Mirko ‘ Cro Crop ’ Filipovic is desperate to scratch his eight-year itch when he takes on Gabriel Gonzaga in Poland on Saturday . Cro Crop lost to the Brazilian in 2007 when a first-round head kick brought a swift end to the bout at UFC 70 . But he is confident he can avenge the defeat on home territory . Mirko Filipovic ( right ) faces Gabriel Gonzaga in Poland on Saturday , eight years after losing to the Brazilian . In 2007 , Filipovic ( right ) was beaten by a first-round head kick and wants to avenge that defeat . Filipovic admitted revenge is a motivating factor ahead of the encounter against Gonzaga . ‘ I want to beat all the opponents who have beaten me before , ’ Cro Crop said . ‘ But especially this fight because I lost to him and this time I feel better motivated and more prepared than I did last time . ‘ He [ Gonzaga ] is a big guy . He is tough - he always goes for the victory and sometimes he is successful , sometimes he is less successful . But he definitely is a tough opponent for everyone . ‘ I don ’ t want to think too far ahead - I am focusing on this fight and whatever is next , will happen . ‘ I am in really great shape . My training is great - I keep the same schedule of training and I am prepared and ready for this fight . ‘ I have been training with Stipe [ Miocic ] - he is a really great guy . We have been training really hard to prepare for both of our fights . He is just a great guy to train with and to be around . ‘ All of the people I have lost against , I always want to fight again . UFC decided it would be Gonzaga and yes I wanted this rematch very much. ’ Gonzaga , meanwhile , insists he does not view the fight as a rematch , given the eight-year wait . ‘ I didn ’ t make any mistakes [ in his last fight against Cro Cop ] and he did make one , and I tried to capitalise on that , ’ he said . ‘ Eight years can change a lot . So much can change in that time so I do not consider this a rematch ; I consider this a new fight . ‘ I ’ ve got better in that time - my skill set has got better . ‘ I ’ m going to try to avoid his high kick . But I will be ready wherever the fight goes . Gonzaga said he does not consider the fight with Filipovic a rematch because of the gap of eight years . Gonzaga believes that his skillset has got even better since the last time he took on Filipovic . ‘ That ’ s the thing about the heavyweight division in the UFC , you know , one punch can change everything . ‘ I believe people are never going to forget our first fight . But right now I just need to win this fight . ‘ I always need to keep working towards the title shot . I am always trying to get there and I ’ m here to do that , to move closer to it . ’
Mirko Filipovic aims to avenge 2007 first-round defeat to Gabriel Gonzaga . The Croatian fighter is looking for a second straight win in the UFC and will be hoping that his first victory over an opponent ranked higher than him at No. 1 on Saturday night doesn't come with any more He admitted revenge is a motivating factor ahead of Saturday 's bout .