On Saturday night in Los Angeles, 39-year-old Mirko Cro Cop defeated Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller by unanimous decision in a rematch of their K1 contest in 2013.
The biggest name on the Glory 17 card did not disappoint.
It wasn't the most action-packed bout, but it wasn't a snoozer. Gareth A. Davies of The Telegraph has the official scores and a word about Cro Cop's performance, and the action:
Smart performance by Mirko CroCop over @BIGBABBYMILLER Great action. 29-28 x2, 30-27 UD win for Mirko Cro Cop #Glory17
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) June 22, 2014
Before the bout, Cro Cop talked about his destructive intentions for every bout:
"I always go for a KO." - Mirko Cro Cop fights this Saturday at 8/7c. @GLORY_WS http://t.co/CtGmqeWGLE #Glory17 pic.twitter.com/C1S69fiRQ2
— SPIKE TV (@SpikeTV) June 20, 2014
A knockout wasn't in the cards, but he left little doubt as to who the better man was. Despite a 40-pound weight disadvantage, per the Spike broadcast, Cro Cop was up to the challenge.
In the first round, Cro Crop's speed and dexterity were too much for the much heavier Miller. The MMA legend was able to beat Miller to the punch in most of the exchanges.
The right hook and a vicious body kick were the most damaging shots of the round. It seemed clear, Miller's only shot at winning would hinge upon him landing a huge shot to hurt Cro Cop.
In the second round, Cro Cop continued to outwork Miller. By effectively smothering Miller's attacks, Cro Cop made it almost impossible for his opponent to use his reach. The kicks to the body became harder and more frequent in the second round.
The third round wasn't much different, though Miller did land a few nice knees in the clinch. Cro Cop kept complaining about low blows. All of the complaints weren't legit, but this gamesmanship didn't have any effect on the outcome.
Miller's background is in boxing, and it was obvious throughout the bout. He seemed to look to clinch often, which isn't an effective tactic in kickboxing. He also did very little work with kicks. He simply couldn't figure out a way to use his size.
While Cro Cop might not be an elite fighter any more, he did prove that he has enough left in the tank to beat a big, slow heavyweight with limited experience in the sport.
If matched against one of the younger, more agile heavyweights in kickboxing, Cro Cop may run into a bit more trouble.
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