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Cro Cop will finish his career in the UFC - White

Mirko Cro Cop has now won two in a row © UFC

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Dana White has confirmed Mirko Cro Cop will finish his career in the UFC.

Cro Cop's contract has officially ended following his submission victory over Pat Barry at UFC 115, which earned the Croatian Submission of the Night honours. Having twice been knocked down in round one, Cro Cop suddenly showed he still has the heart and talent to defy his 35 years, battling back to put Barry on the mat before snapping on the rear naked choke.

After such an outstanding performance, the demand to see Cro Cop will be high, but he claimed on Jutarnji website that his career was over.

"Most of the training proved to me that I am now too old for this," he said. "I don't know about a new contract with the UFC. I believe that I gave this game a lot, I fought with the greatest fighters.

"For 20 years I lived this life and now I have no motivation for the fight, no mental strength for all the Spartan training. I am no longer so hungry for victory. I will not stop training, but if I am asleep I'll stay in bed and practice an hour later."

White admits he will try to convince the former PRIDE Grand Prix champion to fight again. However, if the president fails, he insists Cro Cop will not be seen entering any other organisation's ring.

"We're going to talk to Mirko, and see what Mirko wants to do," White explained.

"Mirko has said to me and Lorenzo [Fertitta] both that he wants to finish his career here, and yeah we plan on him finishing his career here with the UFC."

The relationship has never been better between Cro Cop and White, proven by the light-heavyweight's cheeky plea to a 'stingy' White for a Submission of the Night bonus. And the fighter himself admits he plans to become an ambassador for the UFC when his career ends.

"Definitely I will stick around with the UFC. Definitely," Cro Cop stated. "Fighting or not, I would like to stay in contract with them. We will see. I will sit with Dana and we will talk."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.