Filed under: UFC
In a heavyweight fight that didn’t quite deliver the fireworks fans were hoping for, Cheick Kongo beat Matt Mitrione by decision at UFC 137.
Mitrione, a former NFL defensive tackle, and Kongo, a muscular striker, had a fight that was billed as a heavyweight slugfest but turned out to be more of a snoozefest, as both men came out looking tentative and hesitant. But Kongo got the better of the stand-up exchanges and battered Mitrione on the ground in the third round, and that was enough to earn the decision, 30-27, 30-28 and 29-28 on the judges’ scorecards for Kongo.
The fans in Las Vegas booed as the fight came to an end.
For Kongo, the win was his 10th inside the Octagon, and it showed that he’s still among the better heavyweights in the sport. But it also showed why he’s not among the truly elite: His ground game is still rudimentary, and he’s often too slow to let his hands go.
For Mitrione, the loss was his first since he was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, and it showed that he, too, still has a long way to go. Mitrione is a talented athlete, but he’s not a complete MMA fighter yet, and this was not a great fight.
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