A left, another left some - OH.
High kick and down goes Igor!
When asked about his fighting style, Mirko
Cro Cop put it simply: Right leg hospital, left
leg cemetery.
When looking at Cro Cop's highlight reel
You see devastating head kick after devastating
head kick.
It's no wonder Mirko Cro Cop became one of
Pride's biggest headline fighters.
Today, we're taking a look at the life and
career of MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop.
If you like this video and be sure to subscribe
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MMA.
Cro Cop started out as a kickboxer and didn't
make his transition to MMA until 2001, hoping
to challenge himself and make more income.
Some of Cro Cop's first bouts took place at K-1,
where he started gaining a following as a
fighter.
Cro Cop would make his PRIDE debut and defeat
world-famous fighters such as Kazayuki Fujita
and Kazushi Sakuraba.
Cro Cop also fought against Nobohiko Takada.
And Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei
Silva.
He's back, there it is.
In only his eighth fight Mirko Cro Cop took on
legendary fighter Igor Vovchanchyn and became
the first to defeat him.
It was, of course, CRO Cop's famous head kick
that did the trick.
Slightly by the face of Igor, but no damage
done.
The left, another left some - OH! Down goes
Igor!
Cro Cop would continue his reign of terror by
taking on Dos Caras Jr. and taking him down with
a head kick 46 seconds into the first round.
But he has to work out.
I mean, he has to keep an eye on.
He cannot make one mistake.
Cro Cop would finally face the first loss of
his career when he took on Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira for the Pride interim heavyweight
championship.
That sweat makes it impossible to hold.
Look out! Armbar!
While he was submitted by armbar and round two
Cro Cop wasn't about to let his first loss slow
his career down. Cro Cop gathered two first round
KOs on Ron Waterman.
So Waterman, theres that trademark left kick and
now he strikes Waterman and brings them down in
the turtle position.
Soccer kick to the head.
Waterman not really defending well.
Trips Cro Cop momentarily, but he's
back in the turtle position. Soccer kick to
the head and it's over.
Just like that.
And Toshihisa Yamamoto,.
Where's the gamesmanship now, Mr. Yamamoto?
Yeah, there's an uppercut.
You want me to continue?
Here's another one.
There's another one its over.
OK, Mr. Yamamoto.
And earned a spot in the 2004 heavyweight Grand
Prix.
Shot back up to his feet on excellent, excellent.
Only - unbelievable.
It's over.
It's.
over.
In a huge upset, CRO Cop was knocked out by Kevin
Randleman in the very first round of the
tournament.
But this is where Cro Cop bounced back with a
seven fight win streak, which included a rematch
with Randleman that turned the tables with a
guillotine choke.
On Randleman, Randleman a very accomplished
wrestler, Cro Cop the kickboxing veteran.
And you're right, has the guillotine now
applied?
There's a knee.
Wow!
Two.
And he has it on.
He has it on.
You could see that he's gonna tap.
He's got him.
It's over.
After this Cro Cop took on, yet another former
UFC heavyweight champion, Mark Coleman.
Now, do a really good job of this takedown
defense being displayed by Mirko Cro Cop, and
this is bad for Mark, very bad left hook
uppercut finds a spark and down goes Coleman.
Soccer kick puts an end to this.
Cro Cop knocked the former UFC champ out in
the first round, earning Cro Cop the right to say
he defeated three UFC heavyweight champions
back to back.
It was a long road to get there, but CRO Cop
finally won his Pride Championship belt at the
Pride Openweight Grand Prix Championship, where
he fought and defeated Josh Barnett.
And 40 seconds remaining in a very exciting
opening round.
Oh.
Well, Josh is so quick and he just.
Mirko Cro Cop, happy 32nd birthday.
You are the Pride Fighting Championships
Open Weight tournament champion.
This is often considered one of the best fights
in Cro Cop's career.
After making such a name for himself in the Pride
circuit, CRO Cop was signed by the UFC but
Cro Cop
Never quite found the same success with the
UFC as he did with Pride.
Mirko looks tentative, though.
My God.
Oh.
Many argue CRO Cop was past his prime at this
point and therefore was never quite able to
reach the same kind of winning streaks
he once did. Throw some injuries and doping
scandals due to those injuries on top of it
all.
And it becomes clear why CRO Cop retired. CRO Cop
had sustained injuries to his neck that led to
a serious stroke, and doctors warned Mirko
that more impact could leave him paralyzed for
life.
So CRO Cop finally threw in the towel.
Mirko Cro Cop is often brought up as one of the
greatest heavyweights of all time, and his legacy
is still hugely influential on MMA
fighters today.
Those kicks are just as dangerous as any in the
sport.
I'm throwing that kick my high kick has the
same speed, same strength like it was
before, one and you're out.
Yes, one.
Just one touch.
We are measuring everything, you know,
this takes a lot of energy, a lot of
enthusiasm and a lot of hard work sweat and
blood that is the key.
How do you feel about Mirko Cro Cop?
Let us know in the comments.
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