It was a battle between two former kickboxers. One, Mirko Cro Cop, had become the most legendary striker in mixed martial arts history. The other, Pat Barry, was a rising star whose stock jumped exponentially after a knockout win over the talented Antoni Hardonk.
At UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin, the two fighters collided in a battle that, at least at the onset, seemingly had no chance of intentionally going to the ground. Who would dominate the striking? Who would, in this battle of mutual respect, prove victorious?
The result follows:
Pat Barry gave Mirko Cro Cop two big scares in the first round, dropping the veteran on two occasions with single right hands. But Barry, unwilling to go to the ground to potentially secure his victory, ended up falling behind gravely behind as the fight went on. In round three, he officially gave Cro Cop the win with a submission.
Following the early scares, Cro Cop used his experience to conquer Barry with a revised game plan. He relied more heavily on short, quick punches while also utilizing the clinch with greater success. In round two, he brought Barry to the ground with some wrestling and maintained an advantageous position.
In round three, he found a striking opportunity and tore Barry apart on the feet with a relentless flurry. As the action went down, Cro Cop worked some soft punches from the top but was unable to do enough damage to secure a TKO stoppage. He delivered quick elbows and then moved to Barry’s back, securing a rear naked choke. Barry, clearly hurt and worn down, tapped quickly.
Mirko Cro Cop b. Pat Barry via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:30 of Round Three