When Mirko CroCop Filipovic defeated Pat Barry in dramatic fashion at UFC 115 with an improbable rear naked choke that earned him Submission of the Night honors, it seemed likely it would be the last time fans would see the 36 year-old MMA legend in the Octagon.

Now, just three months later, the Croatian kickboxer is back, this time to face perennial heavyweight contender Frank Mir at UFC 119 on September 25. Filipovic will be replacing Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who had to withdraw from the matchup with Mir due to a training injury.

CroCop, who suffered a broken facial bone in his win over Barry on June 12, will have less than five weeks to prepare for Mir. Filipovic noted that this could potentially lead to difficulties when he accepted the fight, a comment Mir seized upon to claim that CroCop is coming with "built in" excuses in case he loses. CroCop strongly denies this is the case.

"Now, I say there is some danger in taking such a fight on such short notice but at the same time after years of training, if you are not ready to enter the ring at any time, you are not a true fighter," CroCop told FightersOnlyMagazine. "So I took the offer, because of respect to the UFC - because I secured my financial and family life in the UFC - and also for the UFC fans. That was the biggest reason, I just felt it was my responsibility to take it. Maybe that sounds silly I don't know, but that's the truth. And of course the financial offer was good but I must stress that this was not the main reason. It was in second place. The most important thing was to pay back to the UFC for everything they have done for me."

Although Filipovic admits that there can be problems accepting a fight with so little time to prepare, he says he's content with the training he's had.

"As for 12 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 weeks preparation, I don't care," CroCop stated. "The biggest problem was that I could not rush into the training because I would injure myself. And the worst thing that can happen to any fighter is to be over-trained - it is better to be not trained enough than to be over-trained. So as we say in Croatia, 'I have covered myself as much as my blanket allows'. Now I am not saying this because I am looking for excuses - after so much time spent in this sport, I need no excuses, I don't have to justify myself to anyone. For me, the UFC needed my help and I just couldn't say no."

For his part, CroCop says he doesn't take Mir's comments personally, as he sees them as all a part of the game Mir likes to play.

"At the end of the day I don't think Frank Mir is a bad guy, he is just a guy who likes to talk and insult his opponents," Filipovic said. "That's something I don't like, I am too long in this business and I had too many fights. My behavior is not like that, I was raised as a kid to respect other people. I don't think Mir has anything against me personally, that's just how he likes to promote his fights, that's his right. But I just don't like it; definitely we will have a good fight. There is nothing more I can add."

CroCop is 27-7-2 (1 NC) in his career, and has...

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