WINNIPEG -- Shawn Jordan talks about his knockout of Pat Barry at UFC 161, learning from his fight with Cheick Kongo, where he stands in the heavyweight division, body jewelry, and more.
Rumors spread fast in MMA, and occasionally they outpace fighters, promotions, and even contracts. I've been hearing for weeks now that Cheick Kongo was on his way to Bellator. Given the announcement from another, independent source, yesterday it appeared to be a safe assumption that this was indeed the case.
Not so, says Bjorn Rebney, who recently talked to MMA Fighting about the report.
"He has not [signed]," said Rebney. "Great fighter, fun personality, very good fighter to watch, I've been watching him fight for years, but he has not signed with Bellator."
However, Rebney did go on to say that in developing a working relationship with Rampage he's gotten to know the Wolfslair camp a bit better, and that fans should expect a few new signings from the British-based fight gym in the coming weeks.
"Part of the magic of this relationship is I got to spend literally months working with the team at Wolfslair," Rebney said. "They've got a terrific stable of talent. You're going to see some announcements coming out literally in the next couple weeks about more Wolfslair talent that's going to be coming in with Bellator."
Whether this means that a deal with Kongo is in the works or not, I don't know, but for now the former UFC heavyweight remains a free agent. We'll be sure to keep you posted as the story unfolds, so stay tuned.
Cheick Kongo, who allowed his UFC contract to expire following a recent loss to Roy Nelson, has followed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to Bellator MMA. MMA Weekly confirmed news of the signing, which could be made official on Wednesday during a press conference announcing Jackson’s signing. Kongo competed in the UFC for seven years, going 11-6 [...]
Like a bizarro version of the NWO angle in old-school wrestling, in short order Rampage Jackson and Cheick Kongo have signed to Bellator. It was announced today via a press release (below) that Rampage will be in TNA and Bellator just like King Mo, and Cheick will join Bellator’s ridiculously shallow heavyweight division.
So I ask you, did they blow it? This is a huge announcement that in my opinion, came like a whimper. Why not build up the fact that Rampage and Cheick are invading Bellator? Why not put them NWO style in the front row? Make the viewers believe anything can happen. THAT is must-see TV. Press releases do nothing for ratings.
So it seems that Rampage may possibly join the light heavyweight tournament, or maybe Spike and Viacom are just bolstering their ranks for that supposed upcoming PPV, which will no doubt bum out Eddie Alvarez, who is in the throes of a contract dispute.
What do you guys think? Excited for the Wolf’s Lair invasion?
Rumors have been swirling that Cheick Kongo's departure from the UFC was leading him toward a Bellator contract, and now it appears that those rumors have been confirmed. MMA Weekly reports that sources close to the heavyweight fighter can confirm that he has signed a contract with the Viacom promotion.
It's a little surprising considering how vehement Kongo was in denying his separation from the UFC. Following his exit he initially took to Facebook, looking to dispel reports that he had been cut and/or released from his UFC contract.
"Do not believe everything you are told. Don't believe he said/she said stories. I have not been cut by the UFC. I am Cheick Kongo, so I know best what's next for me. It doesn't mean that I am leaving the UFC. It doesn't mean that I am staying. It means this is my life."
From a certain perspective it's fair to say that Kongo has left the UFC for a better offer, but however you spin it, this is most likely the final word in his chapter with the promotion. Considering his age and the notoriously acerbic relations between the UFC and Bellator it's hard to imagine that he'll find his way back to the octagon.
It's worth noting that Kongo and Rampage are both Wolf's Lair fighters, and close friends. I have little doubt that their friendship, and Rampage's newly announced deal, greased the wheels for Bellator in negotiating with Kongo. There are currently no details of the contract available and no word, as of yet, as to when he'll make his promotional debut. We'll be sure to keep you updated as the story unfolds.
A short notice heavyweight bout pitting Roy Nelson (19-7) against Stipe Miocic (9-1) has been added to the main card of UFC 161.
MMA Junkie first reported the booking, which was later confirmed by UFC officials.
UFC 161's main card was left one bout short after UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao withdrew from a scheduled title defense against Eddie Wineland due to a torn ligament in his right foot on Tuesday. Wineland's status on the card remains undetermined at the time of this writing.
Miocic was initially slated to fight returning heavyweight Soa Palelei (18-3) on the night's preliminary card. Left without an opponent, Palelei will now serve as a backup opponent in case any of the card's four heavyweight suffer an additional injury.
Nelson returns to action just weeks after knocking out Cheick Kongo at UFC 159. The performance earned Nelson yet another ‘Knockout of the Night' bonus and extended his streak of first-round knockouts to three straight.
UFC 161 takes place June 15, 2013 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada.
UFC Heavyweight Roy Nelson has been on a tear through the division. In a combined octagon time of about 6 minutes, Nelson has managed to knock out Dave Herman, Matt Mitrione, and Cheick Kongo dating back to May of 2012. In his last four fights Nelson has amassed three fight night bonuses, and when you look at his losses in the UFC only one of them was to a fighter that has never been a champion. When you ask Nelson, he says now that he has been able to reinvest in himself and it is paying off in spades.
He told InsideMMA:
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
The post Roy Nelson Attributes His Recent Success To Investing In Himself appeared first on Fighters.com.
A few days ago, there was a big buzz in MMA circles about heavyweight Cheick Kongo's profile being taken off of UFC.com. It turns out that his contract with the organization had expired after his loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 159, and he had passed on an extension offered to him before the bout. Kongo doesn't think that he's necessarily done with the organization though, and put out a statement on his Facebook page that indicates the door is still open for him to return:
"Do not believe everything you are told. "I'm in the best position to know about my career in the UFC. And do not worry. For now, know that I have not dismissed the UFC and I'm on good terms with the American organization. I'm out of contract, as I've been before. ... So I say to you, unless proved otherwise, I'm still a UFC fighter. Take care of yourself. "Don't believe he said-she said stories. I have not been cut by the UFC. I am Cheick Kongo so I know best what's next for me. It doesn't mean that I am leaving the UFC, it doesn't mean that I am staying – it means this is my life."
Kongo (18-8-2) had spent most of his MMA career in the UFC, going 11-6-1 in 18 contests. He had lost two out of his last three though, getting knocked out by Nelson and Mark Hunt. His last reported pay was three fights ago at UFC 137, where he made 70k to show and 70k to win. If he does choose to re-sign with the UFC, you'd have to figure it would be for less than that. There could be other suitors for him, but the heavyweight class isn't very deep outside the UFC.
Despite recent reports that Cheick Kongo won’t be returning to the Octagon any time soon, after getting blasted by Roy Nelson at UFC 159, the heavyweight has released a statement saying he’s still a “UFC fighter.”
Earlier this week the UFC pulled Kongo’s profile from the promotion’s official website, and subsequent reports cited a UFC source stating that his contract was complete, and that he likely won’t be resigned. The news surprised some observers, considering that the 37 year-old heavyweight had gone 3-1-1 in his last five bouts, before getting knocked out by Nelson.
Speaking through his official Facebook page, Kongo has confirmed that he was not “cut”, as was initially believed, and that his current contract with the UFC is complete. The powerful fighter warned folks to not believe “he said-she said” stories, and further, “it does not mean I’m leaving the UFC, it does not mean that I’m staying, it means this is my life.” Kongo, who made his Octagon debut way back in 2006, also noted that he’s “on very good terms” with the organization.
In other words, it sounds like Kongo believes negotiations could produce a new UFC contract and that his seven year run with the promotion might continue. The two parties are negotiating, and thus, no one should jump to conclusions just yet. Considering that men like Jon Fitch have received the Zuffa axe as of late, however, it also seems reasonable that the UFC may not bring back Kongo. Even if he’s capable of taking out men like Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione.
Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE
Article by Kelsey Mowatt
MMAFrenzy.com
Heavyweight Cheick Kongo was in the precarious position of entering his last UFC effort without a deal in place beyond the bout and, though it could have worked out for him if successful, the Frenchman ultimately lost the tilt by way of a brutal knockout in the first round. Though Kongo has called the Octagon his professional home since 2006, rumors have swirled since his stumble to Roy Nelson stating UFC officials aren’t interested in bringing the hard-hitting kickboxer back in the fold.
Kongo recently addressed said reports, confirming he was not currently inked to a UFC contract but feels certain a return to the company is a legitimate possibility rather than a long shot.
“Do not believe everything you are told. I’m in the best position to know about my career in the UFC. And do not worry. For now, know that I have not dismissed the UFC and I’m on good terms with the American organization. I’m out of contract, as I’ve been before. So I say to you, unless proved otherwise, I’m still a UFC fighter,” wrote Kongo on his Facebook page. “Don’t believe he said-she said stories. I have not been cut by the UFC. I am Cheick Kongo so I know best what’s next for me. It doesn’t mean that I am leaving the UFC, it doesn’t mean that I am staying – it means this is my life.”
The 18-8 Kongo, who turns 38 in less than two weeks, has won three of his last five fights including victories over Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry. Thirteen of his wins have featured some form of finish with ten by way of TKO.
PHOTO CREDIT – MMAWEEKLY
The post Cheick Kongo clarifies contractual status, standing with the UFC appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.
It looks like a new heavyweight is on the market for organizations like WSOF and Bellator, as Cheick Kongo’s days in the Octagon appear to be at an end. Though Kongo was not cut after his knockout loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 159, the bout was the final fight on his deal and the UFC is not interested in re-signing the seasoned Frenchman.
MMAJunkie confirmed Kongo’s status with an unnamed source in the UFC.
Kongo addressed the matter in an online post, disputing the possibility of his future involving free agency.
“I have finished the last fight of my UFC contract BUT I have not been cut by the UFC and I am a UFC Fighter, still,” he Tweeted.
The 38-year old’s loss to Nelson dropped his overall record to 18-8-2 and served as his second strike-based defeat in his last three tilts. Kongo owns ten TKOs of his own including a memorable blasting of Pat Barry in 2011.
PHOTO CREDIT – MMAWEEKLY
The post UFC reportedly cutting ties with Cheick Kongo appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.
Heavyweight Cheick Kongo, who has competed inside the Octagon since 2006, was released by the UFC following a loss to Roy Nelson. Alden Halpern of MMA Elite posted on Twitter that Kongo was let go. Nothing has been confirmed, but his profile was removed from the UFC’s official website. Since joining the promotion in ’06, [...]
Another fight, another first round finish for Roy Nelson Saturday night. “Big Country” landed a thunderous right, followed it up with another shot, and ended Cheick Kongo at UFC 159 from Newark, New Jersey. With the win, Nelson took the chance to make his case for a future UFC heavyweight title fight. “I want that [...]
MMAFrenzy’s coverage of UFC 159 continues with our recap of a heavyweight battle between Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo. The big men met in an explosive fight that saw Nelson come out on top with devastating knockout victory.
Be sure to stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for full coverage of UFC 159.
Nelson Floors Kongo
Roy Nelson’s strength in the Octagon has often been the power in his strong overhand right. Add in the fact that Kongo has often been vulnerable to the overhand right and it would seem like this bout was decided before the two met tonight. Sure enough, Nelson with put away Kongo out with a nasty overhand right to notch his third straight victory in the Octagon via knockout/TKO.
Play-by-Play:
Rd. 1- Legkick by Kongo to open the action but Nelson immediately looks for takedown and eats a punch on the way in. Kongo with knees in the clinch but Nelson has a body lock here and the referee breaks them up. Huge overhand right by Nelson and Kongo is down and out.
Roy Nelson def. Cheick Kongo via KO (punch) at 2:03 of Round 1
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MMAFrenzy.com
The heavyweights were booked to bring the big guns at tonight's (Sat., April 27, 2013) UFC 159: "Jones vs. Sonnen" pay-per-view (PPV) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as Roy Nelson brought his two-fight win streak (both knockouts) to the cage to battle Cheick Kongo, who had gone eight months between fights.
It only took one punch to bring this one to a close.
Nelson opened the fight tentative, choosing to clinch up with Kongo against the fence, presumably in an effort to tire him out just a bit before going about throwing the big blows. When he did throw the big blow, it came hard and heavy.
In response to an inside leg kick, "Big Country" came over the top with an overhand right that hit right on the button. His follow up punch put the Frenchman to sleep.
Wam, bam, thank you, Cheick.
For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 159 event click here.
NEW YORK -- Roy Nelson talks about his UFC 159 fight against Cheick Kongo, how being a father affects his outlook on fighting, why he hopes Kongo will live up to French stereotypes, getting less attention going into this fight, and more.
NEW YORK -- Cheick Kongo talks about his UFC 159 fight against Roy Nelson, why he hasn't fought since July, his current health status, how many more years he wants to fight for, and why he wants to tickle "Big Country."
UFC 159 will take place on April 27th in the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, and the main event will see the two Ultimate Fighter 17 coaches facing off for the UFC light heavyweight title. Jon Jones will defend his belt against Chael Sonnen, who will be taking his first fight at LHW since 2006.
Also tapped for the card is a middleweight grudge match between Alan Belcher and Michael Bisping, a heavyweight bout between Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson, and a light heavyweight style clash between wrestler Phil Davis and ADCC winner Vinny Magalhaes. The final main card bout will see grinders Jim Miller and Pat Healy engage in a lightweight battle.
Here's a look at the current card:
Apr 27th live on PPV from Newark, NJ:
Main Card:
Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen [LHW Title]Alan Belcher vs. Michael BispingCheick Kongo vs. Roy NelsonPhil Davis vs. Vinny MagalhaesPat Healy vs. Jim Miller
Preliminary Card:
Johnny Bedford vs. Erik PerezSheila Gaff vs. Sara McMannLeonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzieAl Iaquinta vs. Joe ProctorNick Catone vs. James HeadKurt Holobaugh vs. Steven SilerOvince St. Preux vs. Gian VillanteRustam Khabilov vs. Yancy Medeiros
I knew Cheick Kongo was into fashion ever since he showed up to last year's UFC in Sweden as a slayer of the undead. There's nothing wrong with being a fashionista on the side of a well-oiled MMA career. Caol Uno became the first person in MMA to not only be sponsored by Nike, but have his own line of shoes. In fact, in Japan the Caol Uno 10AC shoes that were released in 2007 were so popular that Nike gave Uno his own line of MMA apparel and handbags. Sexyama collaborated with a Japanese store called 'Pleasure Dome' to release a $616 shirt back in 2012. Now in an interview with PunchDrunkGamer, Cheick Kongo revealed that he has opened up his very own European fashion boutique in West Hollywood, California.
I was recovering from my injuries and I took some time to work on my own business. I can tell you now that I’ve just opened “Fragola”, a showroom in west Hollywood, California. I sell merchandise from exclusive European brands, fashion luxury pieces from Italian and French designers’ collections, for both men and women. It has been quite the under-taking.
Don't worry, I plan on taking a trip to Fragola at some point this week just to see what it's all about. Check out this picture from Fragola's official Facebook of Cheick Kongo dressing better than you.
ABC 7's 'Eye on L.A.' even had a photoshoot inside Cheick Kongo's fashion boutique. Here's a snippet of video in which Kongo effortlessly picks up a news reporter.
Perhaps fighting doesn't solve everything.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Assuerio Silva was hospitalized earlier this week after getting gunned down outside his gym in Curitiba, Brazil. The alleged shooter, identified as Robson Freitas, is reportedly a former associate, according to Parana Online (via Sherdog).
Silva (15-8) hasn't competed since his technical knockout loss to Geronimo dos Santos at Jungle Fight 16 back on Oct. 17, 2009 in Rio. The 38-year-old heavyweight is perhaps best known for making Tim Sylvia shit his pants at UFC Fight Night 3 way back in 2006.
I wish I could say I was joking.
Anyway, Silva finished 0-3 inside the Octagon, tapping to Brandon Vera and going down on points against Cheick Kongo following his crappy performance opposite "The Maine-iac." The former Chute Boxe star remains hospitalized in serious condition and no other details regarding Freitas were made available.
As always, stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on this developing story as they become available.
Heavyweight action is on the menu at UFC 159 thanks to the addition of a tilt featuring Roy Nelson-Cheick Kongo. Both men have found victory in three of their four previous outings and possess knockout power, making for what should be an interesting match-up when the card unfolds on April 27 in Newark, New Jersey.
UFC officials have confirmed the clash.
Nelson is coming off back-to-back knockouts in the first round with his most recent involving a mashing of Matt Mitrione in December. He holds an overall mark of 18-7 with sixteen stoppages including those over Stefan Struve, Brendan Schaub, and Mirko Filipovic.
The 37-year old Kongo is 18-7-2 and has ten TKOs to his credit. However, the hulking Frenchman will be looking to shake off some ring-rust when me meets Nelson in the Octagon, sitting out since a July win over Shawn Jordan due to injury.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
The post Roy Nelson colliding with Cheick Kongo at April event appeared first on Five Ounces of Pain.
A heavyweight showdown between Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo is set to happen at UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen. Kongo is looking to add another win since his UFC 149 decision win over Shawn Jordan, and Nelson looks to continue the momentum of success in consecutive outings after finishing both Dave Herman and Matt Mitrione.
The event takes places Saturday, April 27 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. and will be headlined by a title fight between defending light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.
The post Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo to Clash at UFC 159 appeared first on Fighters.com.
Daniel Cormier knows Dion Staring is dangerous because he said yes when others like Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione said no thanks when offered to fight him.
It would seem Joe Silva’s job has been made a tad bit easier as two UFC heavyweights have decided to play matchmaker for themselves. Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo have agreed to face one another at UFC 156 via twitter. The exchange came behind a fan suggesting the bout to both fighters, who in turn agreed that it would a fun fight for fans.
Struve (25-5), coming off of a second-round knockout win over rising star Stipe Miocic at UFC on Fuel TV 5, reached out to the Frenchman, asking, “What do you think, Cheick?” In turn, Kongo (18-7-2), who is coming off of a decision win over Shawn Jordan at UFC 149, responded, “It would be very exciting for the fans & a great challenge for both of us. UFC 156 Lets do it!” The Dutchman excitedly accepted, tweeting to Kongo, “I’m in! Let’s see if they got a spot left for us then!”
While nothing has been made official, it wouldn’t be the first time fighters have taken the job of matchmaker into their own hands, usually getting the desired results.
UFC 146 takes place February 2, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
MMAFrenzy.com
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight sluggers Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo are rallying for a fight against each other at UFC 156 in February.
With neither fighter currently booked for a fight, the two Europeans took to Twitter and played matchmaker for themselves.
"When's @StefanStruve next fight? Him and @kongo4real should throw it down!" A fan wrote to Struve and Kongo.
"Sounds good to me!" Struve replied via his personal Twitter account, then extending the offer to Kongo. "What do you think Cheick?! :)" Kongo, who has recently been criticized by UFC President Dana White for turning down a fight with Roy Nelson and one other bout, seemed happy to oblige to Struve's offer.
"It would be very exciting 4 the fans & a great challenge for both of us. UFC156 Lets do it!" The Frenchman wrote back to Struve.
With the two heavyweights seemingly trying to book their own fight, all they need to know is if there is place on the Superbowl weekend fight card for them to compete.
"I'm in! Great Fight for sure," Struve wrote. "Let's see if they got a spot left for us then!"
This is far from the first time UFC fighters have taken to Twitter trying to make a fight, and it certainly won't be the last. Only time will tell if Joe Silva and the rest of the UFC brass are paying attention and decide to give both men the fight they desire.
Struve (25-5) was last seen in the Octagon this past September when he defeated Stipe Miocic by second-round technical knockout in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 6 in England.
The Dutchman has won six of his past seven UFC bouts including four post-fight bonuses for his outstanding efforts.
Kongo (18-7-2) has only one loss in his past six UFC fights; however, his performances have been inconsistent. The 37-year-old last competed over the Summer at UFC 149 and produced one of the most lackluster bouts of the year against Shawn Jordan.
With all the negativity surrounding the French fighter based off his last fight and turning down short-notice bouts, Kongo needs to deliver next time he steps in the cage.
UFC 156: "Aldo vs. Edgar" goes down Feb. 2, 2013, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The event is headlined by a featherweight championship bout of Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar and also features a heavyweight contest between Alistair Overeem and Antonio Silva.
All the UFC 156 news that's fit to print right here.
UFC President Dana White reveals that Matt Mitrione wasn't the first fighter they called when a replacement was needed to face Roy Nelson at the TUF 16 finale.
Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is ready to get back inside the Octagon. After having a bout with Cheick Kongo scrapped because of complications from an arm injury suffered at the hands of Frank Mir, “Minotauro” is now all set and 100-percent ready to fight again. “I am feeling good, very strong [...]
Travis Browne will compete in the biggest fight of his career this Friday night. Browne is scheduled to face Antonio Silva in the main event of UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot. Browne (13-0-1) has earned three straight wins since a draw with Cheick Kongo in 2010. He knocked out Stefan Struve, scored a hard-fought [...]
The fake eye poke, the fake knee, choking an assistant coach who called him out for it on TUF... And no consequence? Why is this okay? People complain about Cheick Kongo doing shit like holding shorts but this is nothing in comparison. submitted by pan0phobik [link] [1 comment]
After a day’s worth of questions surrounding the show, heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira became the latest Brazilian fighter willing to sacrifice some training time to help piece back together UFC 153 after the card was hit hard earlier this week by injuries. Nogueira, who has been out of action since late 2011 due to a broken arm, will make his return at the October 13 event and take on Dave Herman.
Middleweight champion Anderson Silva will headline the festivities in a bout against Stephan Bonnar at 205 pounds.
Nogueira (33-10-1) suffered his injury when Frank Mir locked in a Kimura and “Minotauro” refused to tap out. He was set to return this past summer to take on Cheick Kongo but withdrew after stating his arm had not completely healed. He is widely considered to be one of the finest heavyweights the sport has ever seen, racking up wins over many of the sport’s elite competitors.
Herman (21-4) is coming off a pair of defeats at the hands of Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve. He had earned wins in his previous three fights before the losing skid including twenty victories featuring some form of finish.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
After emerging as a heavyweight to watch, Ultimate Fighter alumnus Matt Mitrione has become one of the division’s forgotten faces after an extended absence from action for a handful of health-related reasons. Fortunately, though Mitrione hasn’t fought since an October loss to Cheick Kongo, he will at least be able to get his hands dirty before the conclusion of 2012.
According to an official announcement, Mitrione will mix it up with Philip de Fries at UFC 155. No reason was offered in terms of what happened to Mitrione’s previously announced rumble with Rob Broughton at UFC on FX 5, though the show did recently receive an influx of fights due to the cancellation of UFC 151 and may have simply been overbooked.
The 5-1 “Meathead” has never fought outside of the Octagon, racking up wins in each of his first five professional pairings including four by way of knockout. Comparably, De Fries is 9-1 and was last seen submitting Oli Thompson earlier this month at UFC on FOX 4.
UFC 155 is scheduled for December 29 and is expected to feature Junior dos Santos defending his heavyweight title against former champion Cain Velasquez in the event’s headlining slot.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Matt Mitrione will have a chance to end a forgetful year on a high note. Mitrione has agreed to fight Phil De Fries at UFC 155, which takes place Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. Mitrione confirmed the news with MMAFighting.com Friday morning, while De Fries tweeted it, as well. Fighters Only first reported the news. Mitrione (5-1) hasn't fought since UFC 137 last October when he lost to Cheick Kongo via unanimous decision. Since then, he's battled injuries until he was ready to return this summer. However, his original opponent Rob Broughton had issues securing a visa and their fight was rescheduled three times. The UFC decided to finally pull the plug on that matchup and book Mitrione vs. De Fries.De Fries (9-1, 1 NC) most recently submitted fellow Brit Oli Thompson via second-round rear-naked choke at UFC on FOX 4. No word just yet on whether the fight will air on the main card or undercard.
CALGARY -- Watch below as Cheick Kongo apologizes to the fans after his lackluster decision win over Shawn Jordan at UFC 149, reveals that he fought with two injured shoulders, talks about the rehab process, and much more.
CALGARY - Shawn Jordan knows the pieces are in place. He now just needs to capitalize.
Jordan, a former Strikeforce fighter who made a successful UFC debut with a TKO victory over Oli Thompson in March, now gets the biggest fight of his young career.
Against Cheick Kongo tonight at UFC 149, he has an opportunity to get noticed in a quickly crowding heavyweight division.
CALGARY -- Cheick Kongo discusses what went wrong in his knockout loss to Mark Hunt at UFC 144, his upcoming opponent, Shawn Jordan, at UFC 149, being the only original UFC 149 main card fighter to not get injured, and much more.
CALGARY -- Shawn Jordan talks about his upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 149, his tongue ring, the injury-ravaged fight card, the BCS playoffs and more.
CALGARY, Alberta, Canada - A bearded Cheick Kongo told MMAjunkie.com at UFC on FUEL TV 2 that the next time he was clean-shaven, his problems would be behind him.
At UFC 149, Kongo showed up looking Mr. Clean and talking about how beautiful life is.
"Everything is good now," Kongo on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com. "I came back in shape and more focused, and fortunately with a good win on Saturday."
One of the losses suffered by the UFC 149 card turned out to be Shawn Jordan's gain.
And if things go the way he thinks they might go on Saturday, it could be the fans' gain, as well - even if most of them don't realize it yet.
Jordan meets Cheick Kongo on UFC 149's main card in a heavyweight tilt that Jordan believes could make fans forget they were supposed to see Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - not him.
Ex-UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira doesn’t know what his future holds for him inside the Octagon. Nogueira, however, does know that having to pull out of a planned bout with Cheick Kongo at UFC 149 was not in his plans. The recovery from a broken arm did not go completely as “Big Nog” [...]
The UFC injury bug continues spoil the promotion's debut in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The organization confirmed on Saturday that Shawn Jordan will replace the injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Cheick Kongo next month at UFC 149. Sherdog.com first reported the news.Nogueira is just the latest big-name fighter to pull out of UFC 149. The others are: Jose Aldo, Shogun Rua, Thiago Alves, Thiago Silva, Michael Bisping, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Erik Koch and Bibiano Fernandes.Jordan (13-3) won his Octagon debut in March when he defeated Oli Thompson via second-round TKO. The former Strikeforce and Bellator fighter also holds a win over Lavar Johnson. Kongo (17-7) will look took bounce back from his first-round TKO loss to Mark Hunt at UFC 144 in February. The loss snapped the Frenchman's four-fight unbeaten streak.
"Big Nog" hasn't fought since Frank Mir broke his arm at UFC 140 last December.
UFC 149, now headlined by Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao for the interim bantamweight title, will take July 21 on Scotiabank Place in Calgary.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s still healing broken arm will keep the MMA legend from facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 149. Stepping in for Nogueira will be former LSU football player Shawn Jordan. Sherdog first reported the switch.
Jordan is coming off a win in his UFC debut versus Oli Thompson at UFC on FX 2. The Jackson’s MMA fighter will looking for his fifth win in his last six bouts when he faces Kongo.
Kongo is coming off a devastating loss to Mark Hunt at UFC 144. Before losing to Hunt, Kongo had not lost since being defeated by Frank Mir.
UFC 149 takes place July 21 live from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. The card will be headlined by an interim bantamweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao. The card will also mark the debut of former Bellator middleweght champion Hector Lombard as he faces Tim Boetsch.
MMAFrenzy.com
Don’t call it a comeback, because the injury bug has been here for years. Despite being pencilled in to face French striker Cheick Kongo at next month’s UFC 149, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has been forced to withdraw from the event. His withdrawal was prompted by his right arm, which was broken by recent title challenger [...]
With his broken arm still not fully healed, former UFC interim champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has pulled out of next month's UFC 149 event.
In his place steps Shawn Jordan, who now fights fellow heavyweight Cheick Kongo.
Sherdog first reported the scratch and Jordan's acceptance of the fight earlier today. MMAjunkie.com confirmed Nogueira's withdrawal.
UFC 149 has undergone yet another change to the card's lineup. First Jose Aldo was out, then it was Thiago Silva, followed by Michael Bisping, Mauricio Rua and now it looks like it is Big Nog's turn to bow out.The latest casualty affecting UFC 149 is none other than Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Big Nog" has not fully healed from his broken arm at the hands of Frank Mir from UFC 140 on December 10, 2011. He has been forced to drop out of his planned match-up against Cheick Kongo. According to Sherdog,
With ten of MMA’s top heavyweights scheduled to scrap at UFC 146 the odds are decent in terms of one potentially going down due to injury in the next few weeks during the final build towards the May 26 event. Given the unique situation, it appears Travis Browne is betting man and is gearing up in case a replacement is needed at the last minute.
According to Browne’s manager via MMAWeekly, “Hapa” has hit the gym to prepare for a potential call from the Zuffa brass.
The 29-year old Browne is 13-0-1 with eleven stoppages and his lone blemish involving a Draw against Cheick Kongo. He has won three fights since including a pair of first-frame finishes against Stefan Struve and most recently Chad Griggs less than ten days ago at UFC 145.
UFC 146 is headlined by Frank Mir facing Junior dos Santos in hopes of dethroning the divisional king with the other quartet of heavyweight pairings on the main card involving Cain Velasquez-Antonio Silva, Struve-Mark Hunt, Roy Nelson-Gabriel Gonzaga, and Shane Del Rosario-Stipe Miocic.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will return from the broken arm he suffered against Frank Mir in December to face Cheick Kongo at UFC 149 in July.
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 [...]
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.
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.
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?
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
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?
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.
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.
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
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 →
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
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."
"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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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."
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...
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
"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.
“Cheick is salty. That’s going to be a real test for me. But honestly, I’m excited. That’s why I started fighting. I want to be tested. I want to see how tough I am or how tough I’m not… I don’t take Cheick lightly. Cheick is a really serious contender. There’s been a lot of times that he’s so resilient, he doesn’t stop… I think he’s got seven or eight times the fights that I do. I’ve got five, and he’s got 40. But that’s kind of the fun part. We get to see if my athleticism can make up for his learning curve and if my learning curve can catch up and pass his… I’m just going to try and punch him in his face. I’m going to punch him. I’m going to kick him. If he wants to go to the ground, I’ll do my best to submit him… I can tell you where it’s not going: It’s not going to a decision. Either I’m going to sleep or he’s going to sleep or getting submitted. It’s one of the two. But I’m telling you, we’re going to dance the dance, that’s for sure.”
— Matt Mitrione talking to MMA Junkie about his upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 137
Cheick Kongo definitely represents the toughest test Matt Mitrione has faced in his short, albeit successful MMA career. It’s tough to say who’s going to win because we really don’t know how Mitrione is going stack up against a veteran like Kongo. I think Mitrione has a good chance of pulling it off, but only if he managed to shore up his striking defense since his last fight. Dropping his hands when he engages like he did over and over again against Christian Morecraft is going to get him knocked out against an experienced kickboxer like Cheick Kongo. Just ask Pat Barry.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog