Saturday could see both Cro Cop and Nelson out of the UFC
This marks the first time 37-year-old Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has talked about retirement even before a match took place….
This marks the first time 37-year-old Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has talked about retirement even before a match took place. With the realization that time is running short on his career, the Croatian striker voiced his strongest hint that this Saturday he may walk to the octagon for the final time.
“I wish you could see the new Cro Cop, 15 years younger,” he said. “I wish it’s possible, but unfortunately I’m 37 and this could easily be my last fight in the UFC. It has nothing to do with the result, if I win or lose. Especially if I lose, but even if I win it could be my last fight in the UFC. And I’ll really give my best and hope this will be an attractive fight. I cannot afford anymore, especially in this fight, that it’s declared as the most boring fight of the evening like the fight with Frank Mir. I think me and Roy will perform a good fight and the fans will be satisfied and excited.”
“I will never be able to forgive myself,” Filipovic said of his 4-5 UFC run. “I just blew it up. When I came to UFC, I was treated like a king. Even today I was treated like a king. And I just didn’t make it. The reasons are not important.”
“I’m relaxed, there’s no pressure on me. I will do best to beat Roy, who I respect a lot. I don’t want to underestimate him. But if you ask me, this is the most important fight in my career. This will be the most important fight in my career and that’s why I trained so hard for Saturday evening. I’m just looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Yahoo’s Kevin Iole is reporting that Roy Nelson may well have his job on the line.
After the news conference, a reporter asked UFC president Dana White explain Nelson’s appeal to the public.
What’s his appeal to the public? White asked, feigning shock. What’s his appeal to his wife? Seriously.
Nelson, like Filipovic, enters the bout on a two-fight losing streak. But when Filipovic spoke of potentially retiring after Saturday’s bout and his disappointment about his poor performance in the UFC, White praised him lavishly.
He called Filipovic’s comments awesome and said, I look up to and admire ‘Cro Cop’ as many people do.
White doesn’t show nearly the same love for Nelson, and spoke of him in far more clinical terms.
I’ve heard a lot of things from Dana, I’ve heard a lot of things on the Internet, harsh words, Nelson said. It’s part of being a celebrity, I guess. Everybody wants to talk about your weight, who you are f—— and how much money you make. Those are the three things everybody wants to talk about. I just know I’m a celebrity, then.
Nelson is in a potentially must-win situation, going against one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts history, who has upped the ante by suggesting on Thursday that he’s almost certain to retire after Saturday’s bout.