Sherdog’s Top 10: Body Blows

Mike SloanOct 21, 2015
Mirko Filipovic smashed Heath Herring. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com



2. Mirko Filipovic vs. Heath Herring
Pride 26 “Bad to the Bone”
June 8, 2003 | Yokohama, Japan


MMA fans often gush about “Cro Cop” and his lethal head kicks, but the Croatian killing machine was not averse to targeting the body. Just ask Herring. “The Texas Crazy Horse” had suffered several defeats to that point, but he had never been taken out so quickly, not even by the great Fedor Emelianenko.

Filipovic picked apart Herring from the outside with punches and kicks, quickly wearing him down. After the American tried and failed on a double-leg, “Cro Cop” backed away and demanded that he return to his feet. A fatigued Herring sighed and begrudgingly complied, likely knowing what was in store for him. As soon as the combatants engaged, Filipovic drilled his counterpart with a left round kick to the body, the impact echoing as if someone had smacked a baseball bat on a pork roast. Herring doubled over, slinked away and eventually fell to his side. “Cro Cop” pounced with punches, but the fight was already won.

Number 1 » Showtime Showstopper