Issue 025

May 2007

Unsurprisingly for a trained killer, Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic is one of the most ominous figures you could ever look across the ring at, and he is fast cementing his legacy as one of the most brutal strikers in the sport of mixed martial arts. Conducting himself with a confidence that sometimes borders on arrogance, the Croatian kickboxer has experience a meteoric rise over the last six years that bring him to his imminent fight with Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 70 in Manchester. 

Mirko started his professional fighting career in K-1 in 1996, then and to some degree still renowned as the apex of stand up combat sports. During his time with the promotion he amassed a record of 16-7, winning 11 of those fights by either KO or TKO, and beating notable combatants such as Peter Aerts, Jerome LeBanner, Mike Bernado and Mark Hunt. At the start of his fighting career Filipovic was still working as a police officer with Croatia’s anti-terrorist ‘Alpha’ unit based in Lucko, a vocation that would provided a nickname that would stick for years to come. With his ice-cold stare, aggressive fighting style and the fact that Japanese promoters were very fond of running footage of him wielding firearms it was like ‘Cro Cop’ was born to become an action figure. Surprisingly it was only in 2002 that he left his job with the unit to focus on his fighting career full time. 

2001 saw Filipovic start the transition from K-1 to PRIDE Fighting Championships, stating that he had become dissatisfied with K-1 salaries and was seeking a personal challenge, although it wasn’t until 2003 that his star truly began to rise in the MMA arena. Fighting to a draw with both Nobuhiko Takada and Wanderlei Silva in matches with special rules (5x3 minute rounds and no judges decision in case of full time) had given Filipovic his first taste of the action in the PRIDE ring, but in 2003 he went on a tear.

After fracturing Bob Sapp’s orbital bone in just less than one and a half minutes in what would be his last K-1 appearance to date, Filipovic would then go on to put Heath Herring, Igor Vovchanchyn and Dos Caras Jr on his highlight reels with TKO and KO victories. Perhaps unsurprisingly, as a southpaw fighter with a K-1 pedigree his left roundhouse kick (the ‘power’ side for a southpaw) was demonstrated as his fight finishing tool. Herring was on the sharp end of it when it landed in his ribs, a blow which would herald the beginning of the end in their match. Vovchanchyn and Dos Caras Jr would see that it found their neck and head accordingly after they woke up and watched the replay. November 2003 saw his receive his first loss in MMA at the hands of Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira in a classic match up of styles. Nogueira managed to sink an arm bar in the second round although not before Filipovic had attempted to (and almost succeeded in) punting his face into the fourth row.

After this defeat Filipovic recruited the skills of former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion (and fellow UFC 70 competitor) Fabricio Werdum to help develop his ground skills. Fighting an impressive eight times in 2004 he would go 7-1, the only loss being a shock upset KO to Kevin Randleman in the opening round of the heavyweight Grand Prix. That loss would be avenged later in the year when Filipovic would go on to submit Randleman with a guillotine choke, to date the only time when Filipovic has had to utilise a submission. The highlight of Filipovic’s year came when he managed to wrap his foot around the head of 6ft 6in Aleksander Emelianenko for a knock out that you could yell ‘timber!’ to.

2005 saw a match that was one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight fights to date – Cro Cop versus Fedor for the PRIDE heavyweight title. Critics and fans were divided as to who the victor would be; the two seemed to be leagues ahead of all other heavyweights in the sport. What transpired though was a performance par excellence by Fedor Emelianenko, who applied constant pressure to Filipovic throughout the fight, never letting the Croatian into his game and stalking him through the three round match to earn the unanimous decision. After beating Josh Barnett in a unanimous decision he would then receive his second defeat of the year at the hands of granite-domed New Zealander Mark Hunt. Despite landing a kick that knocked every bead of sweat off Hunt’s head, the Samoan was unshakable and would go on to win a unanimous decision, avenging the loss that he’d suffered at the hands of Filipovic whilst they were both in K-1.

Fighting a shocking 17 fights in three years had certainly honed Filipovic’s skills but had it taken its toll on him? Questions were asked about his fitness. Three 20-minute fights in 2005 (out of a total of five for the year) would have sent many fighters for a bit of rest and recuperation. Not Filipovic though, who returned with a bang in 2006 in what would go on to become his landmark year in the sport.

Entering the Open Weight Grand Prix, a 16-man elimination tournament that would be fought over three events, the words ‘brutal’ and ‘decisive’ best describe his performance. After destroying Ikuhisa Minowa in under a minute and a half in the first round of the tournament Filipovic went on to fight Olympic judoka Hidehiko Yoshida. The sheer display of force demonstrated by Filipovic was almost painful to watch as he brought his power to bear on Yoshida’s legs time and time again until the Japanese fighter was no longer able to stand. Not content to let the remaining tournament fighters off lightly, he then focussed his considerable skills in stopping Wanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett in the final round of the tournament, coincidentally held on his 32nd Birthday.

Using deft footwork and straight, direct, ‘down-the-line’ striking to counteract Silva’s trademark swarming hooks and ferocity, within seconds of the fight starting Filipovic had shown the Brazilian enough for him to try and force the takedown. Filipovic would then go on to drop Silva with a beautifully timed left straight punch and swim into his guard to rain down more punishment. After a spell when the fight was halted to attend to Silva’s heavily swollen right eye, Filipovic landed the inevitable high kick, leaving Silva unconscious and a bloody mess on the canvas, only the second time that he had been KO’d in his career.

Mirko, on a roll and relatively unscathed from his battle earlier in the evening, then went on to fight Josh Barnett in the final. Barnett had fought to a twenty-minute decision against Nogueira earlier that night and had already been beaten twice by Filipovic, the first time when he sustained a freak shoulder injury and the second by a convincing decision. The third time proved to be no different for Filipovic and he won the tournament when Barnett submitted under a barrage of strikes, later complaining of a potentially serious eye injury within the first round. Seen as the apex of his fighting career thus far, the PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix Title is the first major MMA title that the Croatian has held.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Filipovic would switch promotions when in December of 2006 he signed a two-year six-fight contract with the UFC. Rumour has it that PRIDE were so unhappy about losing him that the only footage that they would send the UFC of him was when Nogueira submitted Filipovic with an armbar! Despite this he emerged to the PRIDE theme tune for his UFC debut against the overmatched Eddie Sanchez at UFC 67.

Filipovic seemed to struggle getting used to the Octagon, chasing Sanchez down before being able to stop him just shy of the end of the first round. Filipovic has been reported as asking UFC ref Big John McCarthy for help in obtaining an Octagonal cage of his own. A legitimate threat and asset to the once ailing UFC heavyweight division, Filipovic is tailor-made for the ever-expanding promotion.

He is a super striker, possessing the best striking game in the heavyweight division, able to end a fight at any point with a flick of that left foot. Just as Fedor Emelianenko redefined the ‘Ground and Pound’ template laid down by Mark Coleman, Mirko Cro Cop has redefined Maurice Smith’s ‘Sprawl and Brawl’ template. At UFC 70 he will face Gabriel Gonzaga, an opponent who his team- mate, Fabricio Werdum, has already bested. This insider knowledge (combined with his existing skills) give Gonzaga a narrow chance of victory. Filipovic is just too polished and has spent the last few years fighting only top-drawer competition.

If successful in this match, it is expected that Filipovic will be granted a title shot against heavyweight champion Randy Couture. This match echoes the Randy Couture / Pedro Rizzo classics of UFC 31 and 34, although there are some notable differences. The biggest threat that Filipovic will face in the Octagon is someone who can put him on the mat, trap him against the fence and pound a TKO out of him, and that coincidentally matches Couture’s skill set. Being unfamiliar with the Octagon environment could be his undoing in the UFC. However, throughout his career he’s demonstrated the ability to analyse both his own weaknesses and those of his opponents and is able to make the necessary adjustments to ensure victory. His lateral footwork, precision striking and ability to disengage from the clinch could give him an edge over the aging Randy, though you can never count ‘Captain America’ out. 

In a sport that can be slightly confusing to the average person on the street, Cro Cop’s style and personality is instantly accessible. He’s incredibly tough, incredibly violent, incredibly dynamic and takes absolutely no shit. In a word, he’s everything the UFC could want in a heavyweight star. 

By Jim Burman