- Thread starter
- #161
CaptainCharisma
Mecca V.I.P.
VIP
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2006
- Messages
- 1,281
- Points
- 36
Mirkos words translated:
"I traveled to Japan as many as 42 times and it's the time for a change. I will always be grateful to the Japanese because I made my name in PRIDE's ring, and especially to the president of the DSE company Sakakibara and the fight organizer Takada. I am aware that my decision affected many of my fans, but I am going toward new challenges.
I let the PRIDE officials know that I had an offer in advance. They maybe thought that I wouldn't leave, but my decision was final.
I am happy that now I'm going to have support of Croats in the US. In Japan, there aren't that many Croats. It's nice to see when people in Croatian T-shirts with Croatian flags are supporting you."
Regarding the octagon, Mirko said the following:
"Compared to the ring, it looks to me like a soccer field."
When asked about the quality of the UFC fighters, he said that he most respects Chuck and Randy. He also said this about the current UFC heavyweights:
"When it comes to the fighting style, I like Arlovski, who is quick and technical. The champ Sylvia is not that attractive, but is very tough and bold, also having a knockout-power hand. He is thus very dangerous."
He said that he most regrets that his rematch with Fedor didn't happen:
"I would love an opportunity for the rematch more than anything else. Had my leg been healthy, we would have fought maybe on the NYE. But I believe that the rematch will happen sometime; either under the UFC's roof, or - which I would love to see - if PRIDE and UFC make the fight happen together."
The newspaper also mentions the following statement of Sakakibara (without source):
"Mirko didn't finish his job with Fedor and Noguera, and we thus hope that he will come back one day with the UFC belt and challenge our champion."
"I traveled to Japan as many as 42 times and it's the time for a change. I will always be grateful to the Japanese because I made my name in PRIDE's ring, and especially to the president of the DSE company Sakakibara and the fight organizer Takada. I am aware that my decision affected many of my fans, but I am going toward new challenges.
I let the PRIDE officials know that I had an offer in advance. They maybe thought that I wouldn't leave, but my decision was final.
I am happy that now I'm going to have support of Croats in the US. In Japan, there aren't that many Croats. It's nice to see when people in Croatian T-shirts with Croatian flags are supporting you."
Regarding the octagon, Mirko said the following:
"Compared to the ring, it looks to me like a soccer field."
When asked about the quality of the UFC fighters, he said that he most respects Chuck and Randy. He also said this about the current UFC heavyweights:
"When it comes to the fighting style, I like Arlovski, who is quick and technical. The champ Sylvia is not that attractive, but is very tough and bold, also having a knockout-power hand. He is thus very dangerous."
He said that he most regrets that his rematch with Fedor didn't happen:
"I would love an opportunity for the rematch more than anything else. Had my leg been healthy, we would have fought maybe on the NYE. But I believe that the rematch will happen sometime; either under the UFC's roof, or - which I would love to see - if PRIDE and UFC make the fight happen together."
The newspaper also mentions the following statement of Sakakibara (without source):
"Mirko didn't finish his job with Fedor and Noguera, and we thus hope that he will come back one day with the UFC belt and challenge our champion."
Last edited by a moderator:
