Open Weight Champion Mirko CroCop

SeikanJudanski · 09-10-2006, 11:40 PM

Mirko swore to himself that he would quit MMA if he would not win this title. In two absolutely stunning fights, Mirko CroCop knocked out Wanderlai Silva in something which could be called no less than a domination, finishing him off with his signature left high kick, then going on to beating a tough Barnett who had just beat Nogueria in an all out submission battle by decision. CroCop waited 10 long years for a title, only being stopped by Big Nog for the Interim title and Fedor for the world championship last year... but now he is the Open Weight Champion, a title long due.

Mirko dedicated this win to his father, and also celebrated his 32nd birthday.

Tinker Bell · 09-10-2006, 11:47 PM

What a great night! Truly an amazing and gracious fighter Mirko Cro Cop is. This was my first Pride pay-per-view and I couldn't be any happier with it.

Harms · 09-11-2006, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fight2night

What a great night! Truly an amazing and gracious fighter Mirko Cro Cop is. This was my first Pride pay-per-view and I couldn't be any happier with it.

Same here. I was torn if I should get this or not, but man I am happy I did. Every fight had top tier fighters in it except maybe the Shogun fight, but he was coming back from an injury. I recorded it and I plan to show as many ppl as possible to show them how good Pride really is. I mention how good Pride is and ppl look at me with skepticism.

I understand the whole money from PPV, but with the next show in the US, they should have shown this instead of Bushido for free. I think it would have created a huge buzz from ppl just wanting to check it out for the first time.

Grave · 09-11-2006, 01:29 AM

What's "Open-Weight" mean?

It sounds like a division with no set weight-class, anyone of any weight can compete, right?

Meaning it would be possible for 150lb guys to go up against 260+lbers.

Mixologist47 · 09-11-2006, 02:05 AM

Amazing performance by Crocop. I was worried that he might be done with MMA. He definately deserves another title shot.

Malf · 09-11-2006, 03:14 AM

I couldn't believe how much better Mirko has gotten over the past year with his hands. He may have finished Silva with his signature kick, but he did most of his initial damage with his hands. Beating Wanderlei with punches is no small feat. Give Cro Cop another title shot, and I bet it'll be Fedor's toughest match of his Pride career.

Bomber · 09-11-2006, 08:59 AM

As soon as I saw Wandy's closed eye, I said "Oh-oh, left leg head kick ends this fight".

I think I admire Cro Cop most of any fighter. It must be frustrating to be so good and yet be blocked for the title for so long. He shows such heart all the time and is calm and soft-spoken. What a contrast between Mirko and big trash-talker Barnett.

It's disconcerting to hear him talk about retirement at 32. Hopefully he'd give the UFC a try if he ever feels he wants to retire again. Contending for the HW title in America might re-energize him.

OTOH maybe this time he can beat the unbeatable Fedor.

Crashsti · 09-11-2006, 09:30 AM

i bet the farm on Nogueira, i did'nt think anyone other than Fedor could beat him. it impressive that CroCop won, after several lackluster performances i did'nt think he had it mentally to be a champion anymore. i guess i am way wrong. CroCop is back.

SeikanJudanski · 09-11-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

As soon as I saw Wandy's closed eye, I said "Oh-oh, left leg head kick ends this fight".

I think I admire Cro Cop most of any fighter. It must be frustrating to be so good and yet be blocked for the title for so long. He shows such heart all the time and is calm and soft-spoken. What a contrast between Mirko and big trash-talker Barnett.

It's disconcerting to hear him talk about retirement at 32. Hopefully he'd give the UFC a try if he ever feels he wants to retire again. Contending for the HW title in America might re-energize him.

OTOH maybe this time he can beat the unbeatable Fedor.

Barnett is not a bad type of trash talker, I mean I don´t think he intends any harm. He just uses some big words all the time, and he is confident. It´s healthy trash talking, plus he is a gentleman outside the ring. Silva and Arona are the trashtalkers, specially Arona. Silva said he hated CropCop, when Trigg asked CroCop him why, CroCop said he didn´t know, but he didn´t like him either for never having contact with the fighters and acting like a maniac outside of the ring. Mirko is a ex-anti terror force specialist, the man carries himself like a professional at all times. CroCop always is accused of not being open enough, never showing any feelings, however I think he is just a quite guy who wants to fight and get on with his business.

CroCop is now going to fight Fedor..if he loses and feels that he can´t squeeze anymore success out of Pride, then I would welcome him going to the UFC, but I feel sorry for any HW in the UFC who has to face him. I think CroCop is ready for the states anyway. In an interview he mentioned a couple of organizations which offered him allot of money to fight there, and his last words to Trigg in the interview after the fight yesterday were, " See you in the states".

GSPALLTHEWAY · 09-11-2006, 10:40 AM

that was an amazing PPV in terms of the fights... it really changed my mind a littel bit in terms of the 205 and HW pride fighters being WAY above the UFC fighters... i still think the UFC owns 185 and down, and i still think the pride coverage is dry and boring to watch,, but, NOT those fights, they were very exciting, and cro cop is just a machine

SeikanJudanski · 09-11-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSPalltheway

that was an amazing PPV in terms of the fights... it really changed my mind a littel bit in terms of the 205 and HW pride fighters being WAY above the UFC fighters... i still think the UFC owns 185 and down, and i still think the pride coverage is dry and boring to watch,, but, NOT those fights, they were very exciting, and cro cop is just a machine

The thing I don´t like about the U.S. PPV is that they summarize the whole event. You don´t see any of the stuff the Asians see. They cut the event down from 4 hours to 2. So you don´t see alot of the entrances, info, etc. So in a way I agree, they edit the event too much, which takes something away.

About who is better UFC or Pride, I am not going to get into that anymore, people can see for themselves who is better.

Crashsti · 09-11-2006, 11:10 AM

well, Americans are notorious for having very short attention spans. its why American movies are all 90 minutes or less.

Bomber · 09-11-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeikanJudanski

his last words to Trigg in the interview after the fight yesterday were, " See you in the states".

I assumed he means because of the Pride debut in the US. He'll be fighting Fedor for the HW title there, no?

I know he's talked about the US before, during his contract dispute and it certainly makes you wonder if it will happen.

SeikanJudanski · 09-11-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

I assumed he means because of the Pride debut in the US. He'll be fighting Fedor for the HW title there, no?

I know he's talked about the US before, during his contract dispute and it certainly makes you wonder if it will happen.

Fedor is going to fight Coleman in the U.S. Debut, so I don´t know where the fight will be, but yes, they did mention it being in the states. However, that was just a rumor.

Bomber · 09-11-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeikanJudanski

Fedor is going to fight Coleman in the U.S. Debut, so I don´t know where the fight will be, but yes, they did mention it being in the states. However, that was just a rumor.

Doh! I knew about Fedor/Coleman at one time. It makes sense to have Fedor fight a known American fighter for the US debut.

If you can stand another rumour, people are saying that Mirko is injured and won't fight at the Pride US debut.

SeikanJudanski · 09-11-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

Doh! I knew about Fedor/Coleman at one time. It makes sense to have Fedor fight a known American fighter for the US debut.

If you can stand another rumour, people are saying that Mirko is injured and won't fight at the Pride US debut.

No idea bro, I watched the interview after the fight, he didn´t mention anything about an injury, however I also heard something about his foot being broken or something.

wgs2005 · 09-11-2006, 02:46 PM

just watched the wandy crocop fight, awsome display, japanese commentry but it wil do, looking to get the whole event now

Sevensinsproject · 09-11-2006, 03:07 PM

I have new found respect for CroCop, very dissapointed in Silva's performance, thought he would at least put up more of a fight, on the other hand I thought it was cool a fighters that sometimes trains 20 minutes from where I'm sitting now, was in such a position...What a upset over big Nog...

lwbfl · 09-11-2006, 05:48 PM

I thought this card was awesome! I picked Cro Cop to win but it was more impressive than I thought! All the fights were great, only one went to decision! I can't wait for the next event!

ufc-Joseph-Bower-ufc · 09-11-2006, 07:33 PM

Cro Cop was always one of my faveorit fighters.
He has always had killer stand up skills.
But now they are even deadlyer.
He looked unstopabul.
I really want to see another fedor VS cro cop