CroCop has officially left the UFC

Wrenny · 02-13-2008, 08:46 AM

No I lost respect for fighters who say they will be back to prove themselves in the UFC numerous times and then jump ship.

He is making 350k a fight. He has NO REASON to fight some more and adapt to the cage. He won't make that in another organization and if he actually won in UFC you know how many endorsements this guy would get?

I lost my respect for CC for lying to his fans.

Straffe · 02-13-2008, 08:51 AM

so much for ever becoming the ufc champ i thought it would motivate him to stay since minotauro won the belt but o well.

Saskabush · 02-13-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrenny

No I lost respect for fighters who say they will be back to prove themselves in the UFC numerous times and then jump ship.

He is making 350k a fight. He has NO REASON to fight some more and adapt to the cage. He won't make that in another organization and if he actually won in UFC you know how many endorsements this guy would get?

I lost my respect for CC for lying to his fans.

They are trying to cut his pay! Would you stay at a job that is trying to cut your pay when you have another offer to pay you just as much or more?

Cuts O Meat · 02-13-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrenny

No I lost respect for fighters who say they will be back to prove themselves in the UFC numerous times and then jump ship.

He is making 350k a fight. He has NO REASON to fight some more and adapt to the cage. He won't make that in another organization and if he actually won in UFC you know how many endorsements this guy would get?

I lost my respect for CC for lying to his fans.

a) It's more likely that he's not jumping ship, but rather the UFC is looking to get rid of him. Or cuts his pay.

b) K-1 has a lot of money, and I could see him easily making the same amount of money there.

c) He didn't lie.

Saskabush · 02-13-2008, 08:54 AM

Looks like it's true.

Quote:

PRIDE's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has officially parted ways with the UFC and signed with DREAM - a new collaborative effort between FEG (K-1, HERO'S) and former DSE staff (PRIDE).

The new event is a drastic change following new creative leadership over HERO's. FEG is hoping to bring new life to their MMA show and the addition of former DSE staff is what they are looking for.

At an official press conference on Wednesday the promotion announced that "Cro Cop" had joined their ranks and would be fighting on their upcoming March 15 card. No opponent was named.

Specific details surrounding his departure from the UFC are currently unknown.

Filipovic (22-6-2) signed with the UFC following his first major championship - winning PRIDE's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix. He made his UFC debut against Eddie Sanchez in February of 2007. Following his TKO win he lost his next two fights - succumbing to a head kick KO from Gabriel Gonzaga and dropping a decision to Cheick Kongo.

Prior to his 1-2 run in the UFC, "Cro Cop" was considered the number two heavyweight in the world. The Croatian striker holds wins over former UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE's 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett, Olympic Judo gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida, Aleskander Emelianenko, former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, Igor Vovchanchyn, Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, Heath Herring, Kazuyuki Fujita, Japanese superstar and MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba, and Ikuhisa Minowa.

Source: NOKAUT .:. Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts source .:.

nublood · 02-13-2008, 09:10 AM

Some of you have disagreed with me and that is fine. Opinions are what makes teh internetz go round!

Seriously though, CC is ducking cagefighting....plain and simple. Pay has little to do with it because the UFC wasn't cutting his pay that much anyway. He wants to fight in a ring where he can utilize his kickboxing background. He could not do that in the UFC. He took the easy way out and is fighting lesser competition and he knows it. He was never happy fighting for an American org anyway. I'm sorry but IMO I have lost respect for him.

Edit: And for those wondering how I could call him a coward then just think about what he did:

-Agreed to fight for the UFC
-Wins 1 fight and then loses 2 in a row (in which he wasn't really even
competitive)
-Was never cordial or professional with UFC management
-Broke his agreement
-Runs back to Japan
-Goes back to fighting basically the same pool of fighters he kicked around in
Pride

F_B · 02-13-2008, 09:30 AM

Some of you people are really fickle. If you lost all respect for him you obviously didn't care much about him in the first place to understand what he's going through.

How much were they cutting his pay nublood?

Saskabush · 02-13-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nublood

Some of you have disagreed with me and that is fine. Opinions are what makes teh internetz go round!

Seriously though, CC is ducking cagefighting....plain and simple. Pay has little to do with it because the UFC wasn't cutting his pay that much anyway. He wants to fight in a ring where he can utilize his kickboxing background. He could not do that in the UFC. He took the easy way out and is fighting lesser competition and he knows it. He was never happy fighting for an American org anyway. I'm sorry but IMO I have lost respect for him.

How do you know how much they are cutting his pay? Statistics and source please.

nublood · 02-13-2008, 09:39 AM

He was getting paid 333k per fight originally. UFC was looking at docking him 75k for his next fight. I'll see if I can find the source for you guys.

KungFuGrip · 02-13-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Looks like it's true.

Source: NOKAUT .:. Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts source .:.

Good for CC, Bad for me. How will we see him fight live? Does the Dream Network have ppvs or anything?

Very sad and it ruins my morning.

F_B · 02-13-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterMWM

Good for CC, Bad for me. How will we see him fight live? Does the Dream Network have ppvs or anything?

Very sad and it ruins my morning.

TVU maybe? The sad part is too many people know about it and the server lags really bad.

raconteur8 · 02-13-2008, 09:56 AM

The moment Crocop appears on Hustle with UFC's blessing already sounds fishy to me..so with him leaving isnt much of a surprise.

Btw..does he still has the receipt for the cage built in his gym?

Im just glad tat he didnt retire.

Oh btw..next to go (most probably) - Arlovski.

Jasp · 02-13-2008, 10:12 AM

I wouldnt say that CroCop is a coward or that I have lost all respect for him... but he will never regain the kind of status he once had now that he left the UFC.

Saskabush · 02-13-2008, 10:17 AM

http://yarennoka.com/streaming/080213_c.asx

Here is the 3rd part of the streaming link for the DREAMS press conference. Listen to the ovation CC gets!

He also says he plans to return to the UFC at some point.

Crazy · 02-13-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raconteur8

The moment Crocop appears on Hustle with UFC's blessing already sounds fishy to me..so with him leaving isnt much of a surprise.

Btw..does he still has the receipt for the cage built in his gym?

Im just glad tat he didnt retire.

Oh btw..next to go (most probably) - Arlovski.

Think so to. Looks like UFC is taking a few blows last few month.
I got to say I enjoy it some and hope it will bring more competition into the sport. Saying Crop Cop is running away is kind of childish to me.
Obviously UFC wanted him to go and he wanted to go to. Nothing wrong with that. To work for somone that dont want you there is no matter what not a healthy situation. I hope no one (Cro Cop/Dana White) starts to throw anything at each other. Will be intresting to see what he got to say about it all though.
Good luck Cro Cop, hope this will reset youre fighting instincts!!!
We know you can better the you have show`d us all lately!!!

T-Bone · 02-13-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterMWM

Good for CC, Bad for me. How will we see him fight live? Does the Dream Network have ppvs or anything?

Very sad and it ruins my morning.

I'm with you Master...purely selfish reasons here...this sucks.

Mulla · 02-13-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Looks like it's true.

LOL I like how everyone makes the effort to look smart...and then you have Uno in some weird orange shell suit and Kid in his normal street clothes.

T-Bone · 02-13-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

LOL I like how everyone makes the effort to look smart...and then you have Uno in some weird orange jumpsuit and Kid in his normal street clothes.

They were late for the photo shoot?

Mouth For War · 02-13-2008, 11:18 AM

i didn't know if i should keep this in with the other threads, but non of them said he's officially left Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Leaves UFC, Signs with New Organization -- MMAjunkie.com

Sad really i was hoping he'd turning things around, i don't want to call him a coward cause we all know he isn't. But i was hoping he'd leave on a good note.

AikaImmortal · 02-13-2008, 11:45 AM

from a translation of a croatian website i read on sh*tdog:

Basically Dana stated that either Crocop take the pay cut or sit out the rest of his contract. Can't read this language but here it is from the horses mouth more or less.