Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic send a message to everyone, stating that he does not care what they say about him, because he has not run away from the UFC, as many think, and stated he intends to come back. 

According to Mirko, he left the UFC because he could not wait anymore for the fight offered in may, despite he requested the organisers an earlier date. These statements is opposite of Dane White’s, UFC manager, who said that he is waiting for Mirko, and not the other way round.

- White obviously thought that I am still on holiday, but I have informed him that I am still training and that I want to fight already in March. However, the UFC could not find me an adversary, and I did not want to break my training and start another cycle to fight in May. Apart from that, I was hungry of fighting and tense like a dog – said Mirko for Jutarnji List daily.

Considering the failed negotiations with the UFC, Mirko decided to enrol in a newly founded organisation called Dream, which steeling more and more pieces of the cake.

- Shortly after speaking to White, I received the call from the managers of Dream. I have not signed any contract with them, but we just arranged three fights in March, July and September. I never signed any contracts with Japanese. We arranged everything verbally and we never had problems – said Mirko.

Commenting malignant statements about him leaving the UFC due to bad results and maybe even fear, Mirko answered that other people’s opinion have nothing to do with him and that he does not have to respond to anyone.

- I do not care how people will understand this, I do not have to respond to anyone. I have already mentioned that I will take part in three fights for Dream, and that then I will return to the UFC. And to all internet know-it-alls I say to put gloves on and to enter the ring or the cage themselves before insulting whatever fighter. I repeat, I am not avoiding the UFC, and will come back by the end of the year – firmly stated Cro Cop.

The date of his return in the UFC strongly depends on the fight against Fedor Jemelyanenko, who Mirko wants to fight with in the cage, because it is a much smaller problem to pass from the cage to the ring, than the other way round. This was best proved with his case. After winning the Grand Prix and passing under the UFC, that is to fights inside the octagon, Mirko went through a significant drop in his results.

- Obviously fell into some psychological crisis. Even in the first fight against Sanchez it was visible I was not the old Mirko. Maybe I was fulfilled with the Grand Prix title. It is hard to explain. I only know that I did not have that killing instinct. I lost 5 kilos before the performance, and trainings went bad. On the day of the fight against Kong I woke up and thought “what do I need this for, why do I fight with a man I have never seen before’, I had enough of it – Mirko complained, but immediately added that he feel great now.

- Now everything is OK. The old fire and desire for fighting woke up in me again. I have never felt this good, I am in great shape. Once I fought for a living, today I fight for my pride.