I think Cro Cop knocks him out. A prime Cro Cop had exceptional take down defense and deadly striking arsenal, Miocic wont be able to execute his striking, and his wrestling pales in comparison to World class.
PRIDE's Cro Cop was devastating. Mirko wasn't invulnerable, but he was part of MMA's heavyweight holy trinity. Fedor, Nogueira and Cro Cop were the division's top 3 all time greats for years. In regards to fighting Stipe, it depends on the setting. Cro Cop was different in the ring. https://www.mmafighting.com/2009/06/10/ufc-99-mirko-cro-cop-says-this-time-hes-ready-to-fight-in-the "They are different, definitely," Cro Cop said of transitioning from ring to cage. "I spent my whole career fighting in the ring and then I entered the cage. I must say I underestimated the cage. It's much, much easier to go from the cage to the ring than from the ring to the cage. So I got a cage in my gym." Cro Cop pointed out that Pride and the UFC had different rules, including the fact that the UFC allows fighters to attack with their elbows while elbows were illegal in Pride. He also noted that it's harder for a fighter to defend himself when he's up against the fence in a cage than it is when he's up against the ropes in a ring. "Many experienced fighters in the UFC like to use the cage, like to use the (fence), there are elbows," Cro Cop said of the differences between fighting in the ring and the Octagon. "It's not so easy because they push you against the (fence). In the ring you can put your head out of the ropes, the referee will stop the fight and put you in the center of the ring. It's much easier to defend and to escape. If you don't know how to escape, you're in trouble in the cage." I feel like the ring gives Cro Cop enough to exploit his vast edge in striking, and he tko's Stipe. Mirko is still a threat to stop Stipe in the cage, but I think Miocic is the favorite here.
Stipe by BRUTAL KO & when I say Brutal I mean BRUTAL. Cro cop had tenderfeet in mma, strikers had a field day with him. I know Cro cop was a very strong Wrestler but still that guy is just too suspectable to getting absolutely clubbered with a capital C. https://media.tenor.com/images/596e4755a4dde416e08a1e5d03c9db1e/tenor.gif
"strikers had a field day with him" " I know Cro cop was a very strong Wrestler" POTUS, no offence, but I think you're in the wrong forum
Fwiw, Miocic is bad news but I think I'd favour a prime Cro Cop over him in a striking match. Mirko was just so well versed in all aspects of wrecking people on the feet. Personally I think he won his match vs Hug, which shows how highly I regard him. Lest we forget what he could do: This content is protected
I know cro cop became a strong wrestler was first a striker even did am boxing. Just seemed too easy of a target in MMA. Always open to big strikes lol.. idk maybe my memory is off but I just always remember Cro Cop getting KO'd cold anytime I saw cro cop. I'm sure he had great wins in mma but I always remember seeing him getting KO'd and it's just easy to see him getting Cold KO'd by Stipe
I agree that Cro Cop became sloppy later on. Like with Gonzaga. Still, early on, he was a really good striker
Mirko was so banged up by the time he entered the UFC. He really should have taken more time off before making a run at things. Hr looked a lot better in the last stretch of his career because he was more healthy despite being several+ years older. Actually think Mirko was craftier(not better) in some ways than when he was younger. He developed some new skills like those brutal standing elbows and definitely seemed to have more mental toughness than earlier in his career. Still find it hilarious that he old manned Miller twice lol. a prime Cro Cop would have flat out sparked him.
Interesting fight: Mirko had the ability to look jaw-droppingly spectacular in virtually every victory he had during his prime. Even later on when he was ancient in his rematch with Gonzaga and later against King Mo he produced moments where he looked totally devastating. Meanwhile, Stipe doesn't seem particularly sensational even when he's icing Fabricio Werdum and JDS in the first round. That said, I've got to go for Stipe here. Maybe its recency bias. But I think its more to do with the fact that Mirko spent a lot of time fighting pro-wrestlings (Dos Caras & Takada), guys who were undersized (Sakuraba & Wanderlei), or comically one-dimensional Hammer House fighters (Randleman & Mark Coleman). But, on the other hand, three wins over a prime Josh Barnett are a hell of a substitute for never grabbing the UFC belt.
Cro cop was more physically talented, pound for pound stronger, more powerful and explosive than Miocic. He was an artist in the ring, Miocic is just bland, like American television or food. Hope I am making sense here.
Are you working for WME? They would love the last line . Style doesn't matter as much to them what matters is persona. If Miocic acted like McGregor or Covington theyd love him. But on a more serious note Stipe while nowhere near as flashy isn't exactly boring or bland.
I’d say Miocic has a better chin than Cro cop and better grappling. Not as entertaining as Mirko, with Mirko you never know whats going to happen, even his losses are epic
Does Stipe get to be juiced to the gills as well for the fight. Which is what the majority of Pride fighters were. UFC has them as well, but Stipe hasn't been affected with post USADA.
