UFC
UFC QUOTABLES: Frank Mir doesn't think Mirko Cro Cop has lost a step; talks gameplan for UFC 119 fight
Aug 23, 2010 - 3:51:29 PM UFC QUOTABLES: Frank Mir doesn't think Mirko Cro Cop has lost a step; talks gameplan for UFC 119 fight

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I don't know if he's ever really lost his step. I just think the fighters now in the UFC are just a little bit more aggressive than the fighters in PRIDE. Studying game on him, I noticed that guys that back away from him and give him that respect, it seems like they get unleashed on a little harder than the guys that come forward... I think Cro Cop has a good sprawl, he has a good double underhooks. I think if I were to try to just drop and shoot on him, he would stop my shot. I think standing up with him is actually the route to go at first and then eventually when you work in the clinch, going to the ground is obviously a lot easier to do with him than Nogueira."

-Frank Mir talks to Ariel Helwani on MMAFighting.com's "The MMA Hour" about his new UFC 119 opponent in Mirko Cro Cop.

Penick's Analysis: Mir standing with Cro Cop too long could be a very dangerous route for him to go in this fight, but should he successfully close the distance and get into the clinch, that will be his best shot at bringing the fight to the ground. Once it gets there, Mir should be heavily favored to finish from there. This is an extremely tough fight for Cro Cop, especially on five weeks' notice. How he comes into the fight and how Mir tries to go about getting this fight to his world will be the story heading in. It should still be a very interesting heavyweight fight.

[Frank Mir art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]