Just as the dust settles on DREAM 6, Index.hr. was able to sit down with Alistair Overeem to get his side of the story, following his “No Contest” ruling for knees to the groin against Mirko Cro Cop at DREAM 6.

Overeem “Cro Cop is arrogant, thinks he’s a superstar but I’ve got a surprise for him”

Why do you have such animosity toward Mirko? Why has it become personal for you?

A.O: I honestly believe that Mirko is very arrogant person, he see’s himself as a superstar, something which he is not. We’re all just people and the important thing is that we stay respectful and be modest. I highly value respect and modesty in a person.

However it was you that began disrespecting Mirko first.

Yes that is true. He fought an very easy opponent at Dream 1 however the entire time he claimed he wanted to fight only the best. I thought it was important to declare my desire to fight him publicly and openly to the Dream officials and fans.

You’ve said that Mirko was looking for a way out of that fight and that was ducking you before the match even?

That’s true. He was looking for a way out. He could not hold on any longer. He was finished basically. We’ll just have to wait and see if he’ll hide again as he has in the past or step up for the revenge at NYE event.

Cro Cop says he’s the better fighter and that would his superior technique would have given him the victory in the end?

He can say what ever he wants, I don’t want to continue with the same dialogue. Just tell him I’ve got a big surprise waiting for him at NYE.

You’ve gained over 15 kilograms in a very short period of time, conditioning has been your biggest problem to date. Part of Mirko’s game plan in part was to drag you into a long battle and to expose your stamina.

That’s totally false. My new size will not hinder me in the least. I don’t have any issues with stamina or conditioning. The new mass has made me stronger and has only improved me as a fighter.

In the first fight Cro Cop wasn’t able to use his famous left leg. What do you put that down to?

“Its very simple. I’m not scared of his left leg.” Concluded the smiling Overeem.

TG [Betwwx] for the translation.

PRIDE veteran and former UFC fighter Mirko Cro Cop in a recent interview with the Croatian news site Jutarnji.

Cro Cop: Ending my career is not a option

Ending his career is not a option for Mirko Cro Cop. Currently his only mind is occupied with revenging Overeem.

Q: Hows your health?

CC: Right now everything is fine. My injuries have healed up and I’ll return to training soon.

Q: It wasn’t easy watching those knees to your groin…

CC: I’ll quote a favourite movie of mine “Maratonci trce pocasni krug” — “I don’t like it, but its part of the job!” That’s how I feel about what happened at Dream 6.

Q: Where you surprised he wasn’t disqualified?

CC: I wouldn’t have gained anything from a disqualification. I don’t need that kind of win. More importantly I shouldn’t have given him the opportunity to knee me to the groin.

Q: Disqualifying him would make him think twice about were he places his knees?

CC: Well next him he’ll be well advised not to go near my groin. If he does it again, I’ll give him a taste of his own medicine. And I’ll do it deliberately without holding back. Mixed martial arts is a brutal sport but there are rules to be followed. I have followed them trought my career and my opponents have also.
CC: There is no point crying over spilt milk. I expect my revenge at NYE.

Q: Do you have any plans between NYE and now?

CC: I’ll travel to Soul, Korea on 11.11.08 to support Igor Pokrajac when he fights against a yet unknown opponent.

Q: Do you concede that Overeem was the dominant one up until the injury?

CC: Yes he was, but it’s a 15 minute fight and anything could have happened had the fight continued. I should have been more aggressive of course. Its something I’ll have to work on.

Q: Did you properly train for the fight?

CC: Despite the commentary that I’m too old, all my physical conditioning and speed test point to the fact that I’ve never been better prepared than for my last fight. But it doesn’t matter what I think, the only thing that matters is what actually happens in the ring.

Q: So what’s the problem then?

CC: I’m under more pressure then I have been earlier in my career. I lost two fights in the UFC, and I have a fear of it happening again. I cant afford more failures. I have a fear of failing not of punches or kicks. Many fighters have the same problem.

Q: Do you have a exit strategy after you leave the sport?

No along as I’m healthy my mind is only on fighting on.

Q: So you don’t have any plans to leave the sports?
CC: Peter Aerts has been written of for 5 years now. He recently defeated K1 best fighter and tournament favorite Semmy Schilt. If he can do it why should I at 35 be too old? I feel great, my conditioning is excellent and I’m motivated to fight. There is no reason to end my career.

TG: Translated by Robert at Betwwx.com