Mirko Cro Cop earned a technical knockout victory over Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 in Sydney, opening up a big cut on Perosh's forehead and causing the fight to be stopped after the second round. But the legendary Cro Cop didn't look particularly impressive in the process.
Perosh succeeded in taking the fight to the ground early in the first round, but Cro Cop did some damage and even attempted a guillotine choke before getting back to his feet. On the feet, Cro Cop landed several hard punches to Perosh's nose, making him bleed -- and making him back away. The first round consisted of little more than Cro Cop landing punches and Perosh trying not to get hurt too badly.
The second round was not particularly impressive on Cro Cop's part, as he failed to show the speed and explosiveness on his feet that we saw from the Cro Cop of old. Late in the round the fight went to the ground, and Cro Cop opened a huge cut on Perosh's forehead with a vicious elbow. Amazingly, the referee and ringside doctor allowed the fight to continue after examining the cut, but after the second round, the fight was called to a halt.
It was a fight that Cro Cop was expected to win easily; Perosh took the fight just two days ago because Cro Cop's original opponent, Ben Rothwell, dropped out with an illness.
"My original opponent canceled the fight, so Anthony jumped in and I appreciate his courage and his guts," Cro Cop said afterward.
Cro Cop added, "I was shocked" that Perosh wanted to keep fighting after receiving the cut.
Cro Cop improved his record to 26-7-2, and it was his 20th win by KO or TKO. But beating Perosh, whose record falls to 10-6, represents one of the least impressive wins of Cro Cop's career.
Perosh succeeded in taking the fight to the ground early in the first round, but Cro Cop did some damage and even attempted a guillotine choke before getting back to his feet. On the feet, Cro Cop landed several hard punches to Perosh's nose, making him bleed -- and making him back away. The first round consisted of little more than Cro Cop landing punches and Perosh trying not to get hurt too badly.
The second round was not particularly impressive on Cro Cop's part, as he failed to show the speed and explosiveness on his feet that we saw from the Cro Cop of old. Late in the round the fight went to the ground, and Cro Cop opened a huge cut on Perosh's forehead with a vicious elbow. Amazingly, the referee and ringside doctor allowed the fight to continue after examining the cut, but after the second round, the fight was called to a halt.
It was a fight that Cro Cop was expected to win easily; Perosh took the fight just two days ago because Cro Cop's original opponent, Ben Rothwell, dropped out with an illness.
"My original opponent canceled the fight, so Anthony jumped in and I appreciate his courage and his guts," Cro Cop said afterward.
Cro Cop added, "I was shocked" that Perosh wanted to keep fighting after receiving the cut.
Cro Cop improved his record to 26-7-2, and it was his 20th win by KO or TKO. But beating Perosh, whose record falls to 10-6, represents one of the least impressive wins of Cro Cop's career.