The Legendary High-Kick Knockout Machine - Mirko Cro Cop Filipović
In the early 2000s, when mixed martial arts was just beginning to gain popularity, a local world-famous star appeared in Croatia. He was one of the world's elite kickboxers and became the face of Pride during the golden years of Japanese MMA. He showed a spectacle and furious knockouts. And his legendary high kick was synonymous with an imminent threat. Today we remember the best fights of one of the most merciless punchers in the history of martial arts - Mirko Cro Cop Filipovich.
In 2001, Mirko Cro Cop began his switch to fighting in mixed martial arts promotion Pride Fighting Championships, citing personal challenge as well as dissatisfaction with K-1 salaries. A year later, he also left his job at the anti-terrorist unit in order to focus fully on his martial arts career.
His Pride debut was a TKO victory over Japanese wrestler Kazushi Sakuraba.
The Japanese MMA legend Sakuraba was inferior to his opponent in power and size, but managed to give a competitive fight.
Mirko's actions focused on keeping the fight on the stand, but sometimes Kazushi managed to bring the opponent to the canvas. The denouement came in the interval between the second and third rounds, when the doctor examined the Japanese and stopped the fight.
Mirko had his 8th fight with the legendary Ukrainian heavyweight Igor Vovchanchyn, which lasted one and a half minutes.
The Croatian kickboxer finished the fight in his favorite style, knocking out his opponent with a signature blow to the head.
Brutal finishing on the ground was, perhaps, superfluous.