Overeem Says Cro Cop "Was Looking For a Way Out"

In the wake up of his disappointing no-contest with Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at the Sept. 23 Dream 6: Middle Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final event in Japan, Alistair Overeem maintains that he was merely seconds away from victory and that his opponent was looking for a way out of the fight.

Overeem made the comments during the latest edition of "Inside MMA."

Back in June Overeem began a very public campaign to get a fight with Filipovic. He made claims that the famed Croatian striker and former PRIDE star was ducking him. Overeem, the reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion, also boldly guaranteed victory via stoppage if and when the fight did happen.

He finally got his wish and was granted the fight with Filipovic. And though he dominated the bout, Overeem tagged Filipovic with a series of knees to the groin. The final two blows sent Filipovic to the mat, forced the referee to intervene, and eventually left the fighter unable to continue. During the HDNet broadcast of the event, color commentator Bas Rutten said that Filipovic's corner had informed him that the fighter's "right testicle is inside" his body.

Overeem claims that the second knee strike didn't even land.

"The second [strike] definitely wasn't in the crotch," he told reporter Ron Kruck. "I think it was a spectacular fight. You could clearly see me dominating him. You can clearly see me kicking his butt. I cut his face two times. I was destroying his body."

That's why, he said, Filipovic decided not to continue.

"He was not motivated to continue the fight," Overeem said. "He was looking for a way out. ... We fought for nine minutes, and he didn't hit me a single time."

Unsatisfied with the conclusion, but knowing that a future match-up will require Filipovic's consent, Overeem is hoping to talk his way into a rematch.

"I want to fight him again, and I want to finish him," Overeem said. "Mirko, give me another chance, and I'll KO you because you know you were going to get KO'd at Dream 6: Middle Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final.

Source: mmajunkie.com