Ahead of Mirko’s fight against Ron Waterman at Pride 27: Inferno, Pride commentator Mauro Ranallo was sent backstage to interview the Croatian kickboxer.
Little did Mauro know that they had more planned than just a simple pre-fight interview.
At the time Mirko Filipovic was one of the most feared heavyweights on the planet which made his quiet demeanor as the interview began even more chilling.
Coming off of the first loss in his mixed martial arts career to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cro Cop couldn’t of come off as more focused on the task of avenging said loss.
Before finishing the interview Mirko makes it a point to let Mauro know that he didn’t appreciate the things he commentated during his last bout. Only the thing is, Mauro wasn’t even part of the broadcasting team during Mirko’s last fight, making it impossible for it to have been him saying the things Mirko seemingly took so personally.
Filipovic tells Mauro that he is finished with the interview, sending him away from the area to elsewhere. The camera crew and those working along side Mauro, including Bas Rutten, try to talk him into going back to attempt to finish the interview they’d started, but only to have Cro Cop himself approach from out of the background with a giddy smile overjoyed to announce that it was all just a joke.
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Were you scared? One of his co-workers ask once revealing that it was all a prank.
Of course I was, It’s Mirko Cro Cop, Mauro responds.
About Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic:
Mirko Filipovic is a retired Croatian heavyweight mixed martial artist, kickboxer, boxer, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipovic is the 2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix Champion and the 2012 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion becoming the second fighter in the world to win mixed martial arts and kickboxing championships and tournaments. He is also a former IGF World Heavyweight Champion. His nickname, Cro Cop, short for “Croatian Cop”, comes from his membership in the Lucko Anti-Terrorist Unit, Croatia’s elite Police Special Forces tactical unit. Filipovic’s signature move was his lightning quick left head-kick, once famously described as “right leg, hospital; left leg, cemetery.”
About Mauro Ranallo:
Mauro Domenico Ranallo is a Canadian sports announcer and commentator, currently signed to WWE. He began announcing when he was 16 years old and is notable for his dramatic style, which involves heavy use of metaphor, puns, and advanced vocabulary. He has experience in Canadian football, ice hockey, professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts events. [Source: Wikipedia]
