The following is Mirko's latest interview from Jutarnji List newspaper Props too Kakuto.....

Interviewer: Are you very dissapointed?

Mirko: No, I'm not. I think I had a great fight.

I: What was the main reason of your defeat?

M: My lack of concetration gave Minotaur a chance to take me dow. I don't think I was in real danger while I was mounted, it was a mistake I tried to get outof it - I should've waited for the end of the round and take those punches. I went for the reversal and gave him my hand - that was enough for one of the world's greatest submission masters. He was a master of bjj before I even knew what that was. Against an opponent with that much skill, power and grip one mistake is crutial.

I: Do you accuse the referee for your loss

M: No, I don't accuse anyone, It's my own fault.

I: Could you get out of Nog's armbar?

M: At that moment, there wasn't a slightest chance of that. My hand started breaking already. If I didn't tap, with that kind of injury I would be out for a year. If he was choking me, I would have taken it as far as I could and risk uncounciousnes, but a broken bone is too serious.

I: When nog was on the ground you've asked him to get up every time. Couldn't you have done something else?

M: Maybe I could. But kicking an opponent on the ground brings the risk of injury.

I: Right after the fight you said you deserve a rematch.

M: I'm sure I'll get my chance very soon. The PRIDE officials were very satisfied with the fight and they made it obvious to me that a rematch is in order. Maybe even in February, there's a possibility I could fight Fedor first and than Nog.

I: Was Sundays fight your hardest so far?

M: Absolutely, cause the stakes were very high. I wanted that belt so bad. But after this loss, I'll come back even stronger and win the belt sooner or later. The failure just made me more angry. Next time I'll prepare even better and make some tactical changes. There is no doubt I'll will be the champ.

I: Was this kind of a loss worse, than for example, a judges decision?

M: I don't know, there's no point of disscussing it now. If I had just a few seconds more in the 1st, I would've knocked him out. I probaby needed only one more strike.

I: After a long time, you come back to Croatia defeated.

M: And now what?! Should I kill myself?! It makes it easier for me that people at least saw that I outstriked him.

I: After this, will you spend more time training grappling?

M: Before my next match with Nog, I'll travel with Mike Bencic to train with one of the best schools in the States. There, I can learn a whole lot from the real masters.

I: What would you want to improve most?

M: The thing that cost me the fight. Getting out of the mount. This was the only thing I wasn't good at even before the fight.

I: Won't your political career take time from your training?

M: You better skip those kind of questions.

I: What about your plans for the end of the year?

M: THey're offering me a fight at the K-1 finals, but not in the tournament. I guess they aren't selling too many tickets. But I'm sure I want to be in the INoki Bom Ba Ye in Kobe on the New Years Eve

I: How did you get that swelling on your left foot?

M: Nog hit me with his ribs!

Funny, Nog said the rib kicks didnt really hurt him. See my signature for any other reply.....

I: Won't your political career take time from your training?

M: You better skip those kind of questions.



Yikes!!?!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf28b3127cce81ee364963180000001610

Im still a CroCop fan...he is awesome

CroCop will be the Champ

Cro-cop may beat fedor, but not Nog, he is simply outclassed by him. Nog's style is all wrong for Cro-cop. I'd like to see a a Cro-cop Silva rematch though.

I would too Blue. Maybe when Silva moves up to Heavy we will see it again. For the rest of the comments in the thread, see my sig and have a nice day.....

Outclassed is obsurd
Did you watch that first round

If Mirko works on his ground game he will be number 1

I love that quote. It's so true! BTW, I think Nog would have survived the first round even if it was longer, despite Mirko's claims of knocking him out had he had a few more seconds.

I've watched it 6 times since sunday Chris. No where in this thread does anyone say outclassed......

Standing up is Mirkos game and on the ground is Nogs
Matches betwwen these two can go either way

Originally posted by Christopher Chaos
Outclassed is obsurd
Did you watch that first round

If Mirko works on his ground game he will be number 1

Keep dreaming Chaos. Mirko will NEVER be very good on the ground and he will NEVER beat Nog. Yeah, he's a great striker and his sub defense is getting better, but he's too limited to EVER be number one.

To me it looked like Nog got knocked down with that shot at the end but he already had his legs up ready to defend. Dana said the sound of the shots that Mirko was landing where sick. He said he never heard anything like that in his life.....

awesome interview. what's the story behind the policical questions?

Actually, I did say that Nog outclassed him. My reason for that comment was....well refer to your sig kaps.

Originally posted by Blue Dawg
Cro-cop may beat fedor, but not Nog, he is simply outclassed by him. Nog's style is all wrong for Cro-cop. I'd like to see a a Cro-cop Silva rematch though.

You cant knock everyone out. I was just talking to Wondermut about this on AIM. I'd pick a good wrestler over Cro-cop too. I bet Coleman could G&P a victory over Cro-Cop.....

My bad Chris, I retract my previous statement. See my sig.....

Originally posted by kaps
You cant knock everyone out. I was just talking to Wondermut about this on AIM. I'd pick a good wrestler over Cro-cop too. I bet Coleman could G&P a victory over Cro-Cop.....

Exactly my point.

If he can be kept on the ground he will get beat, but standing up I do not know who can hang with him

Originally posted by Christopher Chaos
If he can be kept on the ground he will get beat, but standing up I do not know who can hang with him

Probably nobody now in MMA, even though he has been KO'd in k1. Maybe Hoost or LeBanner.

McDonald knocked him out before along with a few others. Hoost has beaten him 3 times, twice by KO. This isnt K-1 Chris, this is MMA where fights do go to the ground, and he isnt going to learn enough training sometimes on the ground for a year or two what these guys have been doing most of their lives.....

Originally posted by Purity
awesome interview. what's the story behind the policical questions?
Mirko is running for the Croatian Parliament or something

Damn, he wants it all.....

that's cooler than our new governor!!

Nog won and I give him mad props for hanging on after getting his ****ing ass handed to him for the first 10 minutes and still executing his game plan in the 2nd round. But striking and grappling are to different games. A submission doesn't take but a split second, while a striker like Mirko can wear you down or knock you out in a split second. A majority of you fools are actling like Nog owned CroCop the whole fight. I can't wait for them to fight again, it could go down the same way, but I hope Mirko knocks his ****ing head off to shut up the CroCop haters. I'm typing all this while I wear my Vitamins and Minerals Minotauro shirt, ironic.

Originally posted by Zen420
Nog won and I give him mad props for hanging on after getting his ****ing ass handed to him for the first 10 minutes and still executing his game plan in the 2nd round. But striking and grappling are to different games. A submission doesn't take but a split second, while a striker like Mirko can wear you down or knock you out in a split second. A majority of you fools are actling like Nog owned CroCop the whole fight. I can't wait for them to fight again, it could go down the same way, but I hope Mirko knocks his ****ing head off to shut up the CroCop haters. I'm typing all this while I wear my Vitamins and Minerals Minotauro shirt, ironic.

Im not saying that Nog won the first round. Nog isnt saying that he won it either. But Nog proved a couple things. One, he has an unbelieveable chin and some pretty decent stand up defence, and two, YOU CANNOT WIN EVERY FIGHT BY KNOCKOUT.....

Tru that kaps
These two fighters are my favorites, but I am always partial to strikers

And I to grapplers Chris, but in NHB to be #1 and stay there for long you have to be well rounded, and that has been proven.....

absolutely

I like Cro-cop alot too, but I just don't believe anyone has more heart than Nog, so he will always be my favorite.