Lorenzo meets with Cro Cop; return imminent?!?

[Diegonightmare]

Lorenzo Fertitta meets with Cro Cop in Croatia; Return could be on the horizon

July 3, 2009 by Cory Brady

Just when you think you’re out they draw you back in.

It appears as though Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic may very well be making his return to the UFC after all.

Shockwaves were sent through the MMA community after it was reported that the feared Croatian knockout artist had plans of signing with the DREAM promotion in Japan following his recent stoppage of Mustapha al Turk at UFC 99. UFC president Dana White had reportedly done a verbal agreement for three fights with Cro Cop prior to his return to the UFC.

It has been reported on the Croatian website Index.hr that UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta flew out to Croatia this morning on a private jet to have a two hour conversation with Filipovic on his own turf.

The article goes on to state that both Mirko and Lorenzo were all smiles following the meeting and it is reported that Cro Cop was made an offer that would be difficult to refuse.

DREAM has yet to announce a bout for Filipovic, and it now appears very likely that Mirko will pick up where he left off in the UFC.

{SOURCE}

The Cro Cop Chronicles rolls on. I am not sure what to think about all of this till I hear more. I'm guessing the "offer he can't refuse" probably consists of a title shot that's guaranteed either immediately or following another win or so.

Very odd....

[rodzilla1988]

Ekskluzivno: Vlasnik UFC-a do¹ao po Cro Copa u Zagreb - Sport - Index.hr
If there is anyone that can translate that completely please do but MMABay is saying it says this :

Following Dana White’s first ever verbal agreement, a successful comeback and apparent swift exit from the UFC, it now appears that Mirko Filipovic will remain with the UFC after getting an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.

According to Index.hr, “Cro-Cop” will be staying in the UFC for the foreseeable future.

“A source tells us that CroCop got an offer that is simply non-refusable. CroCop will almost certainly look at the returning to the strongest MMA league in the world currently knows.”

This most recent development will come as good news to UFC fans, although Mirko’s Japanese fan base may be a little sore. One thing is for sure, Dana White will make Mirko put pen to paper this time.

By Rory Logan

Sorry DNightmare I had to. I really hope this is true because if this comes up false I promise I'll never post anything from that website again. I just really want this to be true because no matter how many times he dissapoints me I always have hope that the Crocop of old will come back.

[rodzilla1988]

Damn good find I just posted something similar to this. Damn I hope its true because I'll never give up hope that the old Crocop will come back.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by rodzilla1988

Damn good find I just posted something similar to this.

Yeah you posted it five minutes after I did

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Anybody else think that maybe it would be better for "talent relations" if Lorenzo did a little more business with the fighters and contract talkings etc and Dana kept his nose just plain OUTTA IT!

I believe the phrase is "cooler header" prevailing.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

I think the idea behind a Crocop signing is to give Brock another legitimate developed name to help build his name as HW champion, before the winner of Cain/Carwin challenges. I most definately see this as a possibility and think that a Crocop/Couture bout or Crocop/Cain or Carwin and Crocop/Kongo or Gabe II are all viable bouts.

I wouldn't hold my breath though since all of these rumours most be taken with a gigantic grain of salt.

[GL Jeff]

Fuck, if one of your rumors ever comes true I will be amazed, were do you find all this anyways?

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

Anybody else think that maybe it would be better for "talent relations" if Lorenzo did a little more business with the fighters and contract talkings etc and Dana kept his nose just plain OUTTA IT!

I believe the phrase is "cooler header" prevailing.

I think the checks and balances in the UFC are solid. Like I said in the Dana thread I posted the other day, I don't think anyone could have done for the UFC and MMA what Dana has. That includes Lorenzo.

That being said, I think they have a great "good cop/bad cop" setup. I wouldn't necessarily want Lorenzo doing all the talent relations stuff but for large acquisitions/large contracts, and where Dana has burned a bridge, I think it's kinda cool that he steps in.

All of that being said, there's still a LOT of speculation about exactly what happened with CC and I don't mean to imply that Dana burned any bridge - if anyone burned a bridge here, I still maintain it was Cro Cop. Maybe nobody did at all - who knows.


** edited for humorous typo

[GL Jeff]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

Anybody else think that maybe it would be better for "talent relations" if Lorenzo did a little more business with the fighters and contract talkings etc and Dana kept his nose just plain OUTTA IT!

I believe the phrase is "cooler header" prevailing.

No, I dont think anyone thinks that. The reason Lorenzo is talking to him, is because of the contract rumors with DREAM going on,and Cro Cop knows he shouldnt have even talked to the guys from DREAM. Dana has been doing fine all these years, no reason to stop now. And dont think that the contracts that the UFC makes are all one mans idea, Zuffa wants what Dana says he wants.

[Ramma]

I think Dana even sort of realized he jumped the gun with the whole Cro Cop thing. I heard a radio interview with him, someone brought up Cro Cop, and he said something like "Well, he hasn't fought in DREAM yet, so who knows."

Seems like he doesn't know where to go with the situation because he could end up looking very foolish.