Mirko Filipovic

KRAKOW, Poland – Almost seven years to the date after Gabriel Gonzaga shocked the UFC world with a head-kick knockout of Mirko Filipovic, the former PRIDE champion avenged his loss via TKO.

Filipovic (31-11-2 MMA, 5-6 UFC) overcame deep danger in the first and second rounds to rock Gonzaga (16-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) with a pair of elbows that set up a fight-ending onslaught of ground and pound at the 3:30 mark of the third frame.

The heavyweight bout was the main event of today’s UFC Fight Night 64 event at Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

The win was the unranked Filipovic’s first in the UFC since a submission victory over Pat Barry in 2010 and his first appearance in the promotion’s octagon since 2011, when he suffered a TKO loss to Roy Nelson that signaled his third straight loss via knockout.

Gonzaga, who is unranked in USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie’s MMA heavyweight rankings but No. 14 on the UFC’s list, didn’t attempt to recreate his iconic win but caught Filipovic several times before taking the fight to the ground. Filipovic gamely fought off his opponent with elbows from the bottom and a heel hook attempt, but Gonzaga eventually passed to mount.

After another trip to the mat in the second, Gonzaga opened a massive cut on the side of Filipovic’s left eye with an elbow. But when Gonzaga powered into the clinch in the third round, the Croatian took his legs from him with a pair of well-placed elbows.

As Gonzaga tried to clear his head, Filipovic let go several huge elbows and forced referee Leon Roberts to intervene. The blows opened up a bloody gash on Gonzaga’s forehead.

Gonzaga, whose victory over Filipovic in 2007 led to an unsuccessful title shot against Randy Couture, suffered his third consecutive loss. Filipovic, a 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix champion, picked up his third straight win after dual triumphs over Satoshi Ishii in international competition.

Asked whether he would return to the cage, Filipovic said, “Of course.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 64 results include:

• Mirko Filipovic def. Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:20
• Jimi Manuwa def. Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Pawel Pawlak def. Sheldon Westcott via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Maryna Moroz def. Joanne Calderwood via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:30
• Leon Edwards def. Seth Baczynski via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:08
• Bartosz Fabinski def. Garreth McLellan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Sergio Moraes def. Mickael Lebout via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Yaotzin Meza def. Damian Stasiak via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Daniel Omielanczuk def. Anthony Hamilton via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
• Alexandra Albu def. Izabela Badurek via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:34
• Stevie Ray def. Marcin Bandel via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:35
• Taylor Lapilus def. Rocky Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 64, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan contributed to this report on site in Krakow.)