Randy Harrison
After a month of speculation, the end is finally nigh for the Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic/UFC/DREAM situation that saw Filipovic blasted by UFC President Dana White for reportedly signing with DREAM after a one-fight deal between the parties resulted in Cro Cop appearing at UFC 99 before Filipovic signed a new three-fight deal with the promotion.
In a new interview, Filipovic discussed his feelings on the situation and apologized that the situation between both organizations became so intense. He also addressed the reports that he called reportedly called White "600 times" according to White, after the blow-up between both sides.
"I'm pleased with my return to UFC, the only global mma organization. Unfortunately, every other organization is far beyond UFC. DREAM cannot compete with Americans in sports or financial terms. The UFC has succeded to become in this sport what PRIDE used to be, maybe even more than that. I will always be grateful to the Japanese fans, that is the country where I became famous as a fighter. But the offer I got from Dream was not a challenge for me. "
"I'm sorry that UFC and DREAM argued over me. There was a lot of noise over nothing, I was even called a liar, and I read supposed statement by Dana White that I called him 600 times. Exact number of my calls was - zero. I texted him once and that's all. I wouldn't call anyone 600 times, even if my life depends on that. I don't want to be presented in such a degrading way."
UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta reportedly visited Filipovic in Croatia to broker the new deal, though that has still been unconfirmed at this time, and it is expected that Filipovic's first fight on his new deal will take place at UFC 103 on September 19th against rising Heavyweight prospect Junior dos Santos.
Credit: jutarnji.hr.
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