ride off into the sunset, he has consistently shown in the last few years that for various reasons he can compete with, but not topple the young skilled fighters of today. But if he wants to go out with a blaze, have one last good fight, then maybe he should get his wish. He is a big name and can still sell a few tickets, they could work out a fight that makes sense.Enough with the Schaubs and Dos Santos's, this is a retirement fight and there is no reason to put him up against a young stud that has not yet become legendary but will make Mirko look old once more. Have him fight an equal. The single most reasonable matchup is Big Nog. He is also aging and will not compete with the top guys again, he is marked by injuries and provides a good style matchup for Mirko. Plus, even when winning Nogueira' fighting style made for exciting fights and always made his opponents look good in a way, since he wouldn't mind being taken down and recieving tons of damage even against the likes of Pawel Nastula. There is history, their first fight was unbelievable and this is a matchup that could be hella entertaining even though they are not quite what they were anymore. Just look at Couture vs. Big Nog....Cro Cop will probably find the motivation to train hard, the mental determination to push through it once more, and also the confidence to go in there fearless, knowing that he is the faster of the two. Nog does not quite have the boxing to outwork Mirko standing, it should be an even fight. It makes sense today and it makes sense from a historical standpoint.After all, what do you do with the ol' Minotauro at this stage in his career? Mark Hunt - that woudn't sell tickets, although it makes sense for Zuffa to have them retire each other.They could send him to Strikeforce to rematch Fedor, but it would be a little bizarre. Minotauro may be the only reasonable option. He has been a rather good employee, fighting who they put him up against, taking on Mir on short notice although whining a little about it. Make Cro Cop - Minotauro happen and let him go after that. (of course Couture would also be interesting, but it may not be a very fun fight, plus they are both not going to switch weight classes at this stage in their careers)

3/29/11 3:10 AM by AnthonyBrancato

Arlovski's at Jackson's now, you know.

3/29/11 3:09 AM by RedVexx

Yea send him to Strike force against Arlovski for his last fight. He is better suited in a smaller cage any way.

3/29/11 2:58 AM by AnthonyBrancato

But if fighting where he's fighting now isn't beneath Tim Sylvia's "dignity," then why should it be beneath CroCop's? And remember what Matt Hughes did in 2001 after he had those two bad losses to Dennis Hallman and Pele? Hey, CroCop can train with Dan Christison at his place in southern Indiana. Dan's birthday is coming up in less than a month (April 26th); I'll happily buy him a Serbo-Croatian/English dictionary as a gift.

3/29/11 2:54 AM by GageIsLegend

Will cro cop have enough money for good? What I mean is can he live off his earnings that he has earned so far or will he have to get another job?

3/29/11 2:26 AM by JimmersonzGlove

Normally you're a classy poster, and I respect your undying support for Rashad...but this post sucked.

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