Penn And Cro Cop Hang It Up After UFC 137 Losses
UFC 137 this past weekend, will enter the history books as we watch two legends of our sport walk away, granted one of them more predictable than the other, neither was expected, and one of them a shocker.
Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic said before his fight with heavyweight, Roy Nelson, that despite rumors that UFC President, Dana White would cut him from the UFC following a loss, that would not be the case. ‘Cro Cop’ argued that he’d win the fight, continue in the UFC and ultimately retire from the organization on his own terms. Although he did retire at his own terms prior to being cut from the UFC, ‘Cro Cop’ did not end victorious with a win over Nelson. Despite ‘Cro Cop’ finding early success, Nelson ultimately found room for his wild haymakers, sending the Croatian to the mat and finishing him off with a third round TKO.
Following his loss, ‘Cro Cop’ was quick to admit that he could no longer and would attempt no longer to compete with the rapidly evolving sport.
"The UFC has been so good to me over the years,” ‘Cro Cop’ said following his UFC 137 loss, “and it is hard to leave this company and this sport. Even though I didn't do as well in the UFC as the rest of my career, I feel like I did everything that I could to have an overall successful career."
Also announcing retirement, and certainly more surprising, B.J. Penn conceited following his loss in the main event to Nick Diaz. Like ‘Cro Cop’, Penn seemed to have an early advantage, looking quicker and more crisp that his opponent. As the fight moved into the second round, Penn seemed to lose a step as Diaz ramped up and took control of the fight picking apart Penn at will for the remainder of the bout. Also like ‘Cro Cop’, Penn was quick to announce with little hesitation that this would be the last time he would be fighting in the UFC quoting that his second daughter is on the way, and he was no longer willing to go home looking beat up.
Though it has appeared evident in recent years that Penn was aging and at times questioning where he fits in the UFC, his first round KO over Matt Hughes seemed to remove all doubt that he could compete at the highest level and still belonged in the cage. Although his heart cannot be questioned for staying in the one-sided fight with Diaz, it looks as though Penn has past his prime. It’s better he go out near the top than to fight beyond his ability and sink the legendary reputation he has created for himself. If his fight with Diaz was indeed the last time we saw Penn, he will surely be remembered as one of the greats that helped pilot this sport in it’s infancy.
