UFC fighter grilled on war crimes

UFC fighter Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipović has revealed how he spent days being questioned by officials investigating war crimes in the former Yugoslavia when he arrived in Canada for UFC 115.

The Croatian, a former policeman and soldier (pictured above with former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi), was detained and grilled about his participation in the Croatian War of Independence.

“Most of them were interested in my military service,” said the fighter who announced his retirement last week. “I served in 1993-1994 as a conscript, but I was not involved in combat activities.”

The fighter told Fighters Only Magazine, “They asked me if I was involved in the torture of civilians, asking for names of command lines and tactical commanders.”

CroCop said he refused to answer several questions put to him: “They were asking for details of my activities in Lucko ATJ [anti-terrorist unit] which I joined a few years after the war.

“They gave me a list of names for me to confirm, but I did not do it. I cannot confirm one name because it is still a matter of dignity and principles.

“I said to myself, ‘If it comes to it I am ready to go home‘. They could have done what they wanted with me but [in the end] they let me fight.”