UFC 70: Cro Cop training with Nastula and Corletta for Gonzaga

by MMAmania.com on Apr 13, 2007 2:58 PM EDT Comment 40 comments

Cro Cop with trainer for ufc and pridefc

Props: Vecernji.hr (For the translation of the article click below -- thanks once again to UFCmania reader "Loken" for the assist.)

Mirko trains hard for every fight, his upcoming fight with Brazilian fighter Gonzaga is no exception. He has been training for weeks now in his private gym with two-time BBJ world champion Marcio Corletta, and recently he was joined by Olympic judo gold medalist Pawel Nastula.

Just pronouncing the name of Pawel Nastula causes respect in all judokas. The man is a two-time world champion (1995 and 1997) and also an Olympic gold medalist from Atlanta, 1996. During his prime he won 312 times in 1,220 days. His manager Michal Szymanski says no one has accomplished anything like that in judo.

Even great sport figure like him is impressed by Croatian gladiator:
"I have been participating in MMA for two years now, in which Mirko is the best, so I wanted to train with him. I can learn a lot from him, and if he also learns something from me, I will be honored. I've never met a greater professional than Mirko. He is completely focused on training for every second of the session."

Nastula's style suits Mirko, because he is trying to throw him or take him down, the same thing Gonzaga will try to do.
"His attacks exhaust me, but that's the best way to get specific fitness," says Mirko, whose training partners constantly exchange in the ring, and he, although tired, doesn't back down against anyone.

Since Gonzaga is a BJJ artist, here is also Marcio Corletta, world champion in BJJ in years 2001 and 2004, and three-time vice-champion. To train with CroCop he left his position as supervisor of large fitness and fight club in Port Alegro. "Club is 1,000 square meters big and its now supervised by my brother, sister and mother, since for me its more important to be here.

Like Mirko's ex-training partner Fabricio Werdum, Marcio Corletta trains Mirko in ground fighting.

"Mirko promised to come to Port Alegre in Brazil because he wants to earn black belt in BBJ, and I want to show him origin of club Internazionale, world football champions, of which I am a passionate fan."

Even tough Dinamo (Football club), for whom five Brazilians play, is just few miles away, Marcio hasn't met any of players. "I know Eduardo (Brazilian born Croatian football player), since every bodies talks about him when I say I am from Brazil. He is synonym for my country in Zagreb."

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Comments

I would love to see crop cop with a bjj black belt.

by TRavis on Apr 13, 2007 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

for sure. He’ll always be a striker at heart but improved submission defense is always good.

by Rob on Apr 13, 2007 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic, BJJ expert. Sounds weird. He just gets better and better all the time. Retire Randy, before its too late.

by MoreThanUFC on Apr 13, 2007 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Outstanding. In addition to knocking your block off with a high kick, he’ll also flip you on your head and accidentally rip your arm off with a kimura. Anybody forwarded this story to Tim Sylvia?

by Hyde on Apr 13, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“every bodies talks about him when I say I am from Brazil. He is synonym for my country in Zagreb”
I think you should change this to
everybody, me made mistake here. :P

by Loken on Apr 13, 2007 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Cro Cop gets a black belt in BJJ there is no telling who will bet him. Bring on Fedor vs Cro Cop II! This man is the shit, my next favorite to Chuck Liddell.

by SoCalMMA on Apr 13, 2007 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

" who will beat " sorry.

by SoCalMMA on Apr 13, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Loken you should be part of the UFCMANIA team.

by jason bang on Apr 13, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i didnt know crocop could smile and now i see him smile twice in one day!!! i can see him do a rear naked choke and rip your head off then wheel kick it to the moon.

by kenpostarfighter on Apr 13, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yall are suprised but ive seen footage of mirko rolling with i think werdum hes got skills ya know he just doesnt use them cause hes busy decapitating people but past couple years his ground game has gotten insane i wouldnt be suprised if hes got a black belt in the soon future

by dazzle on Apr 13, 2007 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just hope that it wasnt true when I heard that after CroCop’s 4 fights on his UFC contract, he’s done. I can see this guy being dominant til he’s Couture’s age.

by Mahde on Apr 13, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

black belts dont happen over night…either he’s already got the jits talent to be considered a “black belt”, or he is climbing up the ladder…blue, brown, exc….the dudes supposedly retiring in 2 years….im not sure i understand fully

by MMA Dude on Apr 13, 2007 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nastula is a strange lookin character

by MMA Dude on Apr 13, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to see Vera take on CroCop. Give the man some competition.

by PACO on Apr 13, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to see Vera take on CroCop. Give the man some competition.

Vera isn’t CC level so it would be like a sparring session for him.

by jason bang on Apr 13, 2007 5:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

black belts dont happen over night…either he’s already got the jits talent to be considered a “black belt”, or he is climbing up the ladder…blue, brown, exc….the dudes supposedly retiring in 2 years….im not sure i understand fully

If I remember correctly Werdum rated him proficient as most purple belt holders. Also if he is retiring from MMA I see no reason no to continue training, he himself said that he enjoys training and that he cannot live without it. I see nothing strange here.

by Loken on Apr 13, 2007 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m calling it now. Cro cop gets ko’ed in the first.

by nathan on Apr 13, 2007 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic, BJJ expert. Sounds weird. He just gets better and better all the time. Retire Randy, before its too late.

Sorry dude, but Randy makes a living by shocking the world. By the way…who called the Serra fight about 2 weeks before the fight took place?…. No applause please,it’s not needed.

by ibread on Apr 13, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Crocop will kill this Gonzaga,whatever, then lose surprisingly 2 Randy.

by ibread on Apr 13, 2007 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol are we really trying to forecast upsets here? Have things really gotten that bad since Serra vs GSP? Grow a set guys, root for your favorite & have some fun!

by Machine on Apr 13, 2007 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol are we really trying to forecast upsets here? Have things really gotten that bad since Serra vs GSP? Grow a set guys, root for your favorite & have some fun!

u r forgetting Kos

by ibread on Apr 13, 2007 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

CRO COP will put Gonzanga into cemetery if he catch him with left leg.

by TIGAR on Apr 14, 2007 7:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry dude, but Randy makes a living by shocking the world. By the way…who called the Serra fight about 2 weeks before the fight took place?…. No applause please,it’s not needed.

Aint happening this time, amigo. Randy beat Tim OgrePooper Sylvia, not Nog, not Werdum, not Fedor, not Barnett, not Fujita, not …

by MoreThanUFC on Apr 14, 2007 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This place is full of funny people!
It’s a joy to read all the stuff they put out on this site.
If only the were closer to reality.
I give up on trying to teach you people how to do research.
It’s a pain in the but waiting for CC to kick some dudes ass, Gonzaga, Randy, or whatever his name . . .!
I’m just confident he will, and will do it with a class act. If they don’t try to give him the run around in the cage!

by King Ramzes on Apr 14, 2007 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

gonzaga will give cro cop a go,trust me.But cro cop will end it in the third due to strikes.I don’t understand why everyone thinks cro cop is going to run through Randy coutore if you think that your crazy.Randy is going to back him up through him down,groind and pound him and simply give a lesson.43 years old don’t mean shit.

by paul on Apr 15, 2007 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

gonzaga will give cro cop a go,trust me.But cro cop will end it in the third due to strikes.I don’t understand why everyone thinks cro cop is going to run through Randy coutore if you think that your crazy.Randy is going to back him up through him down,groind and pound him and simply give a lesson.43 years old don’t mean shit.

Have you ever seen Mirko fight? I bet you believe Liddell has the best takedown defense in MMA, also.

by MoreThanUFC on Apr 15, 2007 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can hardly wait for Randy to shut everyone up. ; )

by Exceptional on Apr 16, 2007 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can’t wait!
I’m going to enjoy telling you “I SAID SO”!

by King Ramzes on Apr 17, 2007 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chuck liddell ran through Randy Couture twice so i dont see why Crocop wont do it even faster.CRO COP WILL BE CHAMP AND THEN HE IS GOING TO RETIRE UNDEFEATED IN THE UFC.Before fedor comes along

by mcanena on Apr 17, 2007 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Liddell does have the best takedown defence and then crocop second

by mcanena on Apr 17, 2007 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cro Cop’s takedown defence is better than Chuck’s.

by jason bang on Apr 17, 2007 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

King Razmes,

I am the prediction master on this site (they all know it), so when you are ready to put your wallet where your keyboarding is, then we can arrange for the two of us to deposit some money into a neutral bank account and I will run you into the poorhouse.

Oracle has spoken

by oracle on Apr 17, 2007 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just saw cro cop get knocked out youtube when he was in k1, by a dude called Michael Mcdonald. His chin looked soft as hell in that fight (look it up if you dont believe) I say chuck probably hits as hard if not harder than this Mcdonald dude

by BLOodyMEss on Apr 17, 2007 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chuck might do but CC is far the suprior stricker and Micheal Mcdonald is probably better as well. Not shitting on Chucks parade but Chucks never fought in K1 or anything like that so we wont know what he would be like if he did face a world class kickboxer.

by jason bang on Apr 17, 2007 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Look people all this fighters are students for Mirko CRO COP he can be teacher for them so watch 21.st and learn somthing.CRO COP team is there to rock UFC.
BOG I HRVATI!!!!

by 2pac on Apr 18, 2007 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

4 all cro cop fans. watch the fight vs. gonzaga for free on http://www.crocop.de/gonzaga-video.html

by cro cop on Apr 20, 2007 4:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gonzaga just knocked out CroCop at UFC 70 – high kick to the head!

Amazing – who knew….

THat’s what is so great about this sport…anything can happen!

Wow

by Mark on Apr 22, 2007 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cro cop was to slow in that fight because of all the nuthuggers hanging of his sack.

by Gord on Apr 22, 2007 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

liddel did fight in pride and was beat by jackson via tko but people are saying bring on cro cop they are in to different weight classes.cro cop could not even beat gonzaga so he needs to fight the pride guys before he steps up to anyone in the ufc.better luck next time hahaha