Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Plans Gone Awry

4. Gabriel Gonzaga Snipes Mirko Filipovic

Filipovic was one of the true greats of the Pride Fighting Championships organization, a man who possessed a highlight reel few could rival. His legendary left head kick was in the middle of it all; and considering the bodies he left in his wake in Japan, most felt “Cro Cop” would cruise to the heavyweight championship upon arriving in the UFC. Filipovic battered the petrified Eddie Sanchez in his Octagon debut and then set his sights on Gonzaga in a heavyweight title eliminator at UFC 70 on April 21, 2007 in Manchester, England.

Gonzaga refused to play the victim. Not long after their fight began, it became clear that the massive Brazilian was not intimidated in the least. He took down “Cro Cop” after absorbing a kick to the body and bludgeoned him with ground-and-pound from inside the guard. When they returned to their feet after a referee (Best MMA Referees) restart, Filipovic walked into it. Gonzaga authored one of the single greatest knockouts in UFC history when he planted a head kick of his own on the Croatian’s jaw. “Cro Cop” collapsed where he stood, as mouths across the globe hit the ground.

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