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Will Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic Prove His Decline Is Overstated? - Bloody Elbow

With UFC 110 a little over one week away, one of the stories that fans will be focusing on is whether Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic is truly finished in the sport of mixed martial arts. It's safe to say that there is definitely a considerable decline in his performance over the past three years, and he'll probably never return to his prime form as the dangerous Croatian kickboxer who struck fear in the hearts of his opponents. But can he return to a form that is exciting and entertaining for the fans?

Fighters Only Magazine ran a brief translation of Croatian news portal Vecernji's interview with the 2006 PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix champion that suggests Mirko is being pushed in the right direction:

From all indications, this is exactly the type of training that Mirko needs to bring some life back to his declining career. Hyppolite trains some of the best K-1 fighters in the world, but there is obviously no "passes" for even recent champions at his camp. He wants the absolute best out of his fighters, and this should, at the very least, give Mirko the best opportunity to show the fans he can still bang with the new blood in the UFC heavyweight division.

There are still some concerns coming into his battle with Ben Rothwell at UFC 110. Mirko will have a weight and height disadvantage, but he should have the better striking background to give Rothwell problems in that area of the fight.

The primary concern is that Mirko will fall into some old habits that have been more prominent in recent fights rather than over the course of his entire career. Setting up his patented left head kick has been non-existent in recent bouts, and his evasive techniques to avoid opponents have slowed greatly due to what seems to be a decline in his conditioning level from his PRIDE days.



The increased pace and level of training he's receiving should fix the latter, but his mental game will stand a significant test at UFC 110. As I stated in the comments of my previous post regarding Mirko's new training regiment, I think Mirko needs to go back to basics and accept the fact that he's a striker first:

If Mirko's speed and keen eye for finding openings in his opponent's defense returns, Mirko should be able to defeat Rothwell. Rothwell can strike a bit, but Mirko's pedigree should flatten the former IFL champion if he can operate much more quickly. Rothwell will likely want to bring this fight to the ground, but Mirko made his early career in PRIDE as being very tough to take down.

Ultimately, I'd like to see Mirko abandon the left head kick altogether until he's landed heavy barrages of leg kicks, body kicks, and powerful straight jabs. Rothwell should be hurting, and that thought of the head kick will slowly slip out of his mind. Perhaps it'll be there in that instance of time, but Mirko needs to discontinue his reliance on creating highlight reel destruction until he's broken his opponent's will. With the right gameplan, it could return in all its glory.

[Bloodbeard]

He's on the decline but should still win this fight! If he doesn't win I'll die inside.

Crocop and Wandy both need big wins to prove their worth... will it happen? it better freaking happen.

[optimusjoel]

I'm not convinced that he's done for. He should defeat Rothwell farely easy IMO.

[mmawolverine]

so is he evolving or just training harder in this old kickboxing roots, i worry that he thinks he doesnt need to round out his skillset, theres the old saying "if it aint broke dont fix it" but what if you you need to completely overhaul. wandy has got more in him than mirko, ask yourself how mirko would fair against cain with just revitalized standup. i think wishful thinking is useless mirko fans should be asking him evolve.

[optimusjoel]

Originally Posted by mmawolverine

so is he evolving or just training harder in this old kickboxing roots, i worry that he thinks he doesnt need to round out his skillset, theres the old saying "if it aint broke dont fix it" but what if you you need to completely overhaul. wandy has got more in him than mirko, ask yourself how mirko would fair against cain with just revitalized standup. i think wishful thinking is useless mirko fans should be asking him evolve.

Mirko would Cro Cop Cain with revitalized standup.

[Pasha K]

I think he has the level to destroy Rothwell easily, but I agree that he should do much more than just wait and try his LHK. He has many other weapons, he is a great striker, he can do leg and middle kicks. His takedown defense is very good.

About the training, the problem was never the training, the problem is his mind, he doesnt have any desire to fight, he can train like a machine but if he doesnt want to do it then its useless.