A WORD FROM THE ASIAN SENSATION...
…ironic.
i·ron·ic (ī-rŏn'ĭk)
adj.
1. Characterized by or constituting irony.
2. Given to the use of irony.
3. Poignantly contrary to what was expected or intended.
Two UFC’s have past. Two stunning upsets have been the focus of discussion. Matt Serra shocked the world by being the first man to finish Georges St. Pierre. Gabriel Gonzaga followed suit with an impressive knockout of Mirko “Cro Cop†Filipovic. Fans and pundits were left speechless.
Oh the irony.
While it seemed plausible for Gonzaga to pull off an upset, it’s safe to say that no one predicted the Croatian star would fall victim to a move he practically patented â€"œ the high kick. Numerous opponents have been defeated with Mirko’s signature finisher and a majority of the MMA community concurred that the Brazilian heavyweight would be the next target.
After controlling most of the opening round, Gonzaga threw a right high kick that crumbled the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix Champion with just seconds left. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt ambitiously stated he was “going for a knockout.†Shockingly, he achieved his objective.
Like Serra, credit must also be given to Gabriel Gonzaga for making April the month for big upsets. I never thought it could get any worse than last February, but this month has left me disconcerted and speechless.
So what holds for Mirko’s immediate future?
Retirement? Unlikely. Mirko is getting older, but there’s still much for him to accomplish in the Octagon. Although he may have forfeited his chance at UFC gold, there are many intriguing match-ups left for him.
The UFC heavyweight division used to be a barren wasteland, but has been given new life with recent acquisitions. In his quest for title contention, “Cro Cop†may meet some formidable opposition in the near future that includes Brandon Vera, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, and a rematch with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The knockout loss was devastating, but Mirko will rebound like a true champion.
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