I love both my fellow croatians.
1. I never watched a Cro Cop fight in Pride 2003-2006 era and not been at the edge of my seat. NErvous as fuck, knowing it can end If i get up to get a glass of water. That's how i missed Vovchanchyn KO. It was super-exciting! Win or loose. Just look at the Cro COp - Fedor, Cro Cop vs Nog, And Nog vs Fedor. Pure excitement from start to finish. Stipe vs Nganu - boring as hell.
2. Prime CC was hard to take down. Ask Mark Coleman.Barnett, Minotauro and other. It wasn't impossible, but it was hard, and then CC would just tie you up and wait for a stand up.
3. I really like stipe, but GOAT? We must look at more then just record. Fights are much more then W or L.
Did Stipe beat Nganu? He won. But after 2 days of Recovery Nganu can walk and train again. Cro cop was putting guys out for 6 months to a year. Breaking bones, Vovchanchyn almost dies, was throwing up for weeks. Broken Fujitas face, Herrings ribs, MOgamedov's ribs, Sapps orbital.
Cro Cop lost to randleman, MInotauro, Fedor and hunt in thgose days.
Underastimated a wrestler, subbed by greatest BBJ figter of that era (did't even train BJJ at that time), lost a exciteing decision against the best HW figter ever and Hunt beat him with a split decision in a K1 math (mma rules but they were standing up) and CC has a LHK win over hunt in K1.
The fact is - Cro Cop could lose that figt, but with stipe landing some punch like randleman. Most likely it would be a brutal finish by Cro Cop. IMO