Cro Cop set to become a free agent after UFC 115

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: xTroublePeace
Date: June 05, 2010 at 09:02 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Legendary Croatian heavyweight, Mirko Cro Cop has revealed he will complete his current contract with the UFC next weekend when he squares off with Pat Barry inside the octagon in Vancouver, Canada, but seems keen to sit down with the UFC following the fight to discuss a renewal.
Speaking about his current status on Friday, Cro Cop said:
“This is the last fight on the present contract. I have to finish this fight, then we’ll see. I’ll have to sit with Lorenzo and Dana and see about extending the contract, but first of all I’m concentrating on this fight, and I don’t want to talk much before that.”
Cro Cop will be in a great position to negotiate if he wins on Saturday night against the heavy handed Barry. With numerous promotions around the world potentially interested in signing the former PRIDE star, especially in Japan, this could be the last time we see the head kick knockout specialist compete inside the octagon.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jak
Date: June 05, 2010 at 09:06 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

I'm not sure this matters. After his fight with dos Santos(i believe) i'm pretty sure he temporarily quit and the UFC called him out on it. Whether the story unfolded that way or not is irrelevant, the point being that the UFC are likely trying to showcase a big win for Pat Barry so that they can have another HW to sell. I can't imagine the UFC as huge reliance or need for Mirko.
Cro Cop as a co-main event in the UFC bites anyways. 2nd or 3rd fight, no problem, but not main event. If he leaves, won't be a big deal.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Mollica93
Date: June 05, 2010 at 09:10 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

ya after the JDS fight he had suicided thoughts and also if he went to Strikeforce I wouldnt mind seeing a rematch with Overeem or Fedor

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: ballsout
Date: June 05, 2010 at 09:20 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Pretty typical, obviously the UFC is using this to raise Barry's stock while decreasing CC's with a loss at the end of his contract.
Just business that's all

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: carl258
Date: June 05, 2010 at 10:42 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

is a win - win situation for the UFC, if Cro Cop lose there is no problem since his contract end and he will not be resign and go away to another promotion with his value going down, and in the process put barry in a good spot
if he win he will get another contract and his value go high and is another good name to be in the mix in the HW division

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: jdrc07
Date: June 06, 2010 at 12:58 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

ballsout said:
Pretty typical, obviously the UFC is using this to raise Barry's stock while decreasing CC's with a loss at the end of his contract.
Just business that's all
Click to expand...
I don't agree with you here at all, I think if the UFC was just trying to give Mirko a loss they'd feed him to a grappler like Cain. The fact is, the UFC is putting a former ELITE K-1 Kickboxer, however old, against a less experienced, and far lower level kickboxer.
Pat Barry is no joke though, and he's younger and he's got the fire that Mirko hasn't had in his last fights. Barry hits hard as f--- and he could very well win this fight, BUT this is still Mirko f---ing CroCop here, this is still a man that dominated Remy Bonjasky in a Kickboxing match. Does anyone think Barry could even be competitive, much less beat Bonjasky?
Mirko doesn't have to worry about the shot so you know he'll be throwing his legs liberally, and he's training in a kickboxing camp in holland sparring at 100% day in and day out, so you can expect a balls-out kickboxing match.
The way I see it, this is Mirko's final test. If he wins, we'll know he's back, if he loses, we'll know he's done for good.
I know a lot of people aren't giving Mirko much chance to win here, but then again neither did anyone give Shogun a chance against Chuck or Machida considering how horrible he looked against Forrest and Coleman. Shogun went through the same stuff, he was training at a gym in his hometown near his family and friends and after the Coleman fight he realized he needed to pack his bags and start training seriously again. Of course Shogun is also a lot younger, but whatever. I still have some hope that Mirko can make his comeback, but even if doesn't he can still rest assured that he's already compiled one of the most epic highlight reels of all time.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Hitman21
Date: June 06, 2010 at 12:58 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Crocop vs Alovski anyone

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: GoodCat
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:12 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

I honestly think if HD beats Cro Cop next week, he will retire. Which I think will happen also. And for once, I actually agree with what ballsout is saying.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jak
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:24 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

jdrc07 said:
I know a lot of people aren't giving Mirko much chance to win here, but then again neither did anyone give Shogun
Click to expand...
I would compare him more to Brandon Vera or Andre Arlovski as guys who aren't getting better. Although i did like the attempt at the Shogun comparison. The same Shogun who is still in his 20's and still, if i'm not mistaken only has 4 losses on his record, 1 of which is simply a paper loss.
I'm trying not overvalue Barry here, but the comparison of a fighter winding down his career to the current LHW champ is pretty far off. It's gotta be like 4 or 5 years since he's had a notable win. Regardless of what Barry has done, Cro Cop has done less in that time. At least Barry is getting better.
Seriously... Cro Cop/Shogun... :lol:

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: jdrc07
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:45 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Jak said:
jdrc07 said:
I know a lot of people aren't giving Mirko much chance to win here, but then again neither did anyone give Shogun
Click to expand...
I would compare him more to Brandon Vera or Andre Arlovski as guys who aren't getting better. Although i did like the attempt at the Shogun comparison. The same Shogun who is still in his 20's and still, if i'm not mistaken only has 4 losses on his record, 1 of which is simply a paper loss.
I'm trying not overvalue Barry here, but the comparison of a fighter winding down his career to the current LHW champ is pretty far off. It's gotta be like 4 or 5 years since he's had a notable win. Regardless of what Barry has done, Cro Cop has done less in that time. At least Barry is getting better.
Seriously... Cro Cop/Shogun... :lol:
Click to expand...
Well considering Shogun is what, 4 years younger than Wanderlei? We've seen how fast Chute-Box fighters age, when Shogun fought Forrest and Coleman, he looked like a shell of his former self, and a lot of people thought he was done. Similarly, Mirko doesn't seem himself, and it might be because he's too old, and it might be because he had lost his competitive drive and wasn't training hard enough. Anyways the point of the comparison was just so say look, old pride vets have come back from career slumps before, it's possible and I'm hopeful. But don't get me wrong, I'm not putting any money on Mirko, I'm just hoping to see one of my favorites of all time retire on a high-note.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Fedor_is_god
Date: June 06, 2010 at 02:12 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Win or lose, there is no way Crocop gets the same money. His value has diminished substantially.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Puxin
Date: June 06, 2010 at 02:36 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Fedor_is_god said:
Win or lose, there is no way Crocop gets the same money. His value has diminished substantially.
Click to expand...
I don't know what kind of money he's getting now, but Strikeforce might pay above-market for him like they did with Hendo.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: jvillain
Date: June 06, 2010 at 04:01 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

I don't know what kind of money he's getting now, but Strikeforce might pay above-market for him like they did with Hendo.
Click to expand...
I don't know where people keep getting the idea that if you get flushed out of the UFC you automatically have a spot reserved for you in Strikeforce. There actually haven't been that many fighters that have gone from the UFC straight into Strikeforce. They went after Hendo because he was regarded as the #2 in the division at the time. If Cro-cop ends up any where it will be Dream because they can pull on peoples Pride heart strings for a couple of fights. Then again Ken and Mark could be waiting for him in Australia.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: EdoKaz818
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:22 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

Cro Cop gave the UFC HW division a name

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jak
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:36 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

jvillain said:
I don't know where people keep getting the idea that if you get flushed out of the UFC you automatically have a spot reserved for you in Strikeforce. There actually haven't been that many fighters that have gone from the UFC straight into Strikeforce
Click to expand...
I think a lot of people get Strikeforce and Affliction confused.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Tgilb2007
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:48 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

EdoKaz818 said:
Cro Cop gave the UFC HW division a name
Click to expand...
Ehh...... I think guys like Big Nog, Mir, and Couture did that. Guys who competed in both generations of the UFC HW division.
But, its guys like JDS, Brock, and Carwin who are the future. CC, Nog, Mir.... won't be able to hang.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: DaTruth25
Date: June 06, 2010 at 01:56 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/cro-cop-set-to-become-a-free-agent-after-ufc-115.26477/

I actually give CC a decent shot in this fight. Although he pretty much quit against JDS, he took some massive punishment and hung in there well. I think the ufc is actually giving CC a real good chance for a W here, I think this will be a really good, close fight with CC edging out the Dec. Maybe even getting the finish. I also think I was in HS last time I picked CC to win a fight. :lol: