The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Kraków Arena in Kraków, Poland tonight for UFC Fight Night 64: “Gonzaga vs Cro Cop 2.” The card featured a heavyweight rematch between Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, who returned following a three-year UFC hiatus.
In the light heavyweight co-main event, Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa took on Jan Blachowicz. Pawel “Plastinho” Pawlak battled Sheldon Westcott in welterweight action and Joanne “JoJo” Calderwood faced Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz at 115. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović vs Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga
Round 1:
Gonzaga lunged in with two right hooks early on and he followed with a looping overhand right. Gonzaga landed a body kick and he continued to pressure Filipović with punches. He took Filipović down and worked from the top in half-guard. Gonzaga passed to mount, but Filipović countered with a heel hook attempt. Gonzaga secured a leglock of his own and retook top position in Filipović’s guard. 10-9 Gonzaga.
Round 2:
Straight punches landed for both men in round two and Gonzaga ducked under a head kick attempt. Time was briefly called after Filipović was kneed in the groin, but action resumed and Gonzaga countered an uppercut with a takedown. Filipović struck from the bottom with punches and elbows, but Gonzaga moved to half-guard and then to mount. He looked to set up an armbar, but Filipović defended and Gonzaga dropped elbows until the bell. 10-9 Gonzaga.
Round 3:
Filipović avoided a takedown early in round three, but Gonzaga secured a clinch and tried to take him down against the cage. Big punches were exchanged and Filipović hurt Gonzaga with left hooks and an elbow. Gonzaga fell to the mat and Filipović landed more punches and elbows from Gonzaga’s guard. He cut Gonzaga with a series of vicious elbows and followed with punches until the referee rescued a badly bloodied Gonzaga.
Winner: Mirko Filipović by TKO (Elbows & Punches) at 3:30 of round three. He improves to 31-11-2, 1 NC.
Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa vs Jan Blachowicz
Round 1:
Blachowicz repeatedly scored with quick jabs early on and Manuwa closed the distance by clinching against the cage. Blachowicz broke free and attempted a head kick, but Manuwa clinched again and threw knees to the thighs. Blachowicz eventually reversed the clinch and he landed short knees of his own. Manuwa broke free and he landed kicks to Blachowicz’s legs until the bell. Close round. 10-9 Manuwa, barely.
Round 2:
Manuwa kicked to the body in round two and the fighters traded jabs. A clinch followed and both men landed knees to the thighs and midsection. More jabs were exchanged and Blachowicz landed an uppercut as Manuwa closed the distance. He followed with a hard combination that stunned Manuwa momentarily, but Manuwa landed a left hook to the liver in the final seconds. Another close round. 10-9 Blachowicz.
Round 3:
After an exchange of strikes in the clinch, Blachowicz fired off a head kick that got Manuwa’s attention. Neither fighter landed anything substantial in a clinch and Blachowicz connected with an uppercut after a break. Manuwa pressed forward with a combination and Blachowicz countered with a left hook. He backed Manuwa up with a flurry, but Manuwa recovered and he walked in with a combination of his own. He stuffed a takedown and scored with a big knee before the bell. Very close fight. 10-9 Manuwa.
Winner: Jimi Manuwa by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-1-0.
Pawel “Plastinho” Pawlak vs Sheldon Westcott
Round 1:
Westcott clinched and took Pawlak’s back against the cage in the opening minute, but he was unable to secure a takedown. Pawlak eventually reversed with a judo throw, but Westcott quickly returned to his feet and he held Pawlak against the fence again. He landed short knees to the body and tried in vain for a takedown until the bell. 10-10.
Round 2:
Pawlak dropped Westcott with a knee early in round two, but Westcott recovered and clinched against the cage. He got Pawlak down for a split second, but Pawlak scrambled back up. Very little transpired and the fighters were separated on two occasions. Westcott pressed forward with punches and Pawlak countered with a knee. Westcott slowed way down and Pawlak threw him to the mat. He finished the round by landing short elbows from side control. 10-9 Pawlak.
Round 3:
Pawlak opened round three with a series of wild punches that forced Westcott to retreat to the cage. He clinched and dropped levels for a takedown. He briefly took Pawlak down, but Pawlak rose to his feet and hip tossed Westcott to the canvas. He punched from the top in North-South position and transitioned to an armbar attempt, but Westcott escaped and stood up. Pawlak landed knees and a jumping kick to the body before the bell. 10-9 Pawlak.
Winner: Pawel Pawlak by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-1-0.
Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz vs Joanne “JoJo” Calderwood
Round 1:
Calderwood scored with lead left hooks early on, but Moroz backed her up with a hard flurry and pulled guard with an armbar. Calderwood initially defended, but Moroz straightened out her arm and wrenched back on the hold, forcing Calderwood to submit.
Winner: Maryna Moroz by Submission (Armbar) at 1:30 of round one. She improves to 6-0-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Leon “Rocky” Edwards defeated Seth “The Polish Pistola” Baczynski by KO (Punches) at 0:08 of round one. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.
– Bartosz “The Butcher” Fabiński defeated Garreth “Soldier Boy” McLellan by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-2-0 with the win.
– Sergio “The Panther” Moraes defeated Mickael “Ragnar” Lebout by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.
– Yaotzin Meza defeated Damian “Webster” Stasiak by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 21-9-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Anthony “Freight Train” Hamilton defeated Daniel Omielanczuk by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-5-1, 1 NC with the win.
– Aleksandra “Stitch” Albu defeated Izabela Badurek by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:34 of round two. She improves to 6-0-0 with the win.
– Stevie “Braveheart” Ray defeated Marcin “Bomba” Bandel by TKO (Punches) at 1:35 of round two. He improves to 17-5-0 with the win.
– Taylor “Double Impact” Lapilus defeated Rocky Lee by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 9-1-0 with the win.