One of the craziest headkick Knockouts of all time took place 18 years ago today.
The legendary kickboxer Mirko 'CRO COP' Filipović was well on the way to a UFC title fight with heavyweight champion Randy Couture after winning his UFC debut by Ko in less than a round.
Before he entered the UFC, the Croatians had Stellaire Runs in K-1 kickboxing and proudly with his stairs his biggest weapons, scoring knockouts by body stairs, legs and his personal favorite, the coveted Cro Cop Headkick, which he claimed, many victims were claimed.
Two months after his debut profit, the ultra-violent CRO agent was linked to 7-1 heavyweight Gonzaga in a invoiced title eliminator at UFC 70: Nations Collide on April 21, 2007.
Almost two decades later, UFC fans did not forget the headkick who shocked the world.
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Gabriel Gonzaga entered Mirko Cro Cop -fight as a massive underdog
Gabriel Gonzaga was in his matchup with the very exhausted kickboker and was a +400 underdog with only 8 pro fights.
Gonzaga was known for his struggle after he won the Ibjjf World Jiu-Jitsu championship the year before, but the Brazilian had underestimated striking skills together with Ko Power.
More than a minute in the fight at Gonzaga a annoying body staircase before he brought CRO Cop to the ground. From a top position, Gonzaga ruled with more than 3 minutes of control time before the referee Herb Decan sustained both men.
Aware of the Takedown threat, CRO COP then saw a little timid to participate in the striking – the beginning of the end for the kickboker.
Gabriel Gonzaga scored flawless headkick Ko on Mirko Cro Crop
With 30 seconds to go to go into the opening round, CRO Cop and Gonzaga circled each other on the feet, neither fighter threw or landed something.
Just as it seemed as if the heavyweights were about to see 2, Gonzaga did it unimaginable with 12 seconds left.
With a CRO agent around him, Gonzaga went in front of a right head kick that landed on Cro Cop with his hand bounced off the floor.
Gonzaga already landed a few shots on the floor while the referee entered to save Cro Cop from further punishment.
Gonzaga had done it. He had eliminated Mirko CRO agent in one of the greatest heavyweight disturbances in the MMA history and earned a title fight with Randy Couture.
Cro Cop was unconscious on the canvas for a few minutes before doctors sat on a chair to check it.
Mirko Filipović would eventually take revenge on Gabriel Gonzaga, although it took him 8 years to do this with the Croatian who won the Rematch through Round 3 TKO in 2015.