UFC News 2015: Mirko Filipovic Withdraws from UFC Seoul, Announces Retirement
UFC fans will see another big name walking away from the sport; this time, it is one of mixed martial arts' most accomplished heavyweights — Mirko Filipovic. The big Croatian was supposed to be part of a big fight card in Seoul, but later decided to withdraw.
In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, "Crop Cop" decided to retire on different setbacks he encountered during his preparation for the fight.
"Dear friends, unfortunately I had to cancel the fight. In the beginning of the preparation I hurt my shoulder, so I couldn't raise my hand. I tried to save a shoulder injury and repair in all possible ways: daily therapy, injections of blood plasma and various cocktails of drugs but it didn't work out. The only cure would be a break of two to three weeks, and that I could not afford in the midst of final preparations. By daily trainings the injury got worse. Part of the muscle is snapped, the shoulder is filled with a lot of fluids, and the great danger is that if the tendon ruptures and then I have go to operation again."
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The fight Filipovic was talking about is the scheduled matchup against Andy Hamilton for UFC Fight Night "Henderson vs Alves."
The former law enforcement officer and boxer added that the decision is not temporary and that he believes it is the best for him, considering that he no longer is getting younger.
With a career and bunch of accomplishments in different avenues of martial arts like the UFC and K1, the Croatian will be leaving a sport that will eventually consider him as one of the greatest. The man is popular because of his signature head kicks and brutality.
His most recent fight was at UFC Fight Night 64 in Poland where he defeated Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO to avenge an earlier loss to the same guy. Prior to his announcement, Cro Cop compiled a mixed martial arts record of 31-11-2, and 1 NC.
