Props: Fighter's Only
Quoteworthy:
"The first day I was kept for four hours and two more the next day. Although they were not satisfied with my answers they let me go to the hotel in the city, to sleep. They asked me to think about the questions raised. I was threatened with deportation, but appealed to the Croatian Embassy. The Consul was urgently flown in from Ottawa, and the UFC hired the best lawyer for immigration issues. They obviously knew what would happen because my lawyer was on the runway at the airport! The inquiry was painful for me, but I must say that the Immigration Bureau officials very correctly performed their job. They used what they have to, but there are obviously very interested in the military and police matters from the former Yugoslavia. Most of them were interested in my military service. I served in 1993-1994 as a conscripts, but I was not involved in combat activities. They asked me if I was involved in the torture of civilians, asking for names of command lines and tactical commanders. They were asking for details of my activities in Lucko ATJ [anti-terrorist unit] which I joined a few years after the war. They gave me a list of names for me to confirm, but I did not do it. I can not confirm one name because it is still a matter of dignity and principles. I said to myself, ‘If it comes to it I am ready to go home‘. They could have done what they wanted with me but [in the end] they let me fight."
UFC heavyweight Mirko Filipovic talks about his run in at the Canadian border on his way to the UFC 115: "Liddell vs. Franklin" event in Vancouver last Saturday night (June 12). "Cro Cop" has political and military ties with his home country of Croatia and Canadian officials were apparently very interested in some of the secrets the former PRIDE star may or may not have had locked away in his vault. Fortunately the Croat was allowed to continue on but not before calling for reinforcements. Can the UFC expect more of the same as it continues its global expansion? Or is it possible this was just an isolated incident?
Get the latest gear
