Why Cro Cop Is Done

by Kelvin Hunt on Sep 24, 2008 9:08 AM EDT Comment 11 comments

I initially spoke about this here about a month or so ago, but yesterday's performance against Alistair Overeem pretty much confirmed it. The fight ended in a 'no contest' so a rematch is probably in the works, but I really don't have the same interest as prior to yesterday's fight. Overeem did whatever he wanted to do with Cro Cop...strike with him...took him down and cut him with GnP, while Cro Cop managed very little offense.

Every since winning the PRIDE Open Weight GP in 2006...Cro Cop has seemed disinterested in fighting. His body language yesterday was telling as Overeem pretty much bullied him around the ring. Which is strange when you consider the build up to this fight. Overeem talked all kinds of shit and you would think something to that effect would pose some type of motivation for someone that's in a position similar to the Croatian. However, Cro Cop moved about the ring uninspired...just as he did in his UFC losses to Cheick Kongo and Gabriel Gonzaga.

"I'm angry it ended this way, it seemed as if he was the dominant one, however I wasn't in trouble for a second and was waiting for my opportunities. I prepared very well because i thought the match could last a while. I thought i would knock him down in the end."

The quote is taken from the post fight interview. I suppose he was waiting for Overeem to gas like the Dutchman has done in the past? I call bullshit, in that the only time Overeem has had stamina issues is when he was cutting weight to fight at 205 for the most part. Mirko simply doesn't have IT anymore, in that he lacks the aura that used to follow him as one of our sports most deadly strikers.

His opponents now understand that all they have to do is pressure him while avoiding the straight left punch and the left leg of his. If it goes to the ground all he does is attempt to nullify his opponents with wrist control while holding them in his guard without the threat of submissions. As I mentioned in the initial article...he simply hasn't evolved his game to be effective anymore. I'm as big of a fan as anyone, but it's clear that the game has passed him by at this point.

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Read More: alistair overeem, cro cop, dream

Comments

So, you don’t think it was the devestating knock out loss to Gonzaga that was the beginning of the end for Mirko? You think it was something that occurred between the 06’ GP and his UFC debut?

I do agree wholeheartedly though, the aura of invincibility is completely gone.

by Jamar NuBar on Sep 24, 2008 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, if you watch his UFC debut against Eddie Sanchez..he just seemed completely uninterested…Sanchez lost that fight before he got in the cage…all of his UFC fights were like that…I mean he was almost lethargic at times…and yesterday Overeem did what he wanted to against Cro Cop.

by Kelvin on Sep 24, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m a big Cro Cop fan. But I do have to agree, he just doesn’t have it anymore.

by el felix on Sep 24, 2008 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he could come back. have faith.

by rhys on Sep 25, 2008 1:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

After all Mirko has lost only 4 of his last 15 (besides the No contest). 3 of those losses were decisions. The Gonzaga KO was the only really “bad” loss. I’ll give him another couple of more fights…. after all its Cro Cop we’re talking about.

by Flyingknees on Sep 25, 2008 3:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Flyingknees…come on now…lol…it’s clearly not the same Mirko that won the PRIDE OWGP. It’s not like the losses to Kongo and Gonzaga were against top 5 opponents either. I understand that he’s always one kick/punch away from KTFO somebody. Thing is…fighters realize that’s all he has at this point.

by Kelvin on Sep 25, 2008 8:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah :( I just don’t want to believe the obvious. Its hard for me after being a fan for so long.

by Flyingknees on Sep 25, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes. I was thinking same thing. He didn’t evolved just like Igor didn’t.

by jack Bauer on Sep 25, 2008 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yet another vague criticism offering nothing new in the way of analysis. If you’re going to declare someone’s career is over with some kind of narcissistic sense of authority, please write something of substance.

by John on Sep 25, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, there’s nothing new to analyze. Especially when Mirko implements the same gameplan with the same results as of late…but thanks for reading…champ

by Kelvin on Sep 25, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think john is this that blogs posts comment on mmamania. If I’m right (about who it is), he’s pretty much this roundmouth that likes to think he’s right a lot of the time. He bloviates thinking people care about his opinions.

by el felix on Sep 25, 2008 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs