Mirko Cro Cop - Lost His Mojo?

From 2001-2007 PRIDE grand prix champion Mirko Cro Cop had only 4 losses, to men like Big Nog, Fedor, Mark Hunt and Kevin Randleman. Since joining the UFC in 2007 the Croation Sensation is a dismal 2-3 in that promotion, with losses to Gabrial Gonzaga, Cheik Kongo and Junior dos Santos. His scanty victories are over replacement Anthony Perosh and newcomer Patrick Barry. Is it any wonder Cro Cop has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the UFC heavyweight division?

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Fedor recently commented that Cro Cop seems to have lost his mojo. Fedor might be seen in a similar light if he ever took the step into the UFC gauntlet. But Cro Cop still has the same skill set: unbelievable stand up and stellar take down defence. Perhaps his problem is the newer breed of heavyweight, the heavier, stronger faster man that is making the same Cro Cop we all knew and loved look anaemic. Maybe Cro Cop needs to step down in weight class to have an impact.

When Cro Cop fought Junior dos Santos the power imbalance was obvious from the get go. As heavyweights get bigger and more athletic, the men in the 235 pound range have a distinct power disadvantage. They have to muscle more mass in the clinch and on the ground. No other weight class has such huge weight differentials.

It’s not as simple as moving down to the light heavyweight division, though, where Cro Cop could potentially kick serious ass. Brandon Vera found that out when he moved down. At light heavyweight Vera no longer had to deal with monsters like Tim Sylvia, but now has strength to weight ratio issues after cutting prior to fights.

It’s distressing that Cro Cop has lost face, but that happens quickly in this game. I remember Liddell’s KO streak and how invincible he seemed and then, bam, his moniker ‘The Ice Man’ reflected more on him than on his opponents. Even BJ Penn, having lost to Edgar twice but having beat silly everyone else in his division, has dropped to third or even fifth in some rankings. In this biz it really is, “What have you done for me lately?”

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Think for a minute about Cro Cop at LHW. Who could take him down to the mat? Possibly Evans. Who could out strike him? Anderson Silva maybe. Who could overpower him? Nobody. It’s in the 205 pound division that Cro Cop can find his mojo, where he can let his hands, fists and shins go, where he can test the incredible talent stacked therein and where he can regain his cred as one of the best and most ferocious technical strikers in MMA. One can only hope.

By Renko Styranka
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer