Following UFC 119 some of the fighters were getting flak for their performances. Spearheading much of these discussions has been Mirko Cro-Cop. Many people feel that Cro-Cop has lost his killer instinct. He is not the same fighter that he was in Pride. I try to think that this is not what has happened.
MMA has evolved drastically since the Pride days. Fighters have evolved. The game has evolved. Star fighters like Mirko Cro-Cop and Wanderlei Silva had to change their game. They cannot just run out to the center or the ring and start throwing head kicks or clinching up to throw knees. The game is much more technical and methodical.
I don’t think Cro-Cop has lost his killer instinct because he isn’t throwing as many head kicks or because he apologized for the low blow to Frank Mir. The hug and touching gloves in the Pat Berry fight, was not exactly normal, but that is the type of fight Cro-Cop wants, and he was having a great time during it. He wants to stand and bang and not just try to avoid the takedown.
It’s no secret that Frank Mir wanted to take Cro-Cop down and that was the last place Cro-Cop wanted to be. Yes, he submitted Pat Berry, but come on. Cro-Cop was doing everything he could to stay on his feet and when he felt comfortable in the third round he went for the kill and tried to take out Mir. Unfortunately he took a hard knee on his way in, and was finished rather than finishing Mir.
Cro-Cop isn’t the same fighter he used to be, but MMA isn’t the same sport it used to be. He is still a killer, and anyone who is willing to stand in front of him and take one of his head kicks can start making comments when they wake back up. Till then, Mirko Cro-Cop is still someone to watch out for.
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