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Good article... Looks like Barnett is fired up for the US Pride event... I like how the President slammed the Nakamura fight as well...
The day after the GP finals, on September 11th, both Mirko Cro Cop and Josh Barnett attended a press conference held in Tokyo. Cro Cop and Josh seemed like they are very close - sometimes they were whispering to each other, and when Josh downed his water, Cro Cop gave Josh his glass of water. 'In the striking aspect of MMA, he has got extraordinary talent. Yesterday, when I took a low-kick from him, I felt that.' Cro Cop had nothing but good things to say about his opponent in the GP final. Then Josh replied, 'I would like to go to Croatia where the beach is beautiful' and also implied that he would consider training with Cro Cop.
In regards to the PRIDE Las Vegas show on October 21st, Cro Cop said, 'I just have two stitches on my eyebrow, almost no damage. If PRIDE wants me to fight, I would go anywhere.' On the other hand, Josh seemed like he sustained great damage from GP finals but he expressed that, for the first time since March 2003 vs. Randy Couture in the UFC 36, he is looking forward to fighting in his home country, 'I am definitely fighting. Just like yesterday's fight, I want American fans to feel the world's best competition.'Cro Cop is the same way when it comes to his home country. As a senator, and as a citizen, he would like to do a PRIDE show in Croatia, 'Someday I want to do it. For the sound upbringing of youth in my country, I want this sport to be developed.' DSE head Nobuyuki Sakakibara added, 'There is a possibility that would happen. In the past, Mirko has mentioned that he wants to do a rematch against (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira in his home country. Croatia has a resort, and is close to Western Europe.'
Then Nobuhiko Takada PRIDE General Director gave the highest credit to Josh, 'He was definitely the MVP of the show' but at the same time, 'I was forced to watch the worst, if not, considerably lower level of competition' a harsh criticism directed towards Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Yoshihiro 'KISS' Nakao. 'Like those four GP finalists, fighters should take risks, and then go for a win.' However Sakakibara is still going to let Nakamura fight in the Vegas show so it is going to be interesting to see how Nakamura will change in a little over a month.
At the end, Sakakibara mentioned Wanderlei Silva who went straight to the hospital after the semi-final, 'I heard his eye injury would heal in about three weeks. His heart is yet to be broken.'
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