The UFC shocked everyone earlier this week when they re-signed MMA legend Mirko ‘CroCop’ and seemingly snapped him from right under the noses of rival’s Bellator.
Now today the UFC officially announced their first show in Poland will take place on April 11th and will be main evented by CroCop vs. Gonzaga II.
The pair first met almost 8 years ago in a title eliminator at UFC 70 in Manchester, England in a fight that has become MMA folklore after Gonzaga shocked the world with a devastating headkick KO of the man most synonymous with headkicks himself Mirko ‘CroCop’.
CroCop is 3-1 since he last fought in the UFC and that includes back to back wins over highly rated Olympic Gold medallist Satoshi Ishii. The Croatian has also been successful in K1 since leaving the UFC in 2011 and has went 7-1 in that time amassing wins over the likes of Ray Sefo and two over Jarell Miller.
Since CroCop’s last appearance in the UFC Gabriel Gonzago found himself back in the promotion. He has went 4-3 since re-joining in 2012 and holds a pair of first round KO’s over Dave Herman and Shawn Jordan in that time. He has unfortunately dropped back to back loses against Stipe Miocic and most recently Matt Mitrione.
The pair will square off on April 11th in Krakow, Poland.
Also officially announced for the co-main event of the card is Jimi Manuwa vs. Jan Blachowicz.