When Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic walks into an arena the first thing you notice are those massive legs sticking out of those fitted shorts looking like walking tree trunks.

“I have big legs,” Filipovic says.

Those quick-striking legs have carried Filipovic (22-4-2) to the pinnacle of kickboxing, mixed martial arts and now to Manchester, England where he’ll meet Gabriel Gonzaga (7-1) in Ultimate Fighting Championship 70 called “Nations Collide.” The MMA card will be televised on Spike TV on Saturday April 21.

England’s calling for Cro Cop.

It’s the second time UFC has hit British shores but this time the climate for American-style MMA action is more receptive. Plus the fact one of Europe’s most revered combatants has a part in it.

“We’re excited to be back in the UK,” said Dana White, president of UFC. “The arena is sold out. We have a stacked card with Mirko Cro Cop facing Gonzaga.”

Gonzaga’s no slouch.

“Gonzaga can really fight,” said Don Leonard, a MMA reporter for a California magazine. “He’s not an easy guy to fight.”

The 27-year-old Brazilian jujitsu specialist now trains out of Ludlow, Mass. and has seven wins with one mere loss.

“Gonzaga can beat Cro Cop,” Dino says. “He’s just not famous.” 

Filipovic’s fame in the world of MMA is no accident. Throughout his career Filipovic has built a reputation with his no-nonsense posture inside the ring and effortless fighting style built on effective but brutal strikes.

But he has another side too.

The man of many faces currently serves on Croatia’s Parliament, was a former commando in the Croatian police anti-terrorist unit stationed in Lucko near Zagreb. That’s how the name Cro Cop was tabbed on him.

“I was a member of the special police,” Filipovic, 32, said during a telephone press conference. “It was a great time of my life. I enjoyed it.”

He’s also enjoying the last six months of his term in Parliament where he concentrates on working for police services.

‘It was a big challenge for me to be a Member of Parliament,” Filipovic said. “But it was worth it.”

With only six months left in the political arena, he’s turning full force to the octagon where he made his debut on Feb. 3, 2007 beating Eddie Sanchez. He probably beat him before the fight even started.

“I might have been a little nervous,” Sanchez said after being stopped by the steely-eyed Cro Cop in the first round.

Looking at the listless face of Filipovic, it’s easy to imagine he wears that same dispassionate look while performing as a commando. But listening to him talk it’s easy to see a commitment to public service. He cares about people.

Just don’t step in the octagon. That’s his territory.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Those powerful legs first propelled him to a tournament championship in K-1 where his high leg kicks have stopped opponents and dropped them like sacks of grain.

During a K-1 Grand Prix tournament in 1999, he entered the final four as a wild card entry and proceeded to upset the favorite Mike Bernardo.

In 2001, Filipovic added MMA to kickboxing and joined Pride FC where faced its top-notch fighters including Aleksander Emelianenko and later his brother Fedor Emelianenko considered the best MMA fighter in the world.

After knocking out the younger Emelianenko, then came the test of strength against the older brother Fedor who also holds the Pride heavyweight championship. For three rounds both combatants fought to their strengths: Filipovic angling for his powerful leg kicks to the head and Fedor his swift and deadly fists.

It ended in a close but unanimous decision for Emelianenko. That match took place two years ago. Filipovic wants a rematch.

“I definitely would like a rematch with Fedor, but right now I’m thinking about my next fight,” Filipovic says with the tact of a seasoned politician. “”Gonzaga is a tough guy. He won’t hesitate to go toe-to-toe. I have to be careful.”

Fedor Emelianenko wins
Fighting in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Pride FC heavyweight champion Emelianenko forced challenger Matt Lindland to surrender with an arm bar at 2:58 of the first round. The match was promoted by BodogFight last Saturday April 14.

Though Emelianenko has a contract with Pride FC, a company that was bought by UFC, the Russian’s agreement allows him to fight with other organizations if fought in his homeland.

“His contract wasn’t an exclusive contract with Pride,” said UFC’s White about Emelianenko. “We don’t do nonexclusive contracts with anybody.”

• Coming events
  April 21 – Cage Rage 21, in London, England at Wembley Arena.
• April 21 – UFC 70, in Manchester, England at MEN Arena.
• MMA televised events
• April 21 – UFC 70 features Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (22-4-2) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (7-1);  Andrei Arlovski vs. Fabricio Werdum; Michael Bisping vs. Elvis Sinosic. Will be shown on SPIKE TV at 9 p.m. (ET and PT).
• April 21 – Cage Rage 21 features Bob Sapp (8-2-1) vs. Gary Turner (1-0-1); Vitor Belfort vs. Ivan Serati; Evangelista Santos vs. James Zikic. Will be shown on www.proelite.com at 3 p.m. (ET) 12 p.m. (PT).

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