A pair of heavyweights looking to settle a score, Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop will compete in a rematch at UFC Fight Night: Krakow on Saturday at the Tauron Arena.
Their first fight in 2007 ended when Gonzaga smashed a high kick to the top of Cro Cop’s cranium, clinching the finish and etching his name into UFC folklore in the process.
Gonzaga had since slid down the rankings, losing his last two to Stipe Miocic and Matt Mitrione, while his opponent returns to the UFC after a four-year hiatus.
Despite the Brazilian’s clout with his fists – no doubt with his feet too – he is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt as well a 2006 world title winner in the same discipline. Since joining the UFC in 2005, he owns a superman punch knockout over Keith Jordan, not to mention cast-iron stoppages over Shawn Jordan and Dave Herman. Don’t forget Gonzaga’s ground game either – for a 260lbs monster, he is a slippery box of tricks on the mat.
Indeed, avoiding the takedown will be key to any success Cro Cop has. How much does he have left though? At 40, he returns to the UFC having left in 2011 during a three-fight losing streak. He made his name with his own high kicks in Pride in the 2000s, short-circuiting the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Alexander Emilianenko, while his background in striking has also helped him pick up the K-1 Grand Prix title in 2012 and runner-up spots in 2000 and 1999.
Still, if you believe what the Croatian says, he isn’t finished just yet. He claims he can perform more burpees than previously and is sparring with Miocic more intensely than before. Expect him to walk forward wearing his cold stare again, probing with leg kicks and high kicks. The man who returns to the UFC should stay wary of Gonzaga’s timing on the takedown, but he could potentially force a stoppage – probably on the feet – during the latter rounds.
Prediction – Cro Cop wins via TKO, round 4
Light-heavyweights Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz compete in the co-main event. Manuwa returns from a metatarsal injury after his one-round pummeling at the hands of Alexander Gustafsson last February, while before that he displayed dangerous Muay Thai and patient boxing when stopping Cyrille Diabate and Ryan Jimmo.
On the other hand Poland’s Blachowicz, who won the KSW title in 2011 avenging a loss to Sokodjou, will receive a hero’s welcome after demolishing Ilir Latifi in a round in October 2014. With a background in judo, the Ankos Zapasy Poznan man is another dangerous striker possessing shrewd body attacks as well as finishing instincts.
Indeed, the home fighter reckons this could be a muay Thai fight with small gloves and he might not be wrong. It could be a case of who gets who first, but the fact that neither man has been extended beyond one UFC round makes this an unmissable contest. Can Manuwa’s cardio hold up over three rounds? Can Blachowicz take a shot? We’ll find out on Saturday but don’t expect this one to last 15 minutes.
Prediction – Blachowicz wins via TKO, round 2
Elsewhere on the main card, Sheldon Westcott and Pawel Pawlak will take up hostilities at 170lbs. Wescott finished as runner-up in The Ultimate Fighter nations: Canada vs Australia – losing in two rounds of high-octane action to Elias Theodourou – but the Canadian holds a 8-1-2 record as well as strong conditioning and takedown offence. Pawlak, fighting out of Lodz, employs strikes creatively from the top but has suspect ground defence. Expect Westcott to come through on the cards. Also at welterweight Seth Baczynski will face off with Leon Edwards, while jiu-jitsu standout Sergio Moraes welcomes Frenchman Mickael Lebout to the Octagon.
Prediction – Westcott wins via unanimous decision
Strawweight Joanne Calderwood showed off her Thai boxing as a semi-finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 20. The Scot, 9-0, employs a diverse range of kicks and should start as favourite against UFC newcomer Maryna Moroz. At 23 the Ukrainian, 5-0, lacks cage time but owns four armbar triumphs. Izabela Badurek meets Aleksandra Albu in the same division.
Prediction – Calderwood wins via unanimous decision
Making up the preliminary bouts Garreth McLellan will make his UFC bow in a middleweight scrap with Bartosz Fabianski. Heavyweights Anthony Hamilton and Daniel Omielanczuk will trade blows as well as featherweights Stevie Ray and Marcin Bandel. And finally the card will begin with two other 145lbs scraps, with Taylor Lapilus against Rocky Lee and Damian Stasiak taking on Yaotzin Meza.
