Cheick Kongo Youtube Videos
Cheick Kongo Bio
Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo (born May 17, 1975), more commonly known as Cheick Kongo, is a French heavyweight mixed martial artist and kickboxer who fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He currently trains with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and formerly Michael Bisping at the Wolfslair MMA Academy.
Early life [edit]
Born to a Burkinabé father and a Congolese mother, Kongo began training in martial arts when he was 5 years old, learning Kendo and Karate. As he grew older, he began to expand his repertoire and trained in Muay Thai, kickboxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. At age 19, he learned of Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art, and was coached by Charles Joussot and Franck Roppers He's also a cousin of rugby star Fulgence Ouedraogo, the French back-rower. Cheick is also a columnist for the French MMA magazine, Top Fight.
Mixed martial arts career [edit]
On June 10, 2001, Kongo began his professional career by knocking out Doog Ward. Kongo then followed up that win with a TKO over Dave van der Veen. He then lost his third professional MMA fight to Rodney Faverus by decision. He faced Gilbert Yvel on May 20, losing for the second time in his career when he tapped to strikes in the second round. He trained with Anderson Silva and Wanderlei Silva in the early days of Pride Fighting Championships.
Ultimate Fighting Championship [edit]
Kongo entered the UFC to fight Gilbert Aldana at UFC 61, whom he beat by TKO due to a doctor stoppage. Kongo followed up with a win over UFC newcomer Christian Wellisch by KO due to a knee strike, before losing to UFC newcomer Carmelo Marrero at UFC 64. Then, Kongo defeated Assuerio Silva by majority decision at UFC 70. At UFC 75 on September 8, 2007, he defeated Mirko Filipović by unanimous decision. The fight was surrounded with some controversy because Kongo delivered 3 illegal groin knees and did not have any points deducted. He fought against Heath Herring at UFC 82, losing by split decision. At UFC 87 he fought against UFC newcomer Dan "The Viking" Evensen, whom he defeated by first-round TKO.
Kongo fought at UFC 92 on December 27, 2008 where he beat former Cage Rage British Heavyweight champion Mustapha Al Turk by TKO. Kongo dropped Al Turk with two right hands. Then fired on a vicious ground and pound attack, Kongo pounced on Al Turk with elbows and punches, opening up a big cut above the eye. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight after 4:37 of the first round. This fight was also somewhat controversial because Kongo hit Al-Turk with a groin knee prior to the stoppage. In his next fight he then defeated Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97 by second-round TKO.
Kongo replaced Heath Herring on three weeks notice at UFC 99 to face the up-and-coming Cain Velasquez in the co-main event. Kongo lost to Velasquez by unanimous decision in a one-sided affair. He did however, manage to drop Velasquez on two occasions with straight punches. It had been rumoured that if he was to defeat Velasquez, Kongo would earn a title shot against the winner of the UFC 100 Heavyweight Championship between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. Mir lost his bout against Lesnar and actually ended up fighting Kongo at UFC 107. During the pre-fight talk, Mir stated that Kongo had no ground game, so at the weigh ins Cheick Kongo turned his back to Mir, to be disrespectful. Mir won the fight by a submission. After connecting with a left overhand punch that dropped Kongo, Mir finished him with a guillotine choke, rendering Kongo unconscious just 72 seconds into the first round.
Kongo defeated Paul Buentello on March 21, 2010 at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones by submission due to elbows. In this fight Kong delivered an illegal knee to Buentello's face while he had his hand on the floor.
Kongo was expected to face The Ultimate Fighter 10 winner Roy Nelson on July 3, 2010, at UFC 116 but a back injury to Kongo has caused the cancellation of the fight. Kongo would end up fighting Nelson almost 3 years later at UFC 159.
Kongo's next fight was against undefeated Travis Browne at UFC 120. They fought to a unanimous draw. Once again Kongo showcased a controversial fight because he repeatedly grabbed Browne's shorts and had 1 point deducted.
Kongo fought Pat Barry on June 26, 2011 at UFC on Versus 4. His fight against Barry became the main event since Nate Marquardt was not medically cleared for his welterweight debut against Rick Story. During the bout Kongo was dropped by a looping right hand. Visibly rocked, Kongo got back to his feet but was dropped again seconds later by another hard punch. Despite being dropped twice, Kongo was able to knock Barry out with a hard overhand right to the ear, followed by an uppercut to the chin to secure a win midway through the first round.
Kongo faced Matt Mitrione on October 29, 2011 at UFC 137. He won the fight via unanimous decision by utilizing his reach with his jab and securing multiple takedowns.
Kongo faced Mark Hunt on February 26, 2012 at UFC 144. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
Kongo was expected to face Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira on July 21, 2012 at UFC 149. However, Nogueira pulled out of the bout, citing that an arm injury sustained in his last bout against Frank Mir had not healed enough to resume the proper training and was replaced by Shawn Jordan. Kongo defeated Jordan via unanimous decision.
Kongo finally faced Roy Nelson on April 27, 2013 at UFC 159, a bout that was supposed to happen almost 3 years before at UFC 116. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. After his loss to Nelson, Kongo's UFC contract expired and he was released from the UFC.
Before UFC 159 the UFC offered Kongo a 4 fight deal, which he turned down.
On May 4, 2013 Kongo stated that he is on good terms with the UFC and was quoted saying: "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 has stated that he is open to the possibility of resigning a contract with the UFC.
Championships and achievements [edit]
Kickboxing [edit]
- 2005 World Champion Federation King of the Rings
- 2005 King of Colosseum tournament champion
- 2005 Rings World champion
- 2004 King of the Ring Heavyweight champion
- 2004 Muay Thai World champion
- 2003 Intercontinental Muay Thai champion
- 2002 Rings European champion
- 2001 Rings European Vice champion
- European Savate champion
Mixed martial arts [edit]
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Knockout of the Year vs Pat Barry
- Kings Of The Ring
- Kings Of The Ring super world champion -103 kg
- World MMA Awards
- 2011 Comeback of the Year
ksw champion
Mixed martial arts record [edit]
Kickboxing record (incomplete) [edit]
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest
See also [edit]
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
- List of male kickboxers
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Official UFC Profile
- Official Cheick Kongo MySpace
- Professional MMA record for Cheick Kongo from Sherdog
MMA Shirts
