Mirko Cro Cop’s famous finisher was used against him in KO loss nobody saw coming

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 his way to a UFC title fight with heavyweight champion Randy Couture after winning his UFC debut by KO in less than a round.

Prior to entering the UFC, the Croatian had stellar runs in K-1 Kickboxing and PRIDE with his kicks his greatest weapons, scoring knockouts by body kicks, leg kicks and his personal favorite, the coveted Cro Cop headkick, which he claimed many victims with including the feared Wanderlei Silva.

Two months after his debut win, the ultra-violent Cro Cop was matched up with 7-1 heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga in a billed title eliminator at UFC 70: Nations Collide on Apr. 21, 2007.

Nearly two decades later, UFC fans have not forgotten about the headkick that shocked the world.

READ MORE: Mariusz Pudzianowski battered Butterbean in 75-second World’s Strongest Man vs boxing legend mismatchEmbed from Getty ImagesGabriel Gonzaga entered Mirko Cro Cop fight as massive underdogHeading into his matchup with the highly-touted kickboxer, Gabriel Gonzaga was a +400 underdog with only 8 pro fights.

Gonzaga was known for his grappling, having won the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship the year prior, but the Brazilian had underrated striking skills along with KO power.

More than a minute into the fight, Gonzaga ate a nasty body kick before taking down Cro Cop to the ground. Gonzaga controlled from top position with over 3 minutes of control time before the referee Herb Dean stood both men up.

Aware of the takedown threat, Cro Cop then looked a bit timid to engage in the striking – the beginning of the end for the kickboxer.

Gabriel Gonzaga scored flawless headkick KO on Mirko Cro CropWith 30 seconds left to go in the opening round, Cro Cop and Gonzaga circled each other on the feet, neither fighter really throwing or landing anything.

Just as it looked like the heavyweights were about to see round 2, Gonzaga did the unimaginable with 12 seconds left on the clock.

With Cro Cop circling to his left, Gonzaga went for a right headkick that landed flush on Cro Cop with his hand bouncing off the floor.

Already out, Gonzaga landed a couple more shots on the ground as the referee rushed in to save Cro Cop from further punishment.

Gonzaga had done it. He had knocked out Mirko Cro Cop in one of the biggest heavyweight upsets in MMA history, earning a title fight with Randy Couture in the process.

Cro Cop was unconscious on the canvas for a couple of minutes before doctors sat him down on a stool to check on him.

Mirko Filipović would eventually get his revenge on Gabriel Gonzaga, although it did take him 8 years to do so with the Croatian winning the rematch by round 3 TKO in 2015.