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- The upcoming UFC Fight Night 79 will not see Mirko Filipovic on its Fight Pass. The UFC Heavyweight fighter announced his withdrawal from this event to be aired on Nov. 28, 2015.
Mirko Cro Cop had returned only last April to avenge his 2007 loss to Gabriel Gongaza, and now calls it all on his career in MMA.
In accordance with the statement he posted on his official website, a nagging shoulder injury is put to blame. This 41-year old also goes on to elaborate that this is the time he needs to think of his health. He also says that he has no regrets. In his words:
“Unfortunately I had to cancel the fight in Seoul. In the beginning of the preparation I already hurt my shoulder, so I couldn't raise a hand. I tried to save a shoulder injury and repair in all possible ways: daily therapy, injections of blood plasma and various cocktails of drugs but didn't work out.
The only cure would be a break of two to three weeks, and that I could not afford in the midst of final preparations. By daily trainings the injury gets worse. Part of the muscle is snapped, the shoulder is filled with a lot of fluids, and the great danger is that tendon ruptures and then go to operation again.
I am aware that I have come to the end of my martial times, but training with pain I want no longer. This is not a temporary decision because I was unhappy due to all of that, but it's my final decision and it's best for me.
Sooner or later the time comes when a man has to think on the health. I had a really long and great career and I believe I left a deep mark in the martial arts, in a free fight and in K-1 and I have no regrets. Thanks to everyone who followed me and supported me, but for me there remains beautiful memories.”
No official statement has bee made so far by the promotion.
- Failing a drug test after being tested sounds legit enough but Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone failed his by other means. Him being the busy traveller he is, was not available to receive unannounced United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) at his doorstep.
USADA’s policy doesn't tolerate consecutive absentees so they conclusively failed him in the drug test.
Cowboy says, “In the new testing, you have to tell them your whereabouts. F***, I don't know where I'm going to be. They show up to my house and are like ‘where are you this weekend?' It was on the weekend that I went to Vegas on a whim. They were like ‘where are you?' and I was like ‘I'm in Vegas'. And they were like ‘we're at your house'. And I was like ‘well that sucks.' So I failed. I failed my drug test.”
Apparently, three whereabouts failures within a year is considered as a violation of the Anti-Doping Rule. Lessons learnt for Cerrone and we hope he'll be sure to drop a notice the next time he goes galavanting.
As of now, Cerrone is scheduled to appear in the main event of UFC on FOX 17 against Rafael dos Anjos, to be aired on December 19, 2015, at Orlando, Florida.
