The winds of change pushing the next generation of K-1 into the next century are starting to turn into a hurricane. There, in the midst of these gale force winds, we find the standard bearer of the new generation, Mirko Crocop, standing form and leaning into the wind, as all eyes turn to watch him holding the flag upright while defying the forces of nature.

At last years Grand Prix, Mirko KO’d the leading contender, Mike Bernardo in short time, and then went on to nail Musashi and Sam Greco both in second round KO’s. Although he was taken out by Hoost in the finals, his aggressive go-for-broke fighting style that will settle for nothing less than a knockout electrified Japan.

With a history of 45 fights under his belt as an amateur boxer, he’d only had 9 fights worth of experience in fights that allowed kicking when he KO’d Bernardo. Looking back before that, what’s even more amazing is that when he made his debut in the K-1 ring in 1996 and downed Jerome Le Banner, it was only his fourth fight. Mirko’s potential abilities are equal to that of Filho’s. It might even be safe to say that he has the most potential of all the fighters that have graced K-1 history.

When he was asked “do you think you can become `King of K-1’?” after last years Grand Prix, he replied “I’m young and I think I can” in a reply that brimmed with confidence. He went on even to say “I want to beat other fighters with more experience than I have and closer to the top.

At this years Fukuoka block tournament, he went through Glaube Feitosa and Amada Hiromi to nonchalantly earn the right to continue on the road to the championships.

Mirko has a special place on the police force in his home country of Croatia, where he trains SWAT teams in hand-to-hand combat. This allows him to train at a level that most cannot even begin to approach. He trains from early morning until late in the evening, making fighting a way of life.

He lost to Bernardo in the Fukuoka Tournament finals when damage to his leg prevented him from dishing out his specialty, but it was clear that his abilities had increased over last year.

“I have a lot of confidence in my punching and kicking abilities. Not to mention my speed.”

Those words really symbolize Mirko’s way of fighting. As soon as the gong sounds, he moves in to optimal striking distance and begins to pound away at his opponent with lightening strikes and kicks that pack explosive power. His blows pack so much power that they threaten to knock his opponents out of the ring, and remind you that if you blink, you might miss seeing the end of the battle. His wild fighting style bristles with energy and makes you fell as if you’re watch a style of karate all of its own.

After the Fukuoka tournament, Mirko promised to fight Bernardo at the Tokyo Dome. In order to get to that point, Mirko will have to beat that merciless group of powerful supermen that includes Hoost, Le Banner, and Filho, but this doesn`t seem to concern him in the least. In speaking about how Hoost chose him as his first opponent, Mirko says, “Ernesto probably made a mistake in choosing his position in the tournament. He’ll realize that in Tokyo.”

Last year, after beating Bernardo, his level increased two-fold under the K-1 rules. While it may be overestimating things to say that Mirko has increased two-fold in power, looking at him it’s hard not to think that way. In the last K-1 of the 20^th century, the probability of a 21^st century hero arising is immense.