Actually, Gonzaga came in with a gameplan specifically designed to stop him.
He circled so he couldn't set his feet and throw a left kick. Cro Cop can talk all he wants about his right leg sending people to the hospital, but he never throws it. On the mat, Cro Cop grabs the gloves (cuz in Pride they're easy to latch on to) so Gonzaga threw elbows.
It was a good gameplan, not necessarily a glaring flaw in CC's game. If they fight again, I guarantee you'll see an adjustment.
"the same crocop defended all of colemans takedown attempts. olympic level...."
Coleman also shoots from 10 feet away with no set-up at all, too. Gonzaga took him down off of a kick. I think any top 25 heavyweight could've gotten that takedown off of a caught kick.
I agree. Cro Cop was way too passive in this fight. Maybe he could have thrown a counter when Gonzaga was engaging to discourage him. I had a feeling Gonzaga was gonna win if Cro Cop took him lightly or was too defensive. But to Cro Cop's credit, everytime he has lost in devastating fashion, he comes back with a vengeance. He sure did sound like he was thinking about retiring. I hope not.
Lol at all these key board warriors telling CC he was too passive and that he should have done this or that.
Watch the fight again newbs. Gonzaga went out very agressive. CC gave it to him with that kick. Unfortunately Gonzaga caught the leg and the fight went to the ground where most of the fight took place. When they got stood up CC pressed forward only to get KOed by a right high kick. It's simple as that. CC pursued this fight like any of his past victories. It just wasnt his day.
He was passive, but I don't know that it was a bad strategy. He didn't want to get into trading right off, because of course you can always get caught, and it sets him up to be taken down. I think he was waiting for Gonzaga to cool it a bit, even get a little winded. Hindsight's always 20/20.
tough call...that kick was damn unexpected, esp. real time! still, he allowed himself to be pummeled on the ground and thus did not go out like a killer...