Legendary Croatian mixed martial artist Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović has reportedly blocked podcast host Bear Degidio on Instagram following what appears to be a miscommunication about a podcast appearance.
During a recent episode of the Jaxxon podcast, Degidio revealed the awkward interaction with the former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight star.
“Cro Cop blocked me,” Degidio explained to his podcast guests. “I was trying to be respectful. I was offering to pay for his flight and compensate him to come on the show. He said, ‘Don’t ever message me again.’ I’m like, ‘Cro Cop, I’m trying to buy your flight and pay you to come on the show.’ He’s one of my favorite fighters.”
Another guest on the podcast, who claimed to be familiar with Filipović, offered some perspective on why the approach might have been poorly received.
“Man, Cro Cop, I love Cro Cop. We’re buddies,” the guest explained. “He’s like a politician or something over there, and he’s rich as well, and you offered him money, bro.”
The guest suggested that Degidio should have consulted him before reaching out: “You should have asked me. You should have talked to me, because Cro Cop is different, man. He’s different.”
Filipović, 49, retired from MMA in 2019 and has since maintained a respected status in his home country. Beyond his fighting career, he has served as a member of the Croatian parliament and reportedly maintains significant business interests, making him something of a national figure in Croatia.
