MMA-URLS

‘Minotauro’ Nogueira Returns at UFC 149, Meets Cheick Kongo in Calgary

Former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight ruler Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will return to the Octagon at UFC 149 against Cheick Kongo.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, cheick, kongo, cheick kongo

Read the full article at Sherdog

UFC roundup: Kongo vs. Nogueira in Calgary

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo will meet at UFC 149 in Calgary, while two middleweight contenders headline a UFC event in July.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, kongo, cheick kongo, ufc event

Nogueira vs. Kongo added to Calgary card

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo will meet at UFC 149 in Calgary, while two middleweight contenders headline a UFC event in July.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, kongo, cheick kongo, ufc event

Heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cheick Kongo Slated For UFC 149

An interesting heavyweight match up is on pace to take place at UFC 149, as multiple Canadian sources are reporting that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will face Cheick Kongo. The card, which takes place July 21 from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, recently lost Jose Aldo. The UFC featherweight champion was slated to compete, but is likely headed [...]

Posted in: ufc, kongo, cheick kongo, jose aldo, canadian sources

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Cheick Kongo looks like an undead slayer in this German interview

Do you think we'll ever live to see the day when civil organizations are established in order to protect the rights of the undead? Will there ever been a global rally to grant the undead the same rights as normal humans? Sure the creators of True Blood lightly dabbled in the concept of equal rights for vampires -- but what about zombies? Those things are undead too. Could society ever get to the point in which our government quarantines a part of the city for zombies to mindlessly roam around? Perhaps it will get to that point. In fact, I don't doubt that it won't. However, at the heart of every quarantine is just another variation of segregation. The true question I'm trying to ask is can you see a future in which your little girl can sit next to a little zombie boy in elementary class and have a fruitful, lifelong relationship? That's heavy stuff to think about on a lazy Saturday. It's apparent Cheick Kongo wants none of this 'equal rights for the undead' nonsense. The dude is dressed head-to-toe in regalia that will tremendously increase his silver bullet firing accuracy. Just the hat Kongo is wearing in this interview with Germany's Ground and Pound TV adds 20 points to his treasure hunting skill tree. It's clear that Cheick Kongo is the closest thing the world has to Van Helsing, so it's about time we all just accept it as a part of our reality and watch the video below in peace.

Posted in: right, kongo, cheick kongo, undead, pound tv

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Video: Tito Ortiz and Cheick Kongo teach hot Swedish girls how to grapple

Let's keep it professional, boys. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz, along with heavyweight bruiser Cheick Kongo, make the most of their time overseas as part of the UFC on FUEL TV 2 caravan, which pulls into the Ericsson Globe Arena tomorrow night (April 14, 2012) for "Gustafsson vs. Silva." Even former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields gets in on the action. Ortiz is gearing up for his upcoming trilogy against Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas, while Kongo is still smarting from his technical knockout loss to Mark Hunt at UFC 144 earlier this year. As for Shields, he's contemplating a change in weight. But those issues are put aside when the training room gets populated with young, nubile Swedes. After all, if you're going to surround yourself with a bunch of sweaty grapplers, why not make the most of the opportunity? For more UFC on FUEL TV 2 activities click here.

Posted in: ufc, ortiz, kongo, cheick kongo, las vegas

Rally for Mark Hunt video for UFC 146 title fight against Junior dos Santos

This thing really isn't going to go away, is it? By now you know the story, or at least you should. Alistair Overeem was popped for elevated levels of testosterone at a surprise drug test at a UFC 146 press conference and his main event title shot against Junior dos Santos on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was throw into question. "The Reem" now has a hearing set with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on April 24 to see about getting licensed for the fight, which is most definitely up in the air at this point. Not long after his test failure, fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) quickly took to Twitter to do their fantasy booking thing and the name that just kept coming up was Mark Hunt. It grew to the point that the "Super Samoan" even signed up for the social media service. He's now closing in on 10,000 followers. And videos from prominent artists like the infamous NickTheFace are starting to prop up more and more. Does Hunt actually deserve a title shot? He's won three fights in a row inside the Octagon, finishing two of them. His biggest win, however, was against Cheick Kongo and his career record is still a paltry 8-7. I don't know about all this #RallyForMarkHunt business, Maniacs. What are your thoughts?

Posted in: fight, mark hunt, cheick kongo, alistair overeem, arts mma

Matt Mitrione ready for return to the ring after learning from loss to Cheick Kongo

Even though UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione has five wins inside the Octagon he’s still as green as countless fighters still attempting to establish themselves on the regional scene against lesser opposition and minus the pressure of the UFC’s spotlight. One of the rare individuals to have made his professional debut inside the Octagon thanks to a stint on TUF, Mitrione doesn’t mind the accelerated learning curve he’s been dealt even if he hasn’t always been prepared based on his relative inexperience as a Mixed Martial Artist. One of those lessons occurred his last outing where he took on Cheick Kongo. While many expected a stand-up war the fight was far from that with the Frenchman opting to clinch against the cage and remain elusive instead of engaging. In the end Mitrione lost a decision, the only defeat of his career. Now Mitrione is ready to mix it up again, having healed from a few nagging injuries, and already has an opponent. The 5-1 “Meathead” spoke about what he gained from the stumble against Kongo as well as his mindset entering his next match-up while joining The MMA Hour as a guest. “I didn’t know how to engage somebody that didn’t want to engage, without making myself vulnerable and over-committing to something,” explained Mitrione when asked about his loss to Kongo. “So that’s something that Chris Lytle and I went back to the drawing board, and he taught me how to do that, and I think that really made a pretty substantial difference. I feel much more confident. If I ever have a fight like that again, I’ll be able to handle that and address it pretty aggressively.” “The loss, it sucked. I still feel like I didn’t get beaten at all in that fight, I just feel like I lost it, via decision,” the testy 33-year old continued on the topic, clearly still bothered by the result. One subject he was far more positive about pertained to his next outing inside the infamous eight-sided cage. Though Mitrione wouldn’t reveal who he’d be fighting he did make it clear he’s excited and expects MMA fans to feel the same way once it becomes official. “I cannot wait. Cannot wait! It’s a fight I’ve wanted for a long time,” an animated Mitrione exclaimed. “I think it’s a great match-up. I think the fans will really be happy with it.” With many of the roster’s heavyweights already booked for action on upcoming cards, most notably at UFC 146, remaining possibilities for Mitrione seem slim but could be boosted by the addition of a Strikeforce heavyweight. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, kongo, mitrione, cheick kongo

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Matt Mitrione didn't know how to fight an unaggressive Cheick Kongo, vows improvement upon UFC return

The last time we saw Matt Mitrione, the 33-year-old former footballer was on the business end of an ugly unanimous decision loss to Cheick Kongo. That was all the way back at UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In that fight, "Meathead" found himself in a position he was unfamiliar with. Instead of running into an aggressive striker, as he expected, the Frenchman played it cool and confused Mitrione with his patience. Speaking with MMAFighting.com, the former TUF guy admitted outright he didn't know what to do when his opponent wouldn't commit: "I lost that fight because I didn't know how to fight a fight like that. ... I had to get a loss under my belt to find out things like that, to really change up my training. I didn't now how to engage somebody that didn't want to engage, without making myself vulnerable and over-committing to something. So that's something that Chris Lytle and I went back to the drawing board, and he taught me how to do that, and I think that really made a pretty substantial difference. I feel much more confident. If I ever have a fight like that again, I'll be able to handle that and address it pretty aggressively." The best learning comes from experience and now the NFL veteran has a taste of what it's like to not only fight someone who can wait him out but what it's like to lose inside the Octagon. In short, it's not fun. That's why Mitrione is so looking forward to climbing back inside the cage to get back on the hog. He even knows who his opponent will be, though he won't spill the beans. Any Maniacs care to hazard a guess?

Posted in: fight, mitrione, cheick kongo, didnt, maniacs care

Mark Hunt: I want the winner of JDS vs. Overeem

Triumphant Mark Hunt looked back at his performance against Cheick Kongo on the main card of UFC 144 in Japan. Hunt spoke about his "re-birth" as a fighter in the UFC, and the possibility of challenging Junior dos Santos heavyweight title. Interestingly enough, Hunt declared he would like to fight the winner of UFC 146 bout between dos Santos and Alistair Oveeem, which will take place on May 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Further Reading: Submit your picks for Tate vs.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, cheick kongo, japan hunt, alistair oveeem

Mark Hunt Wants Title Shot Following UFC 144 Win

SAITAMA, Japan -- Mark Hunt talked to MMA Fighting about his knockout win against Cheick Kongo at UFC 144. Hunt discusses his fondness for Japan, his performance against Kongo, his tattoo and more in the video below.

Posted in: title shot, mark hunt, hunt, cheick kongo, japan

UFC 144 Wrap-Up: Edgar, Henderson, Pettis, Lee take home $65k

The UFC returned to the Land of the Rising Sun tonight, delivering an exciting line-up from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Ben Henderson won a decision to become the Lightweight Champion in the headlining bout, while Ryan Bader defeated Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the co-main event. Mark Hunt picked up his third straight octagon victory, knocking out Cheick Kongo in the opening-round, and Jake Shields outworked Yoshihiro Akiyama to win on the scorecards. Also picking up important main card

Posted in: cheick kongo, henderson, saitama, ryan bader, octagon victory

UFC 144 Results: Mark Hunt is No Longer the Unwanted Man

Mark Hunt was once the unwanted man, but has now rebounded to a three-fight victory streak, adding Cheick Kongo to his hit list at UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, mark, hunt, cheick kongo, man

Mark Hunt takes out Cheick Kongo in the first round at UFC 144 (Yahoo! Sports)

Mark Hunt made his name in combat sports in Japan, as he was a well-known and credentialed kickboxer. He thanked the Japanese fans with a quick knockout of Cheick Kongo at UFC 144. The two tentatively felt each other out, … Continue reading →

Posted in: mark hunt, cheick kongo, combat sports, japanese fans, credentialed kickboxer

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

UFC 144 results: Mark Hunt knocks out Cheick Kongo, wins third straight

SAITAMA, Japan - "The Super Samoan" is officially surging. Former K-1 kickboxing champion Mark Hunt earned his third consecutive win in the UFC by dispatching heavyweight Cheick Kongo with ruthless efficiency in the first round of their UFC 144 bout. The fight took place on UFC 144's main card, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and aired live on pay-per-view. It followed prelims on FX and Facebook.

Posted in: ufc, kongo, cheick kongo, saitama, saitama japan

UFC 144 Results: Mark Hunt Knocks Out Cheick Kongo

Mark Hunt has done it again: The former K-1 champion returned to Japan at UFC 144 and knocked out Cheick Kongo in the first round. Hunt didn't do much in the first couple minutes of the fight, but the one thing Hunt can always do is hit really, really hard, and that's just what he did against Kongo: Hunt dropped Kongo with a left hand to the chin, then allowed Kongo to get back up but continued stalking him, landed more punches to knock Kongo down, and then jumped on him and finished him off on the ground. The official time of referee Herb Dean's stoppage was 2 minutes, 11 seconds. More Coverage: UFC 144 Results | Hunt vs. Kongo Live Blog Hunt is now, amazingly, on a three-fight winning streak in the UFC heavyweight division. When Hunt signed with the UFC in 2010, most people thought he was washed up and had no business inside the Octagon. But he has rededicated himself to MMA and is looking impressive. Hunt is still a long way from the top of the heavyweight division, but it's going to be exciting to see what he can do next.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, kongo, cheick kongo, blog hunt

UFC 144 results: Mark Hunt knocks out Cheick Kongo in the first round

The heavy hitting heavyweights were heaving their way through some action tonight (Sat., Feb. 25, 2012) in Japan, as Cheick Kongo and Mark Hunt met in the center of the cage to exchange punches at the UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" event at the Saitama Super Arena. This fight reeked of matchmaking designed to give fans at the arena two big men to gawk at while they tried to take each other's heads off. And when it comes to Kongo and Hunt, two kickboxers with big power and solid chins, that's exactly what UFC was promising. And that's exactly what was delivered, as Hunt blasted his way past Kongo via knockout in the very first round. Hard as it may be to believe, Mark Hunt has won three fights in a row in the UFC. It's 2012 and "The Super Samoan" is still knocking fools out. Pride never die and all that. Sadly, the first action of the fight was a failed low kick from Hunt that had him off balance enough to send him ass over tin cups. Kongo tried to rush him but couldn't get close enough to do any damage. They exchanged shots until Hunt landed a strong right hand that sent the big Frenchman to the floor. Hunt let him back up to continue on and after seeing the way he exploded with a few more shots to knock him out, he may have just been wanting to have some more fun. It was certainly fun to watch. Remember, too, to check out our ongoing live coverage of the UFC 144 main card action by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, mark hunt, hunt, kongo, cheick kongo

UFC 144 Results: Mark Hunt Knocks Out Cheick Kongo In The First Round

Mark Hunt defeats Cheick Kongo by TKO. The stoppage came at 2:11 in the first round. Leg kick early from Mark Hunt but he slipped and Kongo pushed forward. Kongo clinched against the cage but Hunt quickly turned him into the fence. Huge reach difference between the two fighters was apparent as Hunt's punches were coming up short. Hunt landed a straight left hand as Kongo came forward which dropped the French fighter. Mark Hunt pressed forward and landed to Cheick's jaw. Kongo tried to run away but Hunt kept his pressure and threw heavy right hands that ultimately put the frenchman away. Several punches on the ground sealed the win and forced the referee to step in and call the fight. Mark Hunt is now 3-1 in the UFC. He's quickly making a case for a top 10 ranking. Cheick Kongo was beginning to string wins together but this loss will drop him down the heavyweight ladder. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: mark, hunt, cheick, kongo, cheick kongo

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC 144's Cheick Kongo 'surprised' to fight onetime training partner Mark Hunt

TOKYO - Five months ago, heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Mark Hunt were sucking air together in the elevation of Denver. Present for a training camp that concluded with Hunt's meeting with Ben Rothwell and Quinton Jackson's fight with champ Jon Jones, Kongo wasn't particularly close to the New Zealand native in the weeks before UFC 135. He was surprised, nonetheless, when the Kiwi came up as his next opponent at this weekend's UFC 144 event. It didn't occur that he might have to fight Hunt.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mark hunt, hunt, cheick kongo

Showdown on MMA: Day 2 in Japan for UFC 144

Showdown Joe travels around Tokyo to cover all aspects of Saturday's UFC 143, including chats with Cheick Kongo and 'Rampage' Jackson.

Posted in: cheick kongo, ufc, showdown, rampage, kongo

Cheick Kongo Goes From Security Guard to Superhero (UFC 144 Video)

MMAWeekly.com caught up with Cheick Kongo at Gold's Gym in Tokyo, Japan, where he talked about his UFC 144 opponent, Mark Hunt, and making the move from security guard to superhero.

Posted in: kongo, cheick kongo, tokyo japan, golds gym, security guard

Cheick Kongo Wants Another Shot at Frank Mir

TOKYO - Cheick Kongo talks about his last performance against Matt Mitrione, the changes at Wolfslair, his upcoming UFC 144 fight against Mark Hunt, why he would want to fight Frank Mir if he won this weekend and much more.

Posted in: fight, mark hunt, kongo, cheick kongo, matt mitrione

Pat Barry vs Lavar Johnson booked for UFC on FOX 3

Heading into his bout against Christian Morecraft on January 20, Pat Barry had put together a UFC record of 3-4, never putting together two wins in a row. Barry never failed to deliver an exciting fight, even when he lost two in a row to Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve. The fight against Morecraft looked like it would end with a third straight loss when Barry was caught in an armbar, but he slipped free, showing some solid submission defense and when the fight went back to standing he caught Morecraft with

Posted in: fight, cheick kongo, barry, christian morecraft, morecraft

If you're entertained, UFC on FX 1 fighter Pat Barry's job is done

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - By the time Pat Barry got to the locker room, he was over getting knocked out cold by Cheick Kongo. Same when he tapped to Stefan Struve's triangle choke. "I ask all the people that was wondering why I wasn't still upset about those losses, I ask them, 'How come you're not still pissed off about failing a math test in sixth grade?'" Barry told MMAjunkie.com. The point is, get over it.

Posted in: cheick kongo, barry, i wasnt, nashville tenn, math test

Can someone please help Felice Herrig with her wardrobe malfunction...

Sometimes you just have to stop whatever you're doing and split a sandwich with a stranger. Today is not one of those days. Instead, exert all of your energy by giving Felice Herrig advice on how she can prevent wardrobe malfunctions like the one that happened at the XFC 15: Tribute weigh-ins. This picture intrigues me because I'm a heterosexual male. If I were homosexual, I would be fascinated with this picture of Cheick Kongo at his UFC 137 weigh-ins. In fact, let me check to see if the gay couple that lives next to me can appreciate this picture of Felice Herrig. Alright, now this is the part where you have to assume that time has lapsed. Be right back. Ok, they're not home. Bummer. Fortunately for you, we still have this picture that Felice Herrig tweeted just moments ago.

Posted in: cheick kongo, picture, felice, herrig, felice herrig

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Cheick Kongo Meets Mark Hunt at UFC 144 in Japan

Rising heavyweight Cheick Kongo and PRIDE veteran Mark Hunt have agreed to square off at UFC 144 in Japan on February 26, but the matchup has not yet been officially signed, MMA Weekly reports. Kongo (17-6-2) topped previously unbeaten Matt Mitrione at UFC 137 in October to improve to 3-0-1 in his last four fights, while Hunt (7-7) snapped a six-fight losing streak with back-to-back UFC wins over Chris Tuchscherer and Ben Rothwell. UFC 144, which airs as a regular UFC pay-per-view on Feb. 25 due to the time difference, is headlined by UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson and also includes Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis, Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch, and Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields. For complete coverage of UFC 144, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, kongo, cheick kongo, vs

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Cheick Kongo draws Mark Hunt, not Roy Nelson, on February 25th in Japan

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mark hunt, kongo, cheick kongo, february, roy nelson

Read the full article at Reddit

Velasquez and Kongo on course for rematch?

Cain Velasquez and Cheick Kongo could be talking themselves into a rematch in the near future.After his UFC 137 win over Matt Mitrione, Kongo was asked...

Posted in: kongo, cheick kongo, matt, velasquez, rematch

Read the full article at Fighters Only

UFC's Travis Browne unimpressed with Cheick Kongo's performance, wants rematch

It would be different this time around. Way different. Or so says Travis Browne, who is chomping at the bit for a rematch with Cheick Kongo after watching the French heavyweight fight Matt Mitrione a week ago at UFC 137. "I wasn't impressed," Browne told MMAjunkie.com. "I wasn't impressed at all."

Posted in: kongo, cheick kongo, browne, travis browne, wasnt

UFC Quick Quote: Matt Mitrione apologizes to 'salty' fans for his performance against Cheick Kongo

"Just watched fight. I know what I did wrong &how 2fix it. Frustrating 2watch it. I c y fans were salty. Learned lesson on big stage ... I'm sorry for my performance. I knew his GP was 2get me on cage. I was too careful of that ... I'll never let a fight like that happen again. Onwards and upwards." UFC heavyweight prospect Matt Mitrione takes to his official Twitter account following his first official loss inside the Octagon. "Meathead" drops to 5-1 with his uninspired performance against Cheick Kongo at UFC 137 back on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, one he apologizes to the "salty" fans for. The good news is the former NFLer sounds like he's just as frustrated as the fans, vowing to fix what went wrong in last Saturday night's co-main event and come back stronger. So who do you, as a fan, want to see him matched up against next? Fantasy matchmakers, let's hear what you've got.

Posted in: ufc, cheick kongo, fan, performance, fantasy matchmakers

UFC 137 Fighter Salaries: Diaz, Penn & Kongo Top Payouts

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the UFC 137 fighter salaries with Nick Diaz, B.J. Penn, and Cheick Kongo topping the list.

Posted in: fighter, kongo, cheick kongo, nevada state, salary

UFC 137's Cheick Kongo aiming for rematch with 'lucky' champ Cain Velasquez

LAS VEGAS - Slow and steady wins the race, though fighting ugly does little to win fans. Cheick Kongo knows Saturday's UFC 137 co-main-event win over Matt Mitrione wasn't a signature or highlight-reel win that dazzled fans, but it served its purpose. It got him one step closer to a rematch with champ Cain Velasquez, whom Kongo said was "lucky" in their first meeting.

Posted in: ufc, cheick, kongo, cheick kongo, rematch

UFC 137 Post-Fight Press Conference Coverage

Join us here at Bloody Elbow.com at approximately Midnight ET/9 p.m. PT for live updates of tonight's UFC 137 post-fight press conference. You can catch the live video over at MMA Nation, SBNation's official home for live UFC video. The winners of the UFC 137 fights will sit down to talk about their performances and Dana White will announce the Fight of the Night bonuses. All the fallout from the card will be discussed, along with a variety of other stuff. The main event of tonight's card is a showdown between former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, who will compete in a three-round fight. In the co-main slot, it's a heavyweight fight between Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione. In addition, Mirko Croo Cop will face off with Roy Nelson. $xxx Bonuses: Fight of the Night: Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: More SBN coverage of UFC 137

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, cheick kongo, night bonuses

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

LIVE UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Chat and Discussion (Starting 9PM EST)

After yesterday's highly entertaining weigh-ins, the clock is ticking for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's return with tonight's promising UFC 137: BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz fight card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be co-headlined by the Heavyweight scrap between Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo, as Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic will have probably the last fight of his ilustrious MMA career against Roy Nelson, also on the main card of UFC 137. Rest of the main card is

Posted in: ufc, cheick kongo, card, heavyweight scrap, championships return

Matt Mitrione Even More Confident Than Normal Heading Into UFC 137

The unbeaten UFC heavyweight discusses training with the team at Imperial Athletics, going on The Dolce Diet, and being extremely confident for his fight with Cheick Kongo at UFC 137.

Posted in: ufc, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, matt mitrione

'Cheick Kongo is a dirty fighter' and 13 other UFC 137 observations by Google search autocomplete

submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: ufc, fighter, cheick kongo, likewildpotato, observation

Read the full article at Reddit

UFC 137's Matt Mitrione ready and mature enough for big step up in competition

LAS VEGAS - Former NFL player, ex-white-collar worker and all-around knucklehead Matt Mitrione knows Saturday's UFC 137 co-main-event with Cheick Kongo is a big one. A really big one. For a fighter just two years and five fights into his pro MMA career, a victory could prove he belongs with the world's top heavyweights. And though still green in the fight game, Mitrione truly believes it's a matchup that was tailor made for him at this point in his career.

Posted in: fight, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, mma career

Matt Mitrione will look to prove his hype is "legit" against Cheick Kongo

Rapidly rising contender Matt Mitrione, who will look to take another step up the Heavyweight ladder when he meets Cheick Kongo in the UFC 137 co-main event, discusses his opponent, as well as the hype he's built since his time on TUF 10. Mitrione acknowledges that Kongo is a dangerous fighter, but says the match-up will prove whether or not he's "legit."

Posted in: kongo, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, heavyweight ladder

UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Pre-Fight Press Conference Video & Highlights

UFC President Dana White, alongside the majority of Saturday's main card competitors, were in attendance today at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada for the UFC 137 Pre-Fight Press Conference. The stacked card will be headlined by a Welterweight showdown between top contenders Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn, while rising Heavyweight prospect Matt Mitrione takes on Cheick Kongo in the co-main event. Also featured will be the legendary veteran Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic going head to head with Roy...

Posted in: ufc, cheick kongo, welterweight showdown, attendance today, comain event

Matt Mitrione: “I Don’t Get Paid to Worry About How Good I Am” (UFC 137 video)

Matt Mitrione heads into Saturday night's UFC 137 fight with Cheick Kongo knowing that he's being put on the spot. Everyone wants to know just how good he is.

Posted in: ufc, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, spot everyone

Cheick Kongo Responds to Matt Mitrione's 'Pregnant' Comment

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke with Cheick Kongo during Wednesday's UFC 137 open workouts about this Saturday's fight against Matt Mitrione as well as his reactions to some of Matt Mitrione's pre-fight remarks. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mitrione, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, matt mitriones, saturdays fight

Matt Mitrione Thinks Cheick Kongo Will Be Good 'Measuring Stick' for Him

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with Matt Mitrione before his co-main event fight against Cheick Kongo at the UFC 137 open workouts. Mitrione discusses his return to the TUF gym, his pre-fight comments about Kongo, his good friend Sean McCorkle and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, tuf gym

Ultimate Blogger Mitrione: Uncertain & excited

Matt Mitrione says he isn't sure if he will beat Cheick Kongo at UFC 137 Saturday, but he's excited to give it a shot.

Posted in: mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, matt mitrione, blogger mitrione

Don't look now, but here comes Matt Mitrione trying to cut into the UFC heavyweight contender's...

Don't look now, but here comes Matt Mitrione trying to cut into the UFC heavyweight contender's line. Unfortunately he must first get past security, the red rope known as Cheick Kongo, who will try to send him to the back of the line at UFC 137 after insisting his name is "not on the list." Can the former NFL'er get into the exclusive club populated by the world's best heavyweights? Some guy you may have heard of, Thomas Myers, answers that question for you at MMA Nation with a little help from the meatiest of heads, by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, mma nation, heavyweight, cheick kongo, matt mitrione

The Next Big Thing: Matt Mitrione

The Next Big Thing podcast returns with UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione, who discusses his UFC 137 bout with Cheick Kongo and much more.

Posted in: ufc, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, thing

UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Weigh-In Video and Results (LIVE on Friday at 7PM EST)

UFC 137 main eventers BJ "The Prodigy" Penn and Nick Diaz will step on the scales at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center for the official weigh-in ceremony ahead of this Saturday's long-anticipated fight card that will be co-headlined by the Heavyweight battle between Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo. Also on the card, fan-favorite Mirko Cro Cop makes his return to the Octagon against Roy Nelson, Hatsu Hioki debuts against George Roop and Scott Jorgensen takes on Jeff Curran.The event will mark UFC's

Posted in: nick diaz, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, heavyweight battle, george roop

Cheick Kongo sharpens his stand-up ahead of UFC 137 clash with Matt Mitrione

Heavyweight veteran Cheick Kongo, who will go head to head with rising contender Matt Mitrione at UFC 137, sharpens his stand-up at the Muscle Pharm Sports Science Center in Denver, Colorado. Kongo will look to build on the momentum of his three-fight unbeaten streak, which includes a win over Pat Barry in what was one of the most dramatic comeback victories in UFC history.

Posted in: ufc, kongo, cheick kongo, matt, comeback victories

Matt Mitrione: The Road To UFC 137

UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione is facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 137, and we've got exclusive behind-the-scenes training camp photos.

Posted in: ufc, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, matt mitrione

Zuffa releases updated trailer for UFC 137

Nick Diaz’s infamous line, “Don’t be scared, homie,” has now infiltrated the UFC marketing machine with the oft-used remark making the cut in the organization’s latest trailer for next weekend’s battle between Diaz and former double-divisional champion B.J. Penn. The video marks the third attempt at producing an appropriate bunch of highlights and quotes to push UFC 137 after Diaz was removed from a main event match-up with welterweight title-holder Georges St. Pierre only for the promotion to see GSP duck out last week due to a knee injury. Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo, now co-headliners at the October 29 event, are also featured in the thirty-second clip. You can watch the latest preview for UFC 137 below: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, diaz, cheick kongo, zuffa releases, event matchup

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

UFC 137 ‘Penn vs. Diaz’ Pre-Fight Interview: Matt Mitrione

Matt Mitrione takes on Cheick Kongo in a heavyweight match-up on Saturday, Oct. 29, at UFC 137.

Posted in: ufc, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt, heavyweight matchup

Read the full article at MMA Convert

UFC 137 Videos: Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo Pre-Fight Interviews

Rising heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo will look to continue their climb towards a title shot when they meet in what is now the co-main event of UFC 137 after a welterweight showdown between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz was moved into the headlining slot of the Oct. 29 event following an injury to Georges St-Pierre. UFC 137 pre-fight interviews with Mitrione and Kongo, who scored knockouts of Christian Morecraft and Pat Barry respectively in June, are below: For UFC 137 results and complete UFC 137 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, mitrione, cheick kongo, christian morecraft

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Cheick Kongo is on a quest for the title, not concerned with Matt Mitrione's power

Veteran Heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo, who will meet Matt Mitrione in the UFC 137 co-main event, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Kongo acknowledges Mitrione's impressive learning curve, but says he's not concerned with "Meathead's" speed or punching power.

Posted in: kongo, mitrione, cheick kongo, meatheads speed, bout kongo

The UFC 137 Fight Card Shuffle: Mitrione vs. Kongo Gains Co-Main Event Slot

UFC officials on Wednesday elevated the heavyweight showdown between Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo to UFC 137 co-main event status.

Posted in: ufc, kongo, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, heavyweight showdown

UFC's Travis Browne embraces grind while looking for 'SportsCenter' moments

Despite an undefeated career mark in the octagon, 6-foot-7 slugger Travis Browne's time in the UFC has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride. Highlight-reel knockouts of Stefan Struve and James McSweeney have been book-ended by less-impressive performances against Rob Broughton and Cheick Kongo, leaving some fans to wonder if Browne is indeed the real deal. That's OK, according to Browne. He realizes the road to UFC gold isn't a short one, and those that doubt him only fuel his fire.

Posted in: ufc, cheick kongo, browne, career mark, less-impressive performances

UFC 137: St. Pierre vs. Condit In-Depth Preview

A Welterweight title clash between division Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre and "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit will headline the stacked UFC 137 fight card, set to take place October 29th from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also featured will be former UFC title holder B.J. Penn taking on Strikeforce kingpin Nick Diaz in the co-main event and rapidly rising contender Matt Mitrione collides with Cheick Kongo in a Heavyweight showdown.

Posted in: ufc, cheick kongo, las vegas, carlos condit, heavyweight showdown

UFC 137 preview video (extended) for 'St. Pierre vs Condit' on Oct. 29

Here. We. Go. It's time to start getting ready for UFC 137: "Champion vs. The Killer," which is scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 29, 2011. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit is scheduled for the main event, while B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz will serve as the co-featured fight of the night. In the extended UFC 137 video preview above, the heavyweight title between Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo is also showcased. Enough exciting fights for one night? If not, check out the rest of the UFC 137 fight card and rumors right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, cheick kongo, vs, nbsp ;here

UFC on Versus 6's Pat Barry knows video-game life comes with occasional setbacks

Just moments after Cheick Kongo knocked him out cold in one of the most stunning turnarounds in recent UFC history, Pat Barry tweeted, as usual, in all caps: "WELL THIS IS KIND OF WACK!! STILL HYPE!!!" Barry has sulked, and he's now ready to move on against Stefan Struve. "You either learn from it and get better or just sit in a chair and rot away," Barry said. "There's winning or learning experiences."

Posted in: cheick kongo, barry, ufc history, video-game life, barry tweeted

UFC Quick Quote: Pat Barry isn't going to sit in his chair and rot away, man

"I've accepted it. Sometimes you're gonna lose. You can't win all the time. Eventually you've got to fall. That's the only way you can grow and get better. If I lose a fight, it sucks and yeah, I don't want it to happen, but as long as I know I fought my heart out and I did my best whether it's broken limbs or whatnot and just keep on coming, I know that it's gotta happen. It's like if you fail a test in school and you go home and sulk for five days, there's nothing you can do about that. You can be pissed all day and night and I know it sucks but once you've turned the test in, it's done. Once you lose a fight, you lost. That's it. You can learn from it and get better or sit in a chair and rot, rot away. There's winning and there's learning experiences. We win or we learn, one of the two. The only way you really lose is if you come out of an experience and you don't take anything away from that. You stay the same person. If you wake up tomorrow and you're still the same guy that you are today, then you are not advancing, you are not growing, you are not learning, man." Sure, he was on the cusp of a spectacular finish over Cheick Kongo back in June, but Pat Barry went in a little too recklessly and got KTFO in the process. Is he going to sit at home and rot away? Nope. Instead, he told media members on yesterday's conference call that he's going to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger. That could spell trouble for Stefan Struve, who meets "HD" on the main card of the UFC on Versus 6 event this Saturday night (Oct. 1) in Washington, D.C. Will "The Skyscraper" fall -- or send Barry back to the drawing board for a second straight time? Let's hear some early predictions for this heavyweight slugfest in the comments section below.

Posted in: cheick kongo, barry, media members, rot, comments section