In 6 months CRO COP will be......

TheBonger · #1 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:18 AM

the biggest star American MMA has ever seen. He will surpass everyone. With the growing popularity of MMA and Cro Cops style of fighting. I think it is just a matter of time before we see a Cro Cop LHK in the top ten highlights on sportscenter

oh yea and he will be the UFC HW champ but that goes without saying.

Donny77 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:24 AM

I dunno, for some reason or another I think Rampage might be. But we'll see.

The Sundance Kid · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:30 AM

liddell316 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:36 AM

His personality and style will make him a very big star in a very short time in the States.

ronin · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:53 AM

Unfortunately he will always be in the shadow of Fedor, Pride will still have the best HW in the world.

Even Nog has a win over CC, so if Nog ever regains the belt, Nog would still have to be ranked above CC.
Same with hunt.

Saying all that he gonna be a really rich guy and will destroy all the UFC HW's.
Sylvia,Vera,Kongo,AA,Imes, Say Your Prayers

The Sundance Kid · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronin

Unfortunately he will always be in the shadow of Fedor, Pride will still have the best HW in the world.

Even Nog has a win over CC, so if Nog ever regains the belt, Nog would still have to be ranked above CC.
Same with hunt.

Saying all that he gonna be a really rich guy and will destroy all the UFC HW's.
Sylvia,Vera,Kongo,AA,Imes, Say Your Prayers

CC has won the OWGP that Hunt and Big Nog were in and he Won the damn thing, I don't see how Nog nor Hunt will ever be ranked above CC unless they beat him or Fedor, or CC loses a fight. Which i don't see happening in the UFC.

Dork8503 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 01:01 AM

i think rampage and mirko will both become huge stars in the us

TheBonger · #8 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 01:03 AM

there is no way that Big Nog or Hunt are ranked above Cro Cop right now. So if all Cro Cop does is say win his first 4 UFC fights and the UFC HW Title how the hell would you move him down without someone beat fedor and then it would depend on who beat him.

NearDark · #9 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 01:05 AM

Don't be so quick...CroCop will need to learn how to fight with the restricted kindergarten U.S. fight rules with no knees or kicks to the head, deal with the corrupt 10-point must system, cutting elbows to the face, and learn to fight in a cage. The UFC is limited in some areas that Pride is not, and that is unfortunate.

The issue with the cage is being trapped against it and unable to move, something Pride fighters do not have to worry about. Some UFC fighters have made a living off simply taking a man down, shoving him against the cage and throwing elbows until the fight is stopped and claim it's talent (ortiz). Also, you have fighters who brace themselves against the cage and use it to force themselves up from the ground (chuck) - something those same fighters would not be able to do in Pride. My point is that there are many intangibles to fighting in a cage as opposed to a roped ring, mostly in the ground game. The UFC does not reset fighters who are at the side of the ring, giving them a bit of rest as they move to the middle of the ring, and being shoved up and trapped against the cage is to me one of the frustrations of the UFC as it limits the action. I expect CroCop to have an adjustment period as he gets used to the Octagon ground game.

Like him or hate him, Tim Sylvia is champion for a reason and don't think CroCop is just going to walk all over the guy. There are a lot of good fighters in the heavyweight UFC. CroCop-Arlovski would be great to see. CroCop does bring a needed infusion of new blood into the division and hopefully the deal with Alexander Emelianko can be reached as well.

The only downside I see is that the UFC likes to play the same game that boxing does, by taking their sweet time to set up big fights that they know the fans want to see. You may not see Sylvia-CroCop for quite some time.

It doesn't surprise me that the UFC has to look overseas to draw in heavyweight talent. For all the massive huge men in the United States, finding big men who want to fight is very difficult in the States.

I'm not trying to be critical, I am just pointing out that the Cage is not the same as a rope ring especially when pinned against it. It will be interesting to see how CroCop responds the first time he is down and his head is trapped against the cage, unable to move, with elbows cutting into his forehead.

On a side note, obviously there were things going on in the background that we do not know of...if Pride wanted to hang on to CroCop, they would have found a way to do it by giving him what he wanted. More likely they let him go for one reason or another. Either that or CroCop just wanted to distance himself from the negative press Pride was getting, or that he just wanted a new challenge and to leave his legacy elsewhere, and the best option was the UFC.

TheBonger · #10 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 01:13 AM

i defiently think without a doubt pride did everything within there power to keep Mirko he just won there OWGP and they were setting up a HUGE matchup. Now thats gone. The rumors of pride trying to sell may be true and if so then there is obviously a reason. Hopefully pride will get there finaces togther and retain everyone else. If UFC comes in and gets 2 or 3 more of the top fights that could be game,set,match.