With only one week remaining before the UFC 119 pay-per-view event, which has already been drawing a lot of criticism by fans for being less than “star-studded,” a new rumour surfaced that potentially could have meant another serious blow to the event.
A “reliable” source close to Cro Cop, had apparently released the following statement earlier today:
“Mirko Filipovic has suffered a serious eye injury during today’s practice. The nature of the injury is such that his upcoming fight against Frank Mir scheduled for September 25, is in question.” (www.bloodyelbow.com via www.index.hr)
Is it true?
Not according to Dana White, who tweeted that “Cro Cop is fine. Rumor is not true.”
I guess a Twitter message is what flies as an official press release these days…
If it’s “not” true, or if the injury isn’t serious enough to force Cro Cop out of the competition, then it’s business as usual for Frank Mir and the UFC, who both would have dodged a serious bullet.
If, however, Cro Cop is unable to continue as scheduled, this will no doubt have massive implications on the eventual number of pay-per-view purchases.
Fighters are very selective these days and they know that there is a lot to be gained and lost by the number of wins or defeats on their records. With that in mind, Dana White would have to really sweeten the pot for anyone willing to fill Cro Cop’s void against Frank Mir, who also has much to lose by this catastrophic news.
On August 15, 2010, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was also forced to pull out of his bout against Frank Mir due to injury. Luckily, Mirko Cro Cop was able to replace Nogueira in the main event.
Mir would have spent weeks preparing a specific game plan for Cro Cop—all of which could have been lost.
So, who would be a suitable and deserving (and available) opponent for Frank Mir on such short notice (if need be)?
I wonder if Pat Barry is all healed up?
.
Main Card
Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop (questionable status)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Ryan Bader
Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle
Sean Sherk vs. Evan Dunham
Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens
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Preliminary Card (Spike TV)
C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen
Matt Mitrione vs. Joey Beltran
[...] he’ll even be fresh enough for Frank Mir next week at UFC 119 if Cro Cop’s eye injury turns out to be more serious than Dana White has been leading us all to [...]
While Frank Mir may believe Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has a “built-in” excuse for their UFC 119 showdown, it appears the eye injury Octagon president Dana White denied Cro Cop sustaining yesterday is indeed true. For those that think he just conjured up another out, CC’s got the witnesses and video footage to prove it.
“It was the very last minute, of the very last round, of the very last sparring [session],” Cro Cop told Fighters Only. “We were sparring in UFC gloves and my sparring partner – who is about 120 kilos, Croatia’s best Thai boxer – he poked me in the eye. The pain was like … I can’t even describe it, the pain was so big I thought he had blinded me.
“Luckily there was a TV crew in the room and also some reporters from two websites. Frank Mir has talked this and that, maybe if nobody had seen this and there was no video, he would again be saying I am trying to make excuses. But no excuses, it is just bad luck. All I need now is for my plane to be hit by lightning tomorrow and crash into the Atlantic.”
On Friday, the normally reliable Croatian website Index.hr reported that Filipovic had suffered an eye injury while training and couldn’t obtain medical clearance for his September 25th scrap with Mir.
White immediately shot down the news by tweeting, “Cro cop is fine. Rumor is not true.”
That was apparently just promoter talk for, ‘Please read the fine print.’
“I went to see a doctor and he advised that the eye should be rested minimum two weeks, but I have made a commitment to the UFC and a commitment to the fans,” he said. “So there is no question of backing out of the fight. I do not want to let anyone down, I know they could not find a replacement for me at this short notice and many fans have already bought tickets for the show.”
Although the former Pride superstar’s heart is in the right place, logic would lead us to believe Mirko would still have to be cleared by Indiana’s governing body before he’s allowed to enter the Octagon.
According to the FO’s John Joe O’Regan, Cro Cop is currently using a saline solution and gauze to protect his injured eye. The striker claims his vision is “almost normal” and is hopeful his sight will be fully recovered by the time the curtain is drawn next Saturday.
UFC 119 will be jumping off inside the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The heavyweight clash will (probably) headline the pay-per-view broadcast.
(At the time of publication, the footage of Cro Cop’s injury was not available on YouTube or the Internet.)
http://http://www.5thround.com/52237…ir-at-ufc-119/