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Once consider top MMA heavyweight, Mirko Cro Cop told Fighters Only Magazine:

“I believe that during 2009 I will fight three more times for Dream, then I hope for a farewell fight in the UFC.”

Cro Cop is expected to have knee surgery in a couple of weeks, which could take him out of training for three months. Then some fights for DREAM, and a possible UFC sendoff sometime in late 2009.

“I’m not in the years when you can create a long-term plan… today my health is my priority.”

In a recent interview with Dvenik.hr, Mirko Cro Cop has confirmed that he will rematch Alistair Overeem at the New Years Eve K-1 Dynamite 2008 show at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

The two faced off last month at DREAM 6, but ended in a disappointing “No Contest” after Overeem struck the Croatian fighter multiple times in the groin.

Cro Cop also revealed that he will continue to have work on his knee after the NYE fight.

“I’ve had several operations this year, and I’ll have to undergo another one straight after the NYE event. It’s frustrating to have to undergo all these operations but that’s the sportsman’s life. Many others have had it worse then me,”

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In an interview with the Sun Sentinal, Kimbo Slice’s manager Mike Imber stated that they are weighing the possibility of a rematch with Seth Petruzelli at the K-1 DREAM New Years Eve set to take place in Japan.

Rookie MMA fighter Kimbo Slice is already back in a local gym after his 14-second loss to lastminute replacement and UFC light heavyweight washout Seth Petruzelli in Sunrise.

Slice, who spent Thursday at one of his children’s school career day, is weighing his options with his agent Mike Imber. He may fight on the DREAM K-1 New Year’s Eve show in Japan, possibly a rematch with Petruzelli.

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Just as the dust settles on DREAM 6, Index.hr. was able to sit down with Alistair Overeem to get his side of the story, following his “No Contest” ruling against Mirko Cro Cop at DREAM 6.

Overeem “Cro Cop is arrogant, thinks he’s a superstar but I’ve got a surprise for him”

Why do you have such animosity toward Mirko? Why has it become personal for you?

A.O: I honestly believe that Mirko is very arrogant person, he see’s himself as a superstar, something which he is not. We’re all just people and the important thing is that we stay respectful and be modest. I highly value respect and modesty in a person.

However it was you that began disrespecting Mirko first.

Yes that is true. He fought an very easy opponent at Dream 1 however the entire time he claimed he wanted to fight only the best. I thought it was important to declare my desire to fight him publicly and openly to the Dream officials and fans.

You’ve said that Mirko was looking for a way out of that fight and that was ducking you before the match even?

That’s true. He was looking for a way out. He could not hold on any longer. He was finished basically. We’ll just have to wait and see if he’ll hide again as he has in the past or step up for the revenge at NYE event.

Cro Cop says he’s the better fighter and that would his superior technique would have given him the victory in the end?

He can say what ever he wants, I don’t want to continue with the same dialogue. Just tell him I’ve got a big surprise waiting for him at NYE.

You’ve gained over 15 kilograms in a very short period of time, conditioning has been your biggest problem to date. Part of Mirko’s game plan in part was to drag you into a long battle and to expose your stamina.

That’s totally false. My new size will not hinder me in the least. I don’t have any issues with stamina or conditioning. The new mass has made me stronger and has only improved me as a fighter.

In the first fight Cro Cop wasn’t able to use his famous left leg. What do you put that down to?

“Its very simple. I’m not scared of his left leg.” Concluded the smiling Overeem.

TG [Betwwx] for the translation.

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PRIDE veteran and former UFC fighter Mirko Cro Cop in a recent interview with the Croatian news site Jutarnji.

Cro Cop: Ending my career is not a option

Ending his career is not a option for Mirko Cro Cop. Currently his only mind is occupied with revenging Overeem.

Q: Hows your health?

CC: Right now everything is fine. My injuries have healed up and I’ll return to training soon.

Q: It wasn’t easy watching those knees to your groin…

CC: I’ll quote a favourite movie of mine “Maratonci trce pocasni krug” — “I don’t like it, but its part of the job!” That’s how I feel about what happened at Dream 6.

Q: Where you surprised he wasn’t disqualified?

CC: I wouldn’t have gained anything from a disqualification. I don’t need that kind of win. More importantly I shouldn’t have given him the opportunity to knee me to the groin.

Q: Disqualifying him would make him think twice about were he places his knees?

CC: Well next him he’ll be well advised not to go near my groin. If he does it again, I’ll give him a taste of his own medicine. And I’ll do it deliberately without holding back. Mixed martial arts is a brutal sport but there are rules to be followed. I have followed them trought my career and my opponents have also.
CC: There is no point crying over spilt milk. I expect my revenge at NYE.

Q: Do you have any plans between NYE and now?

CC: I’ll travel to Soul, Korea on 11.11.08 to support Igor Pokrajac when he fights against a yet unknown opponent.

Q: Do you concede that Overeem was the dominant one up until the injury?

CC: Yes he was, but it’s a 15 minute fight and anything could have happened had the fight continued. I should have been more aggressive of course. Its something I’ll have to work on.

Q: Did you properly train for the fight?

CC: Despite the commentary that I’m too old, all my physical conditioning and speed test point to the fact that I’ve never been better prepared than for my last fight. But it doesn’t matter what I think, the only thing that matters is what actually happens in the ring.

Q: So what’s the problem then?

CC: I’m under more pressure then I have been earlier in my career. I lost two fights in the UFC, and I have a fear of it happening again. I cant afford more failures. I have a fear of failing not of punches or kicks. Many fighters have the same problem.

Q: Do you have a exit strategy after you leave the sport?

No along as I’m healthy my mind is only on fighting on.

Q: So you don’t have any plans to leave the sports?
CC: Peter Aerts has been written of for 5 years now. He recently defeated K1 best fighter and tournament favorite Semmy Schilt. If he can do it why should I at 35 be too old? I feel great, my conditioning is excellent and I’m motivated to fight. There is no reason to end my career.

TG: Translated by Robert at Betwwx.com

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It is rumored that Mirko Cro Cop is considering a Wardrobe change in his rematch with Overeem.

[By Olieng via MMAConvert]

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Heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko addressed the crowed during the DREAM 6 event held last night at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Fedor expressed interest in fighting on a New Years Eve DREAM show to be held in Japan.

It is hard to see Affliction MMA allowing the Russian to fight just 3 weeks before the rescheduled Affliction 2 “Day of Reckoning” show set for January 19 from the Honda Center in Anaheim California.

Affliction announced that Fedor would likely be on the card, but has yet to announce an opponent.

Fedor is widely loved by Japanese fans after competing for PRIDE FC for many years.

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WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE

middleweight tournament final

• Gegard Mousasi defeats Ronaldo Souza by KO (upkick) at 2:15 of R1

Middleweight tournament semifinals

• Gegard Mousasi defeats Melvin Manhoef by Submission (triangle choke) at 1:28 of R1
• Ronaldo Souza defeats Zelg Galesic by Submission (armbar) at 1:27 of R1

middleweight reserve bout

• Andrews Nakahara defeats Dong Sik Yoon by TKO (strikes) at 0:30 of R2

Main Card

• Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Alistair Overeem - No Contest after Cro Cop could not continue following an illegal knee to the groin from Overeem
• Sergei Kharitonov defeats Jimmy Ambriz by Submission (strikes) at 2:15 of R1
• Masakatsu Funaki defeats Ikuhisa Minowa by Submission (heel hook) at 0:32 of R1
• Yoshihiro Akiyama defeats Masanori Tonooka bia Submission (armbar) at 6:26 of R1
• Hayato “Mach” Sakurai defeats Kuniyoshi Hironaka by unanimous decision
• Shinya Aoki defeats Todd Moore by submission (neck crank) at 1:10 of R1
• Keita Nakamura defeats Adriano Martins by split decision
• Atsushi Yamamoto defeats Hideo Tokoro by unanimous decision

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DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament takes place on Sept. 23 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Middleweight Grand Prix Finals

Ronaldo de Souza vs. Zelg Galesic
Gegard Mousasi vs. Melvin Manhoef
Gegard Mousasi/Melvin Manhoef vs. Ronaldo de Souza/Zelg Galesic
Yoon Dong-sik vs. Andrews Nakahara (Reserve Bout)

Main Card

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Alistair Overeem
Sergei Kharitonov vs. Mighty Mo
Hideo Tokoro vs. Atsushi Yamamoto
Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Masakatsu Funaki
Hayato Sakurai vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Keita Nakamura vs. Adriano Martins
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Masanori Tonooka

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With DREAM’s ratings less then stellar, the Japanese promotion looks to add some serious star power in its Sept. 23 middleweight grand prix finals show from the Saitama Super Arena.

DREAM announced, Mirko Cro Cop will take on Alistar Overeem in the main event superfight. Also announced, PRIDE veteran Sergei Kharitonov will take on K-1’s Siala “Mighty Mo” Siligia as the co-superfight.

The DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Finals:

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Zelg Galesic
Melvin Manhoef vs. Gegard Mousasi

Grand Prix Reserve Bout:

Dong Sik Yoon vs. Andrews Nakahara

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