UFC President on Cro Cop: ‘We Had No Other Plans’

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (left) file photo: Sherdog.com

UFC President Dana White was almost in a world of trouble.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic was poked in the eye late last week, and his main event matchup with Frank Mir at UFC 119 on Saturday in Indianapolis appeared to be in serious jeopardy of being cancelled.

“We had no other plans,” White said during a pre-fight press conference on Thursday in Indianapolis. “We were just hoping he was going to be fine.”

After being examined by doctors in both his native Croatia and the U.S., Cro Cop was cleared to hit the Octagon for his fight, which will headline an 11-fight card at the Conseco Fieldhouse.

“[Filipovic] is fine and ready to go,” said White. “He wouldn’t be fighting Saturday night if he weren’t fine.”

The injury occurred during Filipovic’s last sparring session, when a finger breached his headgear and struck his eye. He wore sunglasses to Thursday’s press conference and claimed he was ready to take on Mir.

“I had headgear on, but it just got through,” said Filipovic, who sports 20 knockouts among his 27 mixed martial arts victories. “I was wearing headgear that protects your face, but it wasn’t enough for a finger. I know [Mir] is hungry, and he’s an excellent fighter. I didn’t think about who I was fighting before I accepted the fight, but that’s because I’m a professional fighter. I respect [Mir] and will do my best to beat him, and I’m sure he’ll do the same.”

After his last win -- a third-round rear-naked choke submission of Patrick Barry at UFC 115 in June -- Filipovic pondered retirement but instead decided to return to the Octagon. He pointed to three reasons.

“I came back because Don Corleone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Cro Cop said jokingly. “I was taking a rest [from the Barry fight], and Lorenzo Fertitta called asking if I could replace [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mir’s original opponent], and I accepted. First, I accepted because I felt a responsibility to the UFC and the UFC’s fans. Second, the UFC pays me well. Thirdly, I’m a fighter. That’s my job. So, I accepted the challenge.”

A former UFC heavyweight champion who has dropped two of his last three fights, Mir said the change in opponents did not bother him. He expects Cro Cop to pose a tough challenge in the UFC 119 headliner.

“When I heard [about Filipovic’s eye injury], I just tried to stay focused on the task at hand,” said Mir, who holds wins over Nogueira, Cheick Kongo, Brock Lesnar and Tim Sylvia. “I won’t lie; I did get a little paranoid. I thought [UFC matchmaker Joe Silva] was good at moving things around, and I started looking at the other heavyweights who were fighting on the card.

“I joked with Matt Mitrione [who faces Joey Beltran on the undercard] that he had a couple of fights, why not move up to the main event?” Mir added. “At the end of the day, he got cleared, which is perfect. I expect to be fighting a fierce and dangerous Mirko on Saturday.”

In other news from the press conference:

• Undefeated light heavyweight and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner Ryan Bader -- who faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the co-main event -- said he was prepared for whatever Nogueira might throw at him. “I don’t know what his game plan is going to be, but he’s confident wherever the fight goes, as am I,” said Bader. “He’s said he wants to look for a knockout, and that’s fine by me. I’ll box him, use my wrestling and fight him wherever the fight goes. This is a great opportunity for me. He’s a legend in this sport, and I’m looking to beat him.”

• Nogueira, who is coming off a controversial split decision win over late replacement Jason Brilz at UFC 114 in May, said he expects to put on a better performance against Bader. “I’m feeling more confident,” said Nogueira. “I can fight with the best fighters in the world. It will be a real pleasure to fight [Bader]. He’s a good guy, a tough fighter and it should be a great fight.”

• Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, who takes on Indianapolis native Chris Lytle in a rematch of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 4 final, said he expects to hear it from the fans. “I’m prepared for it,” said Serra, who knocked out Frank Trigg at UFC 109 in February. “My Montreal fight [against Georges St. Pierre] was freakin’ brutal. What’s funny is that I think they could legalize MMA in New York, and if I fought [Lytle] there, I might get booed. It’s all part of the game. I’ll still be out there smiling.”