Cro Cop withdraws from DREAM 5; schedules surgery

by Jesse Holland on Jul 6, 2008 11:02 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

Former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has withdrawn from the July 21 DREAM card due to a bum elbow and a mishandling of opponents according to his official blog.

From the Croat:

Unfortunately I have some bad news– I won't be fighting at DREAM 5 at all. I was about to face Jerome LeBanner but he decided to fight in K1 against [Semmy] Schilt. Mighty Mo was the alternative and I accepted this challenge, but unfortunately Mighty Mo pulled off from the fight. I was ready to face Mo, but maybe this scenario wasn't that bad for me at all...

Cro Cop hasn't competed since DREAM 1 back in March after being fed Tatsuya Mizuno in his much ballyhooed debut. He was penciled in to face Jerome LeBanner at DREAM 4, until it was switched to a bizarre grappling match against Ralek Gracie - pushing the LeBanner fight to DREAM 5 on the 21.

Now that looks like it won't happen either and judging from his tone, Filipovic sounds like he could use the reprieve.

I've been having problems with my right elbow for years and the injury got even worse over last 6 months. I'm already receiving a proper treatment but the recovery won't happen over night. The second problem is a knee injury, something that troubles me for quite a while. I had difficulties using my kicks and over last few weeks I focused more on boxing and grappling. I really wanted to fight on July 21 and I was even ignoring doctor's suggestions, but now I've reached the point from which I can't continue with my normal training regiment due to my injuries.

Filipovic is scheduled for arthroscopy Monday morning and will not be able to perform any sort of MMA training for at least 2-3 weeks. He's currently eying a September return and is gunning for current Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem who has accused the Croation of ducking him on more than one occasion.

No official statement has been made from DREAM officials on how this will affect the July 21 card but be sure to stay tuned as this story continues to unfold.

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Comments

I think Crocop is done. If he fights again, it will be one of his last fights. He was thrashed in the UFC and I don’t think he’ll ever recover mentally.

by Jose on Jul 6, 2008 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

cro cop is far from done.

y dont people still give this man a chance?

even a little chance?

but no.

he just sucks cause he had two loses in the ufc.

u people are funny if u think cro cop is done.

by ~Stinky~fingers~ on Jul 7, 2008 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cro Cop Schmo Cop

by ViolentMike on Jul 7, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Every fighter trips up. Mentally, if he can work in an anti terrorism unit, I think he can recover to fight in a cage again.

by chefdaddy on Jul 7, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Crocop is done, but I highly doubt we will ever see him back in the UFC.

by naturalshadow on Jul 8, 2008 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cro-cop vs Overeem would be good. If hes to be champ, Dream is the location.

by JV on Jul 6, 2008 11:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cro Cop is one overrated fighter. The UFC just hyped him up just because he came from PRIDE.

by TheNegation on Jul 7, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason they hyped him up. I’m betting it was more because he had just won the open weight GP with ease rolling through Wandy and Barnett, not to mention he was considered #2 to Fedor for a while. Hyping a guy up just because they’re from another organization diminishes your own organization.

by ballhawkdawk on Jul 7, 2008 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coming to the UFC, Cro Cop was not over hyped! For years he terrorized Pride and he earned all the praises he used to get. Since coming to the UFC, Mirklo hasnt really looked himself…Not because he got GONZAGAED, but because he just didnt look like the same fighter.

I hope he gets back to his old form because the Heavyweight division really needs him, but I wont hold my breath!

Cro Cop vs. Sergei Kharitonov NEEDS to be BOOKED! I have waited years to see that fight! Forget Might Mo, and Lebanner…I want to see him face Sergei or a rematch with Mark Hunt (who is dying to Knock him out)

I wonder what fight they will replace the cro cop fight with at DREAM 5?

by john on Jul 7, 2008 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

its sad how he went from being on top of the world in 2006 (winnining the open weight gpx for pride) to having a dreadful 2007 to being almost done midway thu 08. i havent seen a fighter fall this hard this fast since tyson.

by b.w on Jul 7, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actualy he wasnt oever rated, he actualy use to be bad ass, but i dont know what has happened to him

by Dustin on Oct 27, 2008 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Done for sure.

by halljam2 on Jul 7, 2008 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

haha. “DONE FOR GOOD.” sell weed or somethin. you’ll still make “GOOD GREENS” for the family and yourself. haha.
…done… done….. DONE!!!

moving on……….

by boardRIDER on Jul 7, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seems pretty banged up getting into his older age. Overeem is a good fight for him

by Brandon on Jul 7, 2008 1:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i wouldn’t hardly call him overrated or say many bad things about the guy, but surgery when you’re 30+ years old seems to kinda hinder athletes performance from that point on specially a striker although he’s more kicks then punches i think cro cop’s top ten days are numbered

by randy murders on Jul 7, 2008 1:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cro-cop vs Overeem would be good. If hes to be champ, Dream is the location.
war cro cop

by riba on Jul 7, 2008 2:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LeBanner would have been trouble for him.

by DirtyML on Jul 7, 2008 3:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cro-cop vs Overeem will be very good. I would have definately put cro-cop to win this a couple of years ago even though I do love overeems fights but I think overeem would fair a lot better now as he is always very confident and lately has got considerably better especially on the ground.

Overeem always does really well and then makes a silly mistake or gets tagged and then crumbles.

It certainly wouldn’t be good for Cro-cop if he lost thats for sure.

by Ca$z on Jul 7, 2008 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LeBanner would have knocked him out period! Cro Cop will never return to the UFC he’s lost it..

by RoB on Jul 7, 2008 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol why are all my favorite fighters the ones who never fight or always have injuries or contract disputes or something? cro cop, arlovski and sherk!!!! ahhhh!!! i need some new favorite fighters

by brendan on Jul 7, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i’d retire.
no disrespect – just that if i’d live another 40 – 50years i’d rather it be with less pain,more mobility. he’s got kid(s)

by patrickgamil on Jul 7, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh, I don’t see how people blame Cro Cop and name it the end of his career. LeBanner pulled out, Might Mo pulled out – with two respectable opponents gone he did the right decision to undergo surgery finally instead of giving us a fight with a nobody, which no one wants to see anyway.

I hope he fixes everything that needs to be fixed and gives us half a dozen good fights before he leaves to lead a peaceful life with his hottie of a wife.

by YouTapped on Jul 7, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs