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The fight that should have happened, never did, and probably now never will

And we can all thank Gabriel Gonzaga for that.

Couture Cro Cop

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When was that photo taken?

BTW— Cro Cop is done.

by Scooby on Feb 8, 2008 11:56 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

One other thing, it appears that the UFC has learned their lesson about feeding can to the talent.

Shogun and Lesnar are getting thrown right into the fire.

This is a better strategy for many reasons. 1. If the star loses to another star, then the loss is excusable. 2. It fast-tracks the fights we all want to see. 3. It avoids awkward situations that Cro Cop finds himself in (that guy couldn’t possibly get a title shot for at least a couple of fights).

I think the UFC is learning that 1 in the hand is better than 2 in the bush.

by Scooby on Feb 8, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

When was that photo taken?

BTW— Cro Cop is done.

I think prior to Mirkos fight at UFC 75.

by MMAmania on Feb 8, 2008 12:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for reminding me :(

by The Legend on Feb 8, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Whats the point of picture?

by Uncle Tom on Feb 8, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Whats the point of picture?

LOL DUDE?!

Had GG lost to Cro Cop then guess who woud have fought him?!?!?!? RC brother!! lol

Ill break it down for you:

RC: HW Champion

Cro Cop \
             > # 1 Contender (winnner gets title shot)
Gabriel G /

UFC 75

GG KOs Cro Cop with a nasty headkick and ruins the Cro Cop V Randy C fight for the fans… get it?

by BustYoFace on Feb 8, 2008 12:17 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks.

by Uncle Tom on Feb 8, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

This pisses me off cuz I wanna argue and say CC is not done and blah blah blah but I just cant…. CC you really let me down you bastard.

by Rayo on Feb 8, 2008 12:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it pains me too. I had really high hopes for CC. I’d invite friends who were unfamiliar with MMA to watch Cro Cop and then have to explain that he’s normally much better than that.

I’m just speculating, but I’m guessing they have offered Lesnar to CC. Lesnar doesn’t have an opponent, and the fight is in England. It just seems like a natural slot for CC, who hasn’t fought since Sept. ’07.

I think Lesnar wins that fight and I’m guessing CC knows it too, hence the delay in his response to Dana.

I’m guessing we’ll see a retirement announcment in the near future (I hope I’m wrong about that).

by Scooby on Feb 8, 2008 12:32 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I never really cared much for this match up. Cro Cop was highly ranked in my mind, but I knew that stylistically he had nothing for Randy… It would have been a lopsided beatdown…

by john on Feb 8, 2008 12:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

he is not done he lost in k-1 and pride and has been knock out before more than once in k-1 the best fights fight each other over there careers 4 to 6 times usally splitting the wins and knock outs over each other and come back. when you are fighting the best people out there you are going to lose some.

by roy on Feb 8, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i feel that this is another chuck liddel story the ufc has to give crocop a big name fighter in order for him to train hard and compete at his best

by daniel on Feb 8, 2008 12:35 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I believe crocop will come out big and destroy all his apponents and win the heavyweight belt but i just dont like the way ufc ruins all great fighters career, im so happy that fedor is not in the ufc

by Ahmad Pj on Feb 8, 2008 12:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cro Cop was a great Pride fighter but sucked in UFC.
He will be undercard in his next fight like AA and join M1.

by UKmmaBOY on Feb 8, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

how did the ufc ruin cc’s career he fought and lost end of story. hopefully he doesn’t retire, and hopefully he drops to 205 where I think he would crush guys.

by mmacanadianfan on Feb 8, 2008 1:01 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i feel that this is another chuck liddel story the ufc has to give crocop a big name fighter in order for him to train hard and compete at his best

I would love to see that happen. The HW division isn’t very strong right now and when Arlovski leaves, then Randy, then maybe Sylvia…it’s his opportunity now to start a comeback. I really would love to see him make a run at the title before he retires. I think he’s got some great fights left in him. Unfortunately I think the UFC is going to give him a can or low B level fighter. They spent a fair amount of money to bring him over and he’s been a bust up until this point. I hope he’s been working on his ground game cause it’s not his strongest point.

by Buster Bluth on Feb 8, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I never really cared much for this match up. Cro Cop was highly ranked in my mind, but I knew that stylistically he had nothing for Randy… It would have been a lopsided beatdown…

  I agree RC would take down CC and beat him senseless.
I would vote to let Mir have a shot at the title he deserved it by submitting Lesnar.

by Tobias808 on Feb 8, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it pains me too. I had really high hopes for CC. I’d invite friends who were unfamiliar with MMA to watch Cro Cop and then have to explain that he’s normally much better than that.

I was the same way. I liked crocop a lot. I would talk about him to my friends who were just starting to get into MMA. Then when the UFC signed him, I was telling everyone to watch out for this guy. Oh well. I hope CroCop comes back for a few more fights, but it doesn’t look like that will happen.

by Andy on Feb 8, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I would love to see that happen. The HW division isn’t very strong right now and when Arlovski leaves, then Randy, then maybe Sylvia…it’s his opportunity now to start a comeback. I really would love to see him make a run at the title before he retires. I think he’s got some great fights left in him. Unfortunately I think the UFC is going to give him a can or low B level fighter. They spent a fair amount of money to bring him over and he’s been a bust up until this point. I hope he’s been working on his ground game cause it’s not his strongest point.

I don’t think they’ll give him anymore cans. He’ll be thrown into the deep end and either sink or swim.

by Scooby on Feb 8, 2008 1:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

When was that photo taken?

BTW— Cro Cop is done.

I think he can make a comeback. He just needs a solid win over a solid opponent.

by Mahde on Feb 8, 2008 2:06 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree RC would take down CC and beat him senseless.
I would vote to let Mir have a shot at the title he deserved it by submitting Lesnar.

mir desreves a title shot for looking like crap since his accident and beating a guy with one mma fight in 90 seconds.alot of people think cro cop has no ground game but it is improving he got alot better at it in pride and did well against fedor and nog.

by roy on Feb 8, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I was the same way. I liked crocop a lot. I would talk about him to my friends who were just starting to get into MMA. Then when the UFC signed him, I was telling everyone to watch out for this guy. Oh well. I hope CroCop comes back for a few more fights, but it doesn’t look like that will happen.

Trust me, Cro Cop put many of us knowlegable fans in that same predicament.

by john on Feb 8, 2008 2:15 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Joe Silva really needs to match up Lesnar with Sylvia. After this past weekend it makes even more sense. Let the monsters battle it out. I’d LOVE to see that one.

by just1fix on Feb 8, 2008 2:15 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

In my mind, the match that makes the most sense next in the HW division is Cro Cop vs. Brandon Verra. Verra is already rumored to be booked for UFC 85 in London, might as well make cro cop his opponent. Cro Cop may be sick of getting his ass kicked in England, either way I would like to see Cro Cop vs. verra…the battle of the undersized Heavyweight strikers. If Verra cant get passed Cro Cop…he has to drop down to Light Heavyweight.

by john on Feb 8, 2008 2:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

When was that photo taken?

BTW— Cro Cop is done.

All you rookies who think Cro Cop is “done” are a JOKE. You aren’t true MMA fans.

Cro Cop is a BEAST, probably the best P4P striker in the world (yes, better then Spyder Silva).

Cro Cop had a deveated septum and couldn’t breathe, that is why his cardio sucked in his fight with Kongo (and being kneed in the nuts 10 times doesn’t help either)

WATCH…Cro Cop will be back to silence all you band-wagon MMA fans.

He is one left high kick away from UFC stardom

“Right leg- hospital. Left leg- cemetery.” – Cro Cop

by UFCPreview.com on Feb 8, 2008 2:23 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Crocop is talented but he let his loss to Fedor hurt him instead of build him up. Great fighters lose, but they allow the experience to teach them something that they didn’t know about themselves beforehand. I hope Cro figures that out and comes back at his full potential.

I haven’t given up on Cro just yet.

by dave on Feb 8, 2008 2:38 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

We can thank Gonzaga for that? Since you’re saying that in a negative way, how about you instead thank CroCop for that? Maybe if the man properly trained for his opponent then maybe he could’ve won that fight. Instead lets blame the man that did properly train. Yeah that seems like great logic.

by Santos on Feb 8, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He should drop to 205 period. He would be a monster.

the HW are too big and too tall.

by shamo84 on Feb 8, 2008 2:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree RC would take down CC and beat him senseless.
I would vote to let Mir have a shot at the title he deserved it by submitting Lesnar.

Uhh, no. Mir needs to get another win over a top 5 HW before he gets a title shot. Maybe re-match him with Vera. Vera kicked his ass the last time out.

by Pat on Feb 8, 2008 2:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

All you rookies who think Cro Cop is “done” are a JOKE. You aren’t true MMA fans.

Cro Cop is a BEAST, probably the best P4P striker in the world (yes, better then Spyder Silva).

I don’t think Cro Cop is done, but he’s not the best striker. HE got out-struck by Fedor. Fedor had him backing down.

Anderson Silva has always dominated on the feet.

by Pat on Feb 8, 2008 2:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Man this is taking too long already to hear Crocop’s next opponent, its drving me crazy. Cmon UFC get this guy in the ring already

by Mike on Feb 8, 2008 3:01 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

LOL DUDE?!

Had GG lost to Cro Cop then guess who woud have fought him?!?!?!? RC brother!! lol

Ill break it down for you:

RC: HW Champion

Cro Cop

\
> # 1 Contender (winnner gets title shot)
Gabriel G

/

UFC 75

GG KOs Cro Cop with a nasty headkick and ruins the Cro Cop V Randy C fight for the fans… get it?

I think the original poster meant to say, “and this is news because…”

by ViolentMike on Feb 8, 2008 3:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Crocop is talented but he let his loss to Fedor hurt him instead of build him up. Great fighters lose, but they allow the experience to teach them something that they didn’t know about themselves beforehand. I hope Cro figures that out and comes back at his full potential.

I haven’t given up on Cro just yet.

he won the grand prix after that loss didn’t he

by roy on Feb 8, 2008 3:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

All you rookies who think Cro Cop is “done” are a JOKE. You aren’t true MMA fans.

Cro Cop is a BEAST, probably the best P4P striker in the world (yes, better then Spyder Silva).

Cro Cop had a deveated septum and couldn’t breathe, that is why his cardio sucked in his fight with Kongo (and being kneed in the nuts 10 times doesn’t help either)

WATCH…Cro Cop will be back to silence all you band-wagon MMA fans.

He is one left high kick away from UFC stardom

“Right leg- hospital. Left leg- cemetery.” – Cro Cop

What does evaluating a fighter’s future have to do with being a true mma fan?

Cro Cop is the one alluding to retirement and complaining to referrees that he’s too old for this. He’s also the one that won’t commit to another fight.

Just because he was once great, doesn’t mean that he’ll always be great. Do you think Michael Jordan is the best basketball player alive today, because he was such 20 years ago?

Cro Cop admitted that he didn’t have the fire-in-the-belly for his recent fights. His achilles heal has also been exposed (i.e., he isn’t effective fighting on his heals, and totally ineffective on the ground).

I’d like to see him return to his former glory. But just because I don’t idolize the guy doesn’t mean I’m not a true mma fan. Face reality, will you? (Also, try to derive some self-esteem from something besides how long you’ve been watching mma.)

by Scooby on Feb 8, 2008 3:13 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Ill break it down for you:

RC: HW Champion

Cro Cop

\
> # 1 Contender (winnner gets title shot)
Gabriel G

/

UFC 75

GG KOs Cro Cop with a nasty headkick and ruins the Cro Cop V Randy C fight for the fans… get it?[/quote]

HEY BUSTYOFACE…IF YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN, THEN PLEASE BE ACCURATE!!!! IT WAS UFC 70 THAT GONZAGA KNOCKED OUT CROCOP. SO, IF THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN PIGHT BEFORE UFC 75, THEN CROCOP WAS NO LONGER #1 CONTENDER!

by dpb on Feb 8, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

All you rookies who think Cro Cop is “done” are a JOKE. You aren’t true MMA fans.

Cro Cop is a BEAST, probably the best P4P striker in the world (yes, better then Spyder Silva).

Cro Cop had a deveated septum and couldn’t breathe, that is why his cardio sucked in his fight with Kongo (and being kneed in the nuts 10 times doesn’t help either)

WATCH…Cro Cop will be back to silence all you band-wagon MMA fans.

He is one left high kick away from UFC stardom

“Right leg- hospital. Left leg- cemetery.” – Cro Cop

Yes, yes.. we’re all “MMA rookies,” because we have an opinion about a fighter. Is this the type of analysis we would get at ufcpreview.com? “You don’t agree with me?!?.. Well, you’re an idiot!!”

Count me out!

I’ll stick to a news site that doesn’t nuthug certain fighters, and blast you for not agreeing with their biased “opinions”.

by R-Dizzle on Feb 8, 2008 3:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

move ufc in saitama super arena and call cro cop for his next fight :-)

by pride jp on Feb 8, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I take exception with UFCPreview.com’s comments, not because he’s condescending (he is, but that’s not why i care), but because he’s making up excuses for Cro Cop’s losses. Real fighters don’t make up excuses (and I don’t think Cro Cop has), and they certainly don’t need you to make up excuses for them. Scooby and R-Dizzle said it best, and UFCPreview does sound like he’s snuggling up to Cro Cop’s nutsack a bit much.
 
According to UFCPreview.com’s “About Me” section:

“A long time MMA fan and fighter. Train BJJ in Los Angeles, CA and train at LA Boxing in the valley. Currently a brown belt, expected pro debut sometime mid 2008.

Started this blog to give a breakdown of all UFC events from a fighters perspective. All over the web you can find information about potential fight rumors (90% of which turn out to be false), fighter saleries, weigh-ins, a bunch of crap that no one cares about.

I wanted to ANALYZE and breakdown the upcoming fights, for not only the diehard fan, but casual one as well. Even people who follow MMA non-stop find new UFC fighters they have no clue about and would like to know more."

i’ll let the jury take it from here.

by wagnerav on Feb 8, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

When was that photo taken?

BTW— Cro Cop is done.

We can all thank Dana White for single-handedly wrecking two of the greatest opportunities in MMA history. Randy vs CroCop and Randy vs Fedor. This sport is still in its infancy and missing obvious chances for growth displays incompetence in the extreme.

Randy is a tactician first, a fighter second, and I believe that his read on things would have resulted in a ‘smart’ victory over both of these worthy opponents.

by Merv on Feb 8, 2008 4:40 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I think too many people are giving the one dimensional Cro-Cop too much credit. Maybe his best days are behind him and he’s just a shell of his former self, I don’t know. What I do know is that he is no longer the terror he once was and can’t compete against the American based talent pool that is the UFC.

As far as the fight with Randy Couture, it would have ended with a more sound and severe beating. Gonzaga did Cro-Cop a favor, a one shot kick to the dome that finished him. Randy would have taken his time, taken him down at will and punished him into submission, a beating that he would have never come back from! Fedor vs Randy is the only big fight anybody wants to see.

by Ray on Feb 8, 2008 5:23 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

We can all thank Dana White for single-handedly wrecking two of the greatest opportunities in MMA history. Randy vs CroCop and Randy vs Fedor. This sport is still in its infancy and missing obvious chances for growth displays incompetence in the extreme.

Randy is a tactician first, a fighter second, and I believe that his read on things would have resulted in a ‘smart’ victory over both of these worthy opponents.

how exactly did dana ruin randy vs cro cop? are you on drugs? Cro Cop is the one that didn’t train in a cage before his fight wiht GG. he is the one that got caught with a head kick and was out before he hit the mat. CC had his opportunity and blew it, end of story. it had nothing to do with Dana.

by kitsunex on Feb 8, 2008 5:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cro Cop is not done. You are an idiot if you believe that. Cro Cop will fight again. He will win, and then he may retire. He isn’t going out on back-to-back losses, one of which is one of the most spectacular KOs in UFC history.

In the words of hogville.net, “Read more, post less.”

by Craig on Feb 8, 2008 5:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cro Cop may make a come back, but he’d need to add something to his game. Seems like it’s maybe easier to keep guys on the ground in UFC? I’m no Pride expert though.

That said, I wonder if UFC will be the next one to fall. M1 sounds a bit crappy and the other shows do too, but there are lots of disgruntled fighters out there. Only takes about 10 of them to start their own show with more democratic rules / salaries, and UFC is outta there.

But who knows?

by henrikcouture on Feb 8, 2008 6:50 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cro Cop may make a come back, but he’d need to add something to his game. Seems like it’s maybe easier to keep guys on the ground in UFC? I’m no Pride expert though.

That said, I wonder if UFC will be the next one to fall. M1 sounds a bit crappy and the other shows do too, but there are lots of disgruntled fighters out there. Only takes about 10 of them to start their own show with more democratic rules / salaries, and UFC is outta there.

But who knows?

until they find out that it isn’t as easy to get a show together as people think and that advertising, cameras, promotion, insurance, etc all cost money. just because an event takes in millions, doesn’t mean that it all goes to Dana’s pocket. there are a lot of expenses.

by kitsunex on Feb 8, 2008 6:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

how exactly did dana ruin randy vs cro cop? are you on drugs? Cro Cop is the one that didn’t train in a cage before his fight wiht GG. he is the one that got caught with a head kick and was out before he hit the mat. CC had his opportunity and blew it, end of story. it had nothing to do with Dana.

Y do u people even care about Randy vs. Cro Cop? I was a huge fan of Mirko’s I followed his career ever since his first PRIDE fight but I never once thought that he had the skills to compete with Randy. The fight missed out on that we should all be furious about is not getting to see Nogueira vs. Couture. Nogueira is out of cro cops league. I know they fought a close fight but I am talking about from a legacy point of view. Nogueira will be remembered as one of the very GREATES Heavyweight MMA fighters of all time. Cro cop will remembered for having a torpedo-like left Kick and a good left Cross PERIOD! There is a huge difference between their legacies and its a shame we will probably never get to see Nogueira vs. Couture.

Maybe Randy and Dana should come to a compromise on a contract: Randy will agree to fight Nogueira and then regardless of the outcome, he will officially retire after that fight…he can announce it in the center of the Octagon. He could leave with dignity In return Dana voids the last fight on his contract and lets Randy go fight Fedor, or even better, cross promotes the fight with M-1, they can market it as an exhibition match as a farewell gift to Randy.

by john on Feb 8, 2008 7:40 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Oh Cro Cop, you could have been so many thing s to me…instead of just one, a disapointment.

by mattchupichu on Feb 8, 2008 7:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

crop cop is not done…watch he will come back and kick the shit out of people

by RobWhiskey on Feb 8, 2008 7:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Read on crocop’s website that he wrote to members of his nokaut site that he will come out with some announcment regarding his next fight on monday February 11.

by Mike on Feb 8, 2008 8:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

GEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…………………..CRO COP is not done you guys r crazy…..what about COUTURE loses 2 in row to CHUCK……..Retires, comes back as heavyweight beats Sylvia….then Gonzaga……………..Chuck loses to Rampage then Jardine……..wins against Silva next Shou-Gun……….dont ever count the big dogs out when there off there CHAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Bruce on Feb 8, 2008 8:46 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I not gonna shut the show for Cro Cop just yet. I also dont think that he is gonna come through the back door and steal the title any time soon either. But I agree with the above comment. When you got your back against the wall and you feel like you have got nothing to loose. Thats a dangerous person. In Cro Cop, thats a very dangerous person. He still has the ability to put someone to sleep. But he needs to have the will to WANT fight. Cuase when a fighter looses that, You might as well call it a day.

by Philly Blunt on Feb 8, 2008 11:22 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He should work hard on his take down defence. If he can sprawl like Liddell or someone, keep the fight standing, and keeps his mind set right, he could easily come back as a major HW force.
As much as I would like to see him drop down to LHW, with all these other fighters seemingly leaving, the HW’s need more men, or it’ll start to look how the MW’s used to look.

by Toms Bombs on Feb 9, 2008 1:11 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cro Cop has no chance against Randy in the cage, in the ring is another story – you can’t jam someone up against a bottom rope and air.

by DownUnder on Feb 9, 2008 7:10 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Too bad, the fight itself would’ve made a lot of money.

by The 518 Playa on Feb 9, 2008 10:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

randy sucks guys he has win over tim silvia and gabriel gonzaga both of those fighters lost to other opponents

by joe on Feb 10, 2008 10:30 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

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