The UFC’s Fight Night series will take the show to Krakow, Poland on April 11 with a card headlined by Mirko Crocop versus Gabriel Gonzaga. The co-main event at light heavyweight was also announced as Poland’s Jan Blachowicz faces Jimi Manuwa in his second UFC bout.
Crocop is 40 years old, and though he remains a highly recognizable name, his return to the UFC earlier this month was a bit of a surprise. The UFC needed a main event for their debut in Poland, and Crocop got the call. Crocop meets Gonzaga for the second time, as Gonzaga famously KO’d the Croatian with a head kick back at UFC 70.
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Crocop’s last run with the UFC ended back in October of 2011 with three losses in a row. Gonzaga however, appears to be a safe opponent. The fact is Gonzaga was likey down on the cards when he pulled out the KO win last time, and he has been a declining force at Heavyweight since that peak performance back at UFC 70. Gonzaga has gone 8-8 since with the UFC. As for Crocop, since leaving the UFC he is 3-1 in MMA and he has continued to kickbox as well, where he only lost once in more than half a dozen outings.
England’s Jimi Manuwa has a tall order trying to beat Jan Blachowicz in the Pole’s home country. Manuwa is coming off the first loss of his career last March when he lost to Alexander Gustafsson, and there is a very real chance he loses this one to the stand out Blachowicz (18-3 overall in MMA).
This is the UFC’s debut in Poland, but do not be mistaken thinking that the Polish people will not rally around the UFC. Their local KSW show is a huge event, and they ravenously support their boxers as well. Manuwa will definitely be facing a hostile atmosphere when he walks into the octagon for this one. Blachowicz is a veteran of just that KSW show, so expect the excitement to be ratcheted up for this one.
Before we get too far ahead in the UFC schedule, don’t forget UFC 183 “Anderson Silva vs Nick Diaz” is this weekend. Check out the UFC’s countdown show for that fight:
