If Barry Wants, I Will Give Him An Autograph

The media have not heard much from Mirko in the last couple of weeks but it’s not intentional but that he is completely focused on Pat and his traning.

Mirko has no doubts, if he winns he wants a new contract with the UFC the age is there but he has the will to complete another stint.

Basically that this is the last contracted fight and that this is his life and what he likes to do, again that money is not his motivation anymore.

He gets asked if there are any chance that he switches organization if he does not get a new contract with the UFC and he says, no chance what so over. if he does not continue with the UFC then he much rather hang uå the gloves as he ses no point in fighting in an org which does not have the strongest opponents. Also he mentiones that his relations with the UFC are great and this is the only org he wants to fight for and if this is teh last fight he has nothing to feel sorry for as he had a great career and fought the best and came out the winner from most of these fights.

His currently at a fakutly of some sort where he works on this wresling and checks his conditioning with his cionditioning coach Jukic. read more >

He gets asked if there are any chance that he switches organization if he does not get a new contract with the UFC and he says, no chance what so over. if he does not continue with the UFC then he much rather hang uå the gloves as he ses no point in fighting in an org which does not have the strongest opponents. Also he mentiones that his relations with the UFC are great and this is the only org he wants to fight for and if this is teh last fight he has nothing to feel sorry for as he had a great career and fought the best and came out the winner from most of these fights.

Question: What has changed since changing teams?

He answers that he is more pedant (Not sure if this is a english word, but means when sombody is maticules) and thinks more of the details these days, also the years are there so its different from before where after a hard session he could go out with friends for a beer but now adays he much rather rest and recuperate.

Question: The biggest impact of course is your new main coach Ivan Hyppolite?

Thats Ivan was the right man for the job and he has been in Croatia in stints, also its a big difference wresling with punching bags (He is actually referring to the bags not medioker sparring partners of the past) daily compared with sparring with great strikers.

Question: How is your mental state which you have had problems with in your last couple of fights?

I continue to work on my mental strength and that through a sports therapist Renati Baric, she has helped me alot. Basically there are a couple of breating exercises and konsentrational once he has worked on and more but he does not wish to go into more detail of this.

Question: In Vancouver is waiting a dangerous striker in Pat Barry, have you studid him?

Of course I have, we talk about a solid fighter. Basically he is hungry for UFC success and it will be a tough fight but he belives in his own success and strenght.

Question: Barry is yet a stronger opponent the Rothwell?

Barry is a striker and as such he appeals to me. Wont need to defend take downs every sekund of the fight and can concentrate on the stand up.

Question: You biggest advantage is on the ground even if you have not used that part of your game very much in the past?

if there is an oppertunity I will for sure take him down, why not. But he has always looked at the ground as a last resort, he believes that he is more talented and technical in the standup then barray even if he is also very good at this part of the game.

Question: barry has said that he would like your autograf, will you give it to him.

“Well nice of him, that only shows we talk about a straight up fighter and a real sportmanship”. He respects him and if he wants it on the day that he will give it to him (I personally wish he sighs his foot and then when it connects…voila Autograf:ed)

Question: What about the future, if he winns against Barry will he ask for a big name!

He says he does not know, he will accept any fight as always but he points out lets do this fight first as he does not want to look past any fighter.

Question: How would you comment the current standings in the heavy weight division, its a stacked division and soon we also will have the title fight.

They are all great fighters, all come very good prepared for there fights. he comments Mir fight against Carwin and said he failed completly with executing his gameplan… basically he looked hypnotized in that fight. now lesnar has been sick so it all depends in what state he will ge returning and in his mind the two strongest young lions are Dos Santos and Cain.

Question: You still have a big pull with the fans, you are interesting for the media and the events you appear in are sold out in record time.

Of course it makes me happy, it all shows the growing popularity of the UFC. If only I am responsible of a little bit of this its a great honour.

Question: And as the final, whats does your last moth before the fight look like?

Ivan is coming for two weeks and then I’m traveling to Vancouver a week before the fight.

Mirko have fight against Pat Barry 12 june 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada