Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic in a world class MMA camp

Petition to get Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic into a world class MMA training camp, where he can work with world class MMA coaches and sparring partners.

Mirko Cro Cop is one of the very best kick boxers and MMA fighters of our time. This man is a definition of an underdog. From a small village in Croatia, with not much real help from anyone he succeeded to get to the very top of K1, where he beaten legends like Le Banner, Aerts, Bonyaski... to his time in Pride where he demolished almost every man who he fought. To the dream, and later the UFC, where in some fights the lack of a world class MMA coach and sparring partners became too aparent. A good example is his last fight against Brendan Schaub at UFC 128. Mirko was winning that fight. He had at least 3 very nasty elbows that cut Schaubs eyelid and broke his nose. He was better standing and towards the end of the fight Mirko was gaining momentum. The problem was that Mirko looked like he never had any takedown defence. that led to a couple takedowns. Schaub did nothing on the ground, but still. With better sparring partners his takedown defence would be much better. Then to the KO. Mirko got knocked out by Schaub the same way he got knocked out by Gonzaga. He just stood in front of them and let them knock him out. Why he just stood there? The obvious answer is that his non MMA coaches don't mind him doing that, because in kick boxing it's normal to stand in range of your opponent. You have huge gloves that you can use to cover up. Something you can not do in MMA with MMA gloves. It's simple as that. A good MMA coach would insist on movement and would never, ever allow his fighter to just plant himself and wait for the opponent to get in range.

With 37 years on his back, this could be Mirkos last chance to show the world how good he really is. It's obvious that he is a world class athlete and physically there are no obstacles for him right now. The problem is the training.

Mirko, please for your next fight go to some great camp where you can be coached by a great MMA coach and where you can work with people who will push you harder. Please, for the sake of your whole carrier. 4-6 weeks away from home is not the end of the world. It's not like you will do this for 10 years. I'm sure the UFC would give you another chance and a great fighter to fight if you did what's best for you as a fighter.

Whatever you decide we will love and admire you. Thank you for everything you did.