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[jesusatemyhotdog]

Sportal.hr - Pobjede vode prema Fjodoru

Here is a translation from another forum. It is legit.

Mods, I was going to put this in the other thread, but thought that everyone should read it. Merge it after a while if you feel that it is necessary.

Victories lead to Fedor

Mirko's return to Japan was spectacularly announced in Tokyo yesterday. A press conference was held in Edmont hotel where a new MMA organisation was presented - Dreams. Mirko was the surprise guest. The organizers were announcing the appearance of a big name, but handn't mentioned Mirko's name. But, as the song Wild Boys started to play, excitement begun which culminated as Mirko entered the room. His manager, Ken Imai, told us about it over the phone:
"Press conferences in Japan are often held with fans present. For all of them, the appearance of Mirko was an emotional moment."

Mirko's trip to Japan was undercover due to business reasons. Imai says: "Just 3 hours before the press conference I received a letter from UFC's president Dana White in which he confirmed that the UFC is ready to terminate Mirko's contract, but under one condition - that he comes back when he's ready."

And Mirko himself says he wants to come back.
"I'll continue to train in the cage, the one I have in my gym, because I'll return to the UFC. I left because I couldn't wait any longer. I asked for a fight earlier, as early as March 1st, but I was offered May, or even later. I asked for a rematch with Gonzaga in Zagreb, but he lost to Werdum so that fell through. And I'm in shape, I gained muscle mass, I'm 105 kg (231 lbs) and I want to fight."

In order for that to happen, Mirko mustn't lose for the duration of his new contract.
"Mirko is not allowed to lose. After 3 victories, all options will be opened."

One of the wishes will most likely be a rematch with Fedor, but that has to be earned, beginning from March 15th. Mirko realizes that some people will come out who see it all just as his escape from the octagon.
"Last 2 years I've been in some kind of mental blockade. I was empty before fights, depressed, I hated myself."
If he fights in the UFC again, Mirko would like it to happen England.
"I'm sorry to have disappointed my English fans who welcomed me like a king. That's why I want to come out in front of them again. I can't turn back time, but my time will come again."

After the last year's acquisition of Pride, the Americans rule the world of MMA. They never had Fedor, but they got the legendary Brasilian Minotaur. Fedor remains with M-1, but without an exclusive contract, which means he can fight in other organisations. Besides, M-1 and Dreams will cohost events. In that light, a rematch between Mirko and Fedor is a possibility, but not as one of Mirko's first 3 fights. Besides Mirko, the stars in Dreams should be Serghei Kharitonov (who holds victories over Schilt and Werdum), Murk Hunt and also some of the current K-1 fighters like Jerome LeBanner and Ray Sefo. Dreams was founded as the successor of Pride, with the association of K-1. Events will be organized by ex-Prides producers, referees, and aired by the national TV station TBS.

[twankydawg]

Good find man, rep'd!

[rivethead]

thank you.

rh

[marco47]

Very nice, thanks.

[WyldeSDMFER86]

I like the catch. It seems like a nice way to part ways. Definitely no hostility and in the end it makes everyone happy. He DOES need to get his mind together before he fights again. I dont think he would have won his next fight in the UFC just based off of what he said about his mindstate.

But he HAS to beat Fedor? Like 2 cans and then Fedor? I don't think we'll see him in the UFC again, then. I dont think Mirko has the tools to beat him (well he does in his striking but Fedor is FEDOR. He isn't gonna knock him out). He always has the knockout possibility, but come on... its FEDOR. I didn't see the first fight but didn't he get whupped on [/diaz] pretty bad?

[Rufio]

Originally Posted by WyldeSDMFER86

I like the catch. It seems like a nice way to part ways. Definitely no hostility and in the end it makes everyone happy. He DOES need to get his mind together before he fights again. I dont think he would have won his next fight in the UFC just based off of what he said about his mindstate.

But he HAS to beat Fedor? Like 2 cans and then Fedor? I don't think we'll see him in the UFC again, then. I dont think Mirko has the tools to beat him (well he does in his striking but Fedor is FEDOR. He isn't gonna knock him out). He always has the knockout possibility, but come on... its FEDOR. I didn't see the first fight but didn't he get whupped on [/diaz] pretty bad?

I thought he did well in the first fight. He was "backtracking" throughout the first round, but not because he was being outstruck. He was backing up and circling Fedor, looking for openings. He got in some good shots and Fedor got in some. The striking was kind of back and forth, and Cro Cop opened a cut around Fedor's eye. Once it got to the ground, Fedor maintained top position, but Cro Cop did a good job of avoiding damage and tying up Fedor's arms. It was a very close fight in terms of what was landed and attempts to finish. Fedor won primarily due to being the aggressor and having top position on the ground.


One problem for Cro Cop though was timing his LHKs. He threw a few of them that narrowly missed. One of the misses led to him being taken down.

[TheDirtySis]

Originally Posted by WyldeSDMFER86

I like the catch. It seems like a nice way to part ways. Definitely no hostility and in the end it makes everyone happy. He DOES need to get his mind together before he fights again. I dont think he would have won his next fight in the UFC just based off of what he said about his mindstate.

But he HAS to beat Fedor? Like 2 cans and then Fedor? I don't think we'll see him in the UFC again, then. I dont think Mirko has the tools to beat him (well he does in his striking but Fedor is FEDOR. He isn't gonna knock him out). He always has the knockout possibility, but come on... its FEDOR. I didn't see the first fight but didn't he get whupped on [/diaz] pretty bad?

It said he wanted to rematch Fedor but that it wouldnt be in his next 3 fights. To me that means he will fight 3 times (win) and then fight Fedor and win or lose that fight I still think the UFC will let him come back.

[WyldeSDMFER86]

Ah, 3 hours of sleep is no good haha.

I guess it would depend on how the fight with Fedor went down. If it was competitive then you're probably right. But if he gets demolished then Dana might think he can only beat cans at this point. Beating Eddie Sanchez means nothing. That guy was terrified of Mirko. But 2005 proved Cro Cop CAN beat anyone. But will he? We should worry about the cans before we get ahead of ourselves. We all thought he'd have the title in the UFC by now, too.

[ChuckBooty]

This benefits the UFC in a lot of ways. If Cro Cop is done...the UFC gets out of paying upwards of $350k per fight to an undercard fighter. If Cro Cop starts winning in an impressive manor, they get to hype the "return of Cro Cop" and possibly salvage a very marketable fighter. The best case scenario for the UFC and Cro Cop himself would be three solid wins and a victory over Fedor. This marginalizes Fedor and Cro Cop comes back to the UFC as the #1 heavyweight in the world.

[jlruthven84]

Originally Posted by ChuckBooty

This benefits the UFC in a lot of ways. If Cro Cop is done...the UFC gets out of paying upwards of $350k per fight to an undercard fighter. If Cro Cop starts winning in an impressive manor, they get to hype the "return of Cro Cop" and possibly salvage a very marketable fighter. The best case scenario for the UFC and Cro Cop himself would be three solid wins and a victory over Fedor. This marginalizes Fedor and Cro Cop comes back to the UFC as the #1 heavyweight in the world.

Indeed. And Cro Cop is very capable of beating Fedor; that is, unless M-1 disallows left jabs and the LHK.