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'Cro Cop' eyes return to MMA

Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic has set his sights on a return to MMA © UFC

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Former UFC heavyweight Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic has admitted he still harbours hopes of a return to MMA.

The 37-year-old walked away from the UFC last October following defeat to Roy Nelson at UFC 137, but after surgery to repair torn muscles in his arm, Croatian is back in training and eyeing a return to the sport.

"Concerning my retirement from the UFC, I said it was my last fight for the UFC and last fight on the present contract, but I did not say, 'I won't keep fighting,' " Filipovic told USA Today. "I never said that. I think the best thing to say is that I was born to fight.

"I feel like a little kid. I'm so happy. I'm training every day. I usually train twice a day, and Thursdays and Sundays are supposed to be my days off. But even on those days I'm training at least once. I have to do at least one session each day to be happy."

Filipovic is currently under contract with kick-boxing promotion K-1, but is making no secret of his desire to return to mixed martial arts.

"If you ask me, when I look deep into my soul, of course I would like to fight MMA again," Filipovic said. "People don't get it. Martial arts is my life.

"K-1 was my first love, but even as recently as this week I was sparring kickboxing, and it was so difficult not to throw them on the ground and look to ground and pound. Even while I'm preparing for the K-1 Grand Prix, I'm training on the ground with grappling several times each week.

"My motivation now is to prove to everyone that I'm still capable of being in the cage. I'm not old. I'm 37, but I can do things that fighters 10 years younger cannot. I will prove that, or I will die trying."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.