Francisco Filho vs Mirko Filipovic in K-1 MMA rules

[vapor]

thanks for adding the interview!

vapor

[Dent]

Osu!

Excellent interview. Thanks for the updated post.

Osu!

[JohnMc]

I would love to see Mirko fight Master Filho or JLB or even Glaube Feitosa [what rank does he have btw?] Either of those three will really test Mirko's striking [which according to Remy Bonjansky and Gilbert Yvel have eroded over time]

[JohnMc]

Quick update. Mirko is now having a grappling match with Ralek Gracie at Dream 4. Definately disappointing considering the names mentioned as possible opponents for him but it will be interesting to see what level his grappling skill are

[Jake_Osu]

The fact that the gracies can demand special rules in japanese MMA events is very irritating. They have lost their domination as others are now equivalent ground fighters but they are not willing to improve their own striking skills to make themselfes more rounded fighters.
It might be a good time for them to admit that bjj isn't the greatest of all martial arts and start cross training in kyokushin to improve their striking. They know that mirko would destroy any of them while standing up. Agreeing to a grappling match with the gracies is probably not the best move cro cop could have made but it will be a good test.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by Jake_Osu

The fact that the gracies can demand special rules in japanese MMA events is very irritating. They have lost their domination as others are now equivalent ground fighters but they are not willing to improve their own striking skills to make themselfes more rounded fighters.

A loss here wouldn't hurt CroCop at all, but the same can't be said for the Gracies. It would potentially hurt them at an image level. I'm looking forward to the result.

Osu!

[powerof0ne]

Mirko dropped out of the fight, he's getting some much needed surgery..his knee and elbow have been giving him problems for a long time.
Him doing a grappling match with a Gracie would result in a loss. No, I'm not saying that just because it's a Gracie..I'm saying that because Mirko doesn't have as much experience with grappling, he's no BJ Penn..if you know what I mean.
I'd also like to add that I have a lot of respect for Filho, I've had the pleasure of meeting him quite a few times in the late 90s when he was in the Bellevue, WA area training with Maurice Smith for his K-1 debut. Filho was a guest at one of my earlier kickboxing matches.
*Maurice Smith, Francisco Filho, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka/"T.K.", and Frank Shamrock used to have a fighting team together called "The Alliance" at the time. Glaube Feitosa and Nicholas Pettas were also training with Maurice at this time.*