Comments on: Cro Cop’s UFC Career Likely Over After Revealing DREAM Deal (Updated)

By: T3chn3tnium

T3chn3tnium — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:18:37 +0000

so he pokes al-turk in the eye then runs do dream. awesome

By: j.cohl

j.cohl — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:20:40 +0000

Great point, Justin. I tend to think of Japan as “strike-first”, and America as “grapple-first”, with all of the former wrestlers and BJJ guys getting into stateside MMA.

I wasn’t really thinking about “outside talent”, but considering as how Affliction lives on borrowed time, CroCop could in fact find himself in the future standing across a DREAM ring from Josh Barnett, or even the HW Grim Reaper himself, Fedor.
I keep hearing about Bobby Lashley signing a deal to wrestle professionally with the TNA promotion, and as far as I’ve read he appeared at their recent PPV. I’m not 100% sold on Lashley’s MMA pursuit. I know he’s had a couple respectable showings, but I have to wonder if he’s legitimately committed to MMA or if he’s using some strong performances outside the pro wrestling world to enhance his value and appeal to pro wrestling promoters.

Does anyone have any hard info on Lashley’s TNA pro wrestling contract? Does it allow for him to pursue MMA if he chooses?
I personally think Lashley has a bright MMA future if he should go that route. He has legit grappling credentials, and with his relative fame should have no problems finding a proper MMA trainer, striking coach, camp, etc.

By: Us And Chuck

Us And Chuck — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:23 +0000

I agree on that Al Turk reaction was more of a case of “i’m hurt stop punching me” rather than a “he poked me in the f****** eye” why didn’t he do a Terry Funk “My Eye, My Eye, MY EYE !”

But Big Dan has been dubious since being assigned to do UFC Fights by the commission this isn’t his 1st controversial moment.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:21:43 +0000

There are grapplers in the heavyweight division in Japan, too. For example, Overheem took Cro Cop down a couple times and GnPed him in their abbreviated match up. Fedor and Barnett (yes they’re with Affliction, but could fight for DREAM, especially once Affliction folds) are both grapplers. Mousasi (who wants to move up to HW) is a grappler. Monson is a grappler, Werdum (who currently has no contract) is a grappler. Lashley (who potentially could end up fighting in Japan) is a grappler.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:14:52 +0000

Did it ever cross your mind that he didn’t see the eye poke? In addition Mostapha Al-Turk needs to learn to yell “He poked me in the eye!” next time he gets poked in the eye during a fight, not covering up like he’s giving up the fight and cowering in the corner.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:32 +0000

LOL. Good point. Most of what’s on here I just have to figure out what they actually meant to spell, not sorting out misplaced articles (as in “the”, “a”, and “an”) and prepositions.

By: L1E4X5

L1E4X5 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:25:48 +0000

Haha! Agreed!!!

By: j.cohl

j.cohl — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:57:02 +0000

I’m still not 100% clear on whether or not CroCop does in fact have a signed contract with DREAM, but lets work under the assumption that he does, and has in some way “played” Dana White and the UFC for the sake of discussion.
Overall CroCop’s in-cage performances have been lackluster in comparison to his in-ring performances, and his UFC run has been pretty tame in comparison to the Hell he raised in Japan. If the future money/competition picture in Japan was looking better, as most are “reporting”, and his future money/competition picture in the UFC was looking considerably worse, as it relates to his chances for success, then who could blame CroCop for seeking greener pastures overseas?

And of course CroCop didn’t want to fight a top shelf grappler like Cain Velasquez in a cage. I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight any sort of talented grappler in a cage, let alone a former All-American. He’s a striker, and a ring fighter, which equals Japan. I realize that CroCop has earned quite a rep for himself in Japan with KO’s and wins, but in the UFC he was a relatively one-dimensional .500 fighter, and all he really had to look forward to in the caged UFC environment was getting grounded and pounded by younger, stronger fighters. At least in Japan he has another shot at MMA glory and decent paydays.
In the caged UFC CroCop would’ve been eventually humiliated by either some powerhouse young grapple-maniac like Shane Carwin or Velasquez, out-maneuvered and submitted by someone slick like Frank Mir or Nog, or if by some miracle he made it to a title bout, sent to the hospital by the Vanilla Gorilla, Brock Lesnar.

I wish CroCop the best of luck in Japan, and don’t blame him a bit for “getting out of Dodge” when he did…

By: bsbiz

bsbiz — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:48:32 +0000

Reading some of the broken English on here should be good practice for you…

By: Figs

Figs — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:35:54 +0000

The only thing that sucks about this is that I may not get to see Cro Cop fight in the UFC, period. He would have beat Al Turk regardless, but he walks away with a tainted win. That ref was absolutely terrible for not doing anything about the eye poke. His license should be questioned.