| Well as I'm sure you are already aware, the mixed | | | | Cro Cop: |
| martial arts world was floored almost as quick as the | | | | If you watched the knockout closely, and boy I did |
| "roundhouse kick heard round the world" that floored | | | | numerous times with my Tivo, you can clearly see that |
| the fighter who many considered to be virtually | | | | Cro Cop had lowered his left hand and arm down |
| unstoppable and easily, at least until this point, the most | | | | slightly leaving the left hand side of his head completely |
| feared striker in the heavyweight division. Of course I'm | | | | open and vulnerable to attack. After many times |
| talking about the featured fight of the evening during | | | | reviewing this fight, I would surmise that the reason Cro |
| UFC #70 featuring Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel | | | | Cop lowered his left arm was in order to take the |
| Gonzaga. | | | | brunt of the roundhouse kick on his arm, rather than his |
| As we all know, Cro Cop is primarily a stand-up fighter | | | | rib cage where he thought the kick was going to go. In |
| and should still, yes I said still, be considered the most | | | | addition to that, he also had his right foot up off the |
| feared striker in the heavyweight division. Even though | | | | ground at the exact moment he was struck with the |
| he did suffer a tremendous knockout, this doesn't | | | | roundhouse kick. These two factors contributed |
| affect his ability to strike and strike with devastating | | | | heavily to the devastating affects of Gonzaga's |
| knockout power in both his hands and feet. | | | | roundhouse kick. |
| Gonzaga, who is a highly trained black belt in Brazilian | | | | Gonzaga: |
| Jujitsu, is mainly known for his grappling abilities and | | | | He obviously took not only Cro Cop, but everyone else |
| was expected to try and take Cro Cop to the ground | | | | by surprise when he threw that beautiful roundhouse |
| where he would be at a great disadvantage since he | | | | kick to the head. I don't think Cro Cop really ever even |
| is not known for his ground fighting abilities. | | | | considered that Gonzaga would be able kick that high, |
| What will follow is a detailed professional analysis of | | | | let alone with such speed, power, and precision. In the |
| the fight from start to finish, concluding with some final | | | | early stages of the fight, Gonzaga threw two other |
| thoughts concerning both fighters. Please keep in mind | | | | roundhouse kicks, one low section and one midsection. |
| that these are my views from my own perspective of | | | | I believe that this had an obvious effect on where Cro |
| the events that transpired. They are by no means | | | | Cop thought Gonzaga was going to be kicking. |
| intended to shed any kind of negative or disparaging | | | | MY RECOMMENDATIONS: |
| thoughts, words, etc. on either one of the fighters | | | | Here are my thoughts on how each fighter could |
| involved. I have a great deal of respect for anyone, | | | | improve upon their respective abilities concerning this |
| and I do mean anyone, who steps onto the mat. So, | | | | particular fight. |
| with further ado let's get started. | | | | Cro Cop: |
| THE FIGHT: | | | | 1. Keep your hands up! I know this sounds simple and it |
| From the opening bell, Gonzaga was clearly the | | | | is. I myself learned this the hard way on more than one |
| aggressor as he continuously circled to Cro Cop's right | | | | occasion. |
| in order to avoid the left leg roundhouse kick. Although | | | | 2. Utilize your own kicking ability better by setting up |
| it appeared that Cro Cop was patiently stalking | | | | your kicks prior to throwing them. You only threw a |
| Gonzaga, he spent a lot of his time avoiding | | | | single solitary kick the entire fight, and it wasn't set up |
| Gonzaga's punches while throwing only a few | | | | prior to you throwing it and Gonzaga was able to grab |
| punches of his own. These were mainly jabs with his | | | | it. |
| right hand as Cro Cop primarily fights out of a | | | | 3. As fast as your kick is going from the floor to the |
| southpaw stance. | | | | target, it should be just as fast if not faster getting |
| Suddenly, at approximately 1 minute into the fight, Cro | | | | back down to the ground. |
| Cop unleashes one of his devastating roundhouse | | | | 4. Kick more with your lead leg and strike his lead leg. |
| kicks to the right side of Gonzaga's rib cage. The kick | | | | By fighting from a southpaw stance with your |
| is good and lands with a lot of power. However, | | | | opponent fighting from a traditional stance, your right |
| Gonzaga, who I'll bet was just waiting for Cro Cop to | | | | leg is always going to be closer to his left leg. |
| throw that kick, absorbed the blow and grabbed Cro | | | | Therefore, utilize footwork to put you into a position |
| Cop's left leg and proceeded to throw him to the | | | | where you can effectively kick his left leg with your |
| ground. | | | | right leg. |
| Once he was taken to the ground, Cro Cop did do a | | | | 5. Don't allow your opponent the opportunity to dictate |
| fairly good job of holding onto Gonzaga and even | | | | the pace of the fight. |
| smothered and blocked a lot of his punches. However, | | | | 6. Learn and Practice how to avoid being taken down, |
| Gonzaga was able to land several very well delivered | | | | and if so, how to get back up on your feet as soon as |
| elbows to Cro Cop's head with his right arm. Although | | | | possible. |
| these blows didn't end the fight, I can't help but think | | | | Gonzaga: |
| that they did ultimately contribute to Cro Cop's ultimate | | | | His strategy for this particular fight was almost |
| demise. | | | | flawless. However, here are a couple of things that I |
| The ground battle raged for a couple of minutes until | | | | noticed. |
| referee Herb Dean stood them both up with 30 | | | | 1. I gauged the effectiveness of the knockout |
| seconds remaining in the fight. Now I freely admit that I | | | | roundhouse kick at about 75%. The reason for this is |
| am not as well versed on the submission aspect of | | | | that had the knee on the kicking leg been a little bit |
| MMA, but I still haven't figured out why Herb Dean | | | | bent and pointing past Cro Cop's head, and if his hips |
| stopped them on the ground and stood them up. It | | | | and upper body were turned over just a little bit more |
| appeared to me that Gonzaga was continually trying | | | | in the direction of the kick, rather than in the opposite |
| to hit Cro Cop with elbows and fists, while at the same | | | | direction, the entire body weight would have been |
| time Cro Cop was doing a fairly good job of defending | | | | behind the kick, which would have resulted in a much |
| himself from all but a few of the elbow strikes thrown | | | | more devastating blow. |
| by Gonzaga. Now if anyone else knows why the | | | | 2. If you were executing a "Thai" roundhouse kick you |
| ground battle was stopped, please let me know as I | | | | should have continued to go through the target with |
| still haven't figured it out yet. | | | | your kicking leg. If however, you were executing a |
| Mere moments after the referee stood them up; | | | | traditional Karate or Tae Kwon Do roundhouse kick, |
| Gonzaga shook the entire mixed martial arts world | | | | you should have retracted or recoiled your lower leg, |
| with a beautifully thrown right leg roundhouse kick to | | | | rather than leaving it hanging on Cro Cop's shoulder. |
| the left temple of Cro Cop resulting in an instantaneous | | | | Which if you noticed got slightly hung up on his head |
| and devastating knockout. Immediately after Cro Cop | | | | and shoulder area. |
| hit the canvas, Gonzaga delivered two more | | | | FINAL THOUGHTS: |
| devastating punches to Cro Cop's head before | | | | Although this fight resulted in a loss for Cro Cop, I think |
| referee Herb Dean could intervene and stop the fight. | | | | you are going to see him come back even more |
| Gonzaga was declared the winner by knockout with | | | | dangerous than before as he has an indomitable spirit |
| mere seconds remaining in the first round. | | | | and will learn from the mistakes made in this fight. As |
| THE KNOCKOUT: | | | | far as Gonzaga is concerned, this was without a |
| Now there were several contributing factors that | | | | doubt the most impressive performance I have ever |
| were directly responsible for the effectiveness of | | | | seen by him. Randy Couture is definitely going to have |
| Gonzaga's roundhouse kick. Some of which were | | | | his hands full during that fight. However, I am still going |
| provided by Cro Cop himself. I have broken those | | | | with "The Natural" to win via submission. |
| factors down by fighter and they are as follows: | | | | |