12.09.2006 Cro Cop's redemptionAll about the night when Mirko Filipovic finally conquered his first major belt – after a KO over Wanderlei Siva and a crushing victory over Josh Barnett
By JP, from Saitama, with GM's crew, from Brazil; photos: (C) DREAM STAGE ENTERTAINMENT INC. / Cover photo by Susumu Nagao
The afternoon of September 10th in Japan began with two knee strikes, a mount and the choke from the back applied by Cyborg on Japanese bixer Nishijima. Or, at least, that’s how it started on the ring of Saitama Super Arena. A beginning just like the sushi Murilo Bustamante was eating back in Brazil when he said: “I’m going to root like crazy for Wanderlei Silva…” Let’s allow the reader to reflect for a second. “…In the first fight,” Minotauro’s training mate adds with an ironic tone of voice. He considers the Chute Boxe star to be a most suitable – or a less tricky - opponent for Nogueira.
Aloof to Bustamante’s interests, Wanderlei is jumping up and down in his corner, the mouth protector shinning white while Cro Cop is walking the plank. There’s clapping in Brazil and silence in Japan. The fight begins and Wand charges forward. This time, Cro Cop does not walk backwards. There’s no study. Mirko is more effective both in the dodging and the hitting. So much that Wand shoots the legs and puts Filipovic in his guard. After a few moments when the fight loses its rhythm, the fighters are back on their feet. Silva insists in going for it. Then, a right hand blow lands on his face and knocks him down. Quickly, Cro Cop enters Silva’s guard and punches repeatedly his foe’s nose and right eye – both areas already hurt. Blood gushes out and the fight is interrupted.
Body language is 60% of communication, according to Hitch, the character played by Will Smith in the movie with the same name. Wand’s thumb and index finger close together and the expression on his face give away what’s going on. “Just a bit more,” the subtitles would read if there were any. The referee nods his head. Captions: “It is over.” The gesture discussion goes on for a moment and Wand’s plead prevails: the fight continues. There are applauses in Brazil and agitation in Japan – where fans love the warrior spirit.
Cro Cop insists for the fight to resume on the ground.
 It is a wise decision that hinders Silva from his last chance of recovery. From the guard, Wand looks like a tamed beast. There is not much he could do to express his anger. So the Chute Boxe star tries a series of short punches that have no effect at all on Cro Cop. The Croatian knows that once the fight returns to the stand up position, Wand would be a lot calmer.
Even so, it’s best not to risk it. Once both are up again, Cro Cop returns to his usual
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