One for The Pride Fans: Looks Like Fedor And Cro Cop Have Beef

Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop have a storied past in the world of MMA, dating back to when Filipovich head kicked Aleks in to oblivion at Pride Final Conflict 2004. The bout was Emelianenko’s fourth bout as a pro, and was immediately followed by Cro Cop calling out Fedor; like a boss.

The two finally met in a very exciting scrap at Pride Final Conflict 2005, a bout that earned Fight Of The Year honors and ended with Fedor taking home the unanimous decision win. The two have since had an underlying respect for each other, at least I thought they did until today. Cro Cop recently lost a bout against Alexy Oleinik at Legend 2, once again raising discussion of why he hasn’t retired yet.

Cro Cop was originally slated to face Aleks Emelianenko in a rematch of their Pride encounter, but obviously the younger Emelianenko brother was shot during a bar fight and unable to compete. Fedor gave his two cents on Cro Cop’s waning MMA career:

“He does not have either the physical condition or mental attitude. “There is something that broke in him and he is not the same fighter as he was before. This is evident on his style of fighting and on his look during the fight. I don’t know how to explain…”

“You know when a person goes into the ring to win, or at least not to lose. I mean, when a fighter is ready and goes to fight than it can be seen by his look. Regardless of whether he gets hit or not, he goes forward and regardless of whether he wins or loses, he wants to go forward, and it is clear from his burning eyes.”

Some pretty harsh (but maybe realistic) words from Cro Cop’s Pride FC foe, especially seeing as the two have been friends for so long. Filipovich took to his facebook page to vent his feelings about what Fedor said after the Legend 2 event:

“Fedor commented on me and today I read a comment from his eminent brother,” said Cro Cop. “It’s little to say that I truly respected and liked them both since the time when we fought together in Japan, but that respect is now gone.”

“Alexander, who probably caused all the scandal and manfully beat up a 63 years old just so that he doesn’t have to enter the ring with me, I won’t comment too much because the sport is often looked down on because of guys like him, and besides, he doesn’t deserve much of a comment. But Fedor was a grave disappointment.”

“ If Fedor fought in my city, I’d come to his hotel, take him out for dinner, have a talk with him, and if I had to tell him something I’d tell it to his face and not talk over newspapers. Afterall, we’re “brothers in arms” and we bled together in Japanese rings, and had a fight that many consider as the best in MMA history, and he not only didn’t have the audacity to say hello, even before the fight in the lockeroom, but he commented on me that I’m this and that, this wasn’t the Fedor that I used to know.”

Fedor vs. Cro Cop two in the making? Godzilla vs. Megafly? Don Frye vs. Vince McMahon? I’ll keep you updated as all these bouts are confirmed.