Sherdog’s Top 10: Pride Knockouts

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5. Kevin Randleman vs. Mirko Filipovic
Pride “Total Elimination 2004”
April 25, 2004 | Saitama, Japan

Even though Randleman was a former UFC heavyweight champion, his sensational knockout of Croatian killing machine Filipovic ranks among the most stunning upsets in MMA history. “Monster” had gone 7-9 in his previous 16 fights and was reeling from back-to-back stoppage losses. On the flipside, “Cro Cop” had only lost once, to former Pride heavyweight king Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a fight to determine then-champion Fedor Emelianenko’s next challenger. Other than that one blemish, the former K-1 fighter had been kicking off opponents’ heads. Filipovic was as close to unbeatable as they came at that time.

Randleman was not afraid of what “Cro Cop” brought the table and eventually ended the fight with sheer brutality. Randleman shot in a few times for a takedown, but Filipovic stuffed them all. When Randleman unloaded a left hook, “Cro Cop” thought he was shooting in again. The punch instantly sent the Croatian to his back. Randleman pounced on his rival for the stoppage, but he was wrapped up in the woozy Croat’s guard. Randleman tore through it and began raining down murderous left hammerfists onto Filipovic’s face until he was asleep.

What makes the knockout even more remarkable is the fact that Randleman’s career spiraled out of control from there. After he bludgeoned “Cro Cop,” Randleman lost nine of his next 11 bouts before retiring in 2011. Filipovic went on two win the 2006 Pride open weight grand prix.

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