Tag: Cheick Kongo

Ben vs. Jared: UFC 159 Edition


(“How ’bout we say ‘triangle choke, round 2.’ I’ve got a t-shirt riding on this.” / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

With UFC 159 slated for tomorrow night, CagePotato founding editor Ben Goldstein and beloved CP staff writer Jared Jones have teamed up to argue about all the important themes surrounding the event. So how will the absurd light-heavyweight title fight end, exactly? What will happen if Alan Belcher actually lets Michael Bisping take a free shot to his face? Can the third women’s UFC fight possibly live up to the first two? How many more fights can Leonard Garcia lose before the UFC gives him the ol’ heave-ho? Read on, and throw down your own opinions in the comments section.

Will Jon Jones immediately demolish Chael Sonnen, or will he play around with Chael a little before demolishing him? And will Chael retire after the loss?

BG: I rarely make sweeping statements about who will win an MMA fight because 1) anything can happen in this crazy sport, and 2) the things you write on the Internet often come back to haunt you. But yes, Jon Jones will win this fight. I absolutely guarantee it. Sonnen’s best weapon — his relentless wrestling attack — will dash apart against Jones’s own wrestling, which is precision-tuned for the sport of MMA. Quickly out of options, Chael will throw his patented “I give up” spinning backfist, fall down against the cage, and will whisper a quick prayer to his God before Jones literally eats him and shits him out. And I do mean literally, okay? Literally.

I’m leaning towards a quick beat-down in this fight rather than an extended clowning, because Jones takes his job too seriously to “play around” with an opponent. (He’s not exactly Mr. Fun, we’ve noticed.) And once Chael feels the power of a large light-heavyweight, he’ll realize what a bad idea this whole thing was in the first place. To exit the sport directly after another humiliation wouldn’t fit in with Sonnen’s blustery self-image, so I think he’ll take at least one more fight — maybe at middleweight, maybe at light-heavyweight — before calling it quits. Once he starts losing to non-champions, he’ll wisely make the switch to full-time UFC talking head and occasional hair-texture tester.

JJ: Mark my words, this fight will be Jon Jones’s UFC 97 (or UFC 112, depending on which fight you thought was worse). Jones may not be a fun-loving guy, as you stated, but it also appears that the tryptophan-induced honeymoon between these two TUF coaches has passed, leaving behind only apathy in its wake. If you’ve noticed in the past, the foes “Bones knows” on a personal level seem to last the longest in the cage with him (Rampage, Rashad) — perhaps out of respect, perhaps because they are both tough as hell — so I think we should start preparing ourselves for a tepid, five-round affair highlighted by Bones’s jab and Sonnen’s desperate attempts to convert a single leg.

And when all is said and done, Sonnen will snatch the mic out of Joe Rogan’s hand, and in an attempt to mimic [enter professional wrestler name here]’s infamous retirement speech, will announce that, and I quote:


(“How ’bout we say ‘triangle choke, round 2.’ I’ve got a t-shirt riding on this.” / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

With UFC 159 slated for tomorrow night, CagePotato founding editor Ben Goldstein and beloved CP staff writer Jared Jones have teamed up to argue about all the important themes surrounding the event. So how will the absurd light-heavyweight title fight end, exactly? What will happen if Alan Belcher actually lets Michael Bisping take a free shot to his face? Can the third women’s UFC fight possibly live up to the first two? How many more fights can Leonard Garcia lose before the UFC gives him the ol’ heave-ho? Read on, and throw down your own opinions in the comments section.

Will Jon Jones immediately demolish Chael Sonnen, or will he play around with Chael a little before demolishing him? And will Chael retire after the loss?

BG: I rarely make sweeping statements about who will win an MMA fight because 1) anything can happen in this crazy sport, and 2) the things you write on the Internet often come back to haunt you. But yes, Jon Jones will win this fight. I absolutely guarantee it. Sonnen’s best weapon — his relentless wrestling attack — will dash apart against Jones’s own wrestling, which is precision-tuned for the sport of MMA. Quickly out of options, Chael will throw his patented “I give up” spinning backfist, fall down against the cage, and will whisper a quick prayer to his God before Jones literally eats him and shits him out. And I do mean literally, okay? Literally.

I’m leaning towards a quick beat-down in this fight rather than an extended clowning, because Jones takes his job too seriously to “play around” with an opponent. (He’s not exactly Mr. Fun, we’ve noticed.) And once Chael feels the power of a large light-heavyweight, he’ll realize what a bad idea this whole thing was in the first place. To exit the sport directly after another humiliation wouldn’t fit in with Sonnen’s blustery self-image, so I think he’ll take at least one more fight — maybe at middleweight, maybe at light-heavyweight — before calling it quits. Once he starts losing to non-champions, he’ll wisely make the switch to full-time UFC talking head and occasional hair-texture tester.

JJ: Mark my words, this fight will be Jon Jones’s UFC 97 (or UFC 112, depending on which fight you thought was worse). Jones may not be a fun-loving guy, as you stated, but it also appears that the tryptophan-induced honeymoon between these two TUF coaches has passed, leaving behind only apathy in its wake. If you’ve noticed in the past, the foes “Bones knows” on a personal level seem to last the longest in the cage with him (Rampage, Rashad) — perhaps out of respect, perhaps because they are both tough as hell — so I think we should start preparing ourselves for a tepid, five-round affair highlighted by Bones’s jab and Sonnen’s desperate attempts to convert a single leg.

And when all is said and done, Sonnen will snatch the mic out of Joe Rogan’s hand, and in an attempt to mimic [enter professional wrestler name here]’s infamous retirement speech, will announce that, and I quote:

I just got a call from Dana, he said ‘Chael, I think it’s time to hang ‘em up.’
‘You see, You’re overpaid, and at light-heavy, you kind of suck.’
‘You’ve been losing fights, without much brain or brawn
And your WWE-shtick is starting to make fans yawn’
‘I mean, no one’s coming to see you in living rooms or bars,
Maybe you should stick to MMA Tonight, or become a pro-wrasslin superstar.’
He handed me a pink slip, a FOTN-bonus, his ATM card and pin.
He said, ‘Chael, take it all, then get the fuck back to West Linn.’
I thought for a moment and I said, ‘I’ll tell ya’ what, Uncle D.’
‘You need not worry, for these arms and these charms, you will not again see.’

If Leonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzie ends in anything but a Fight of the Year-earning draw, someone is getting fired, right? Right?! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, SOMEONE TELL ME I’M RIGHT. 

JJ: You’re right, so take a step away from the ledge, brosef. If Cody McKenzie loses, he’s getting axed (or should I say, GUILLOTINED…*crickets*…damn, play me off, Johnny!) for sure. Common logic dictates it. McKenzie’s three losses in his past four contests dictate it. The almighty chart even dictates it. As a big fan of the TUF 12 alum/thorn in Josh Koscheck’s ass, it saddens me to realize that McKenzie could possibly receive his walking papers on account of a guy whose continued employment undermines the newly-established firing policy of the organization he is fighting for. Then again, if McKenzie can’t beat Garcia – and the oddsmakers seem to think he won’t — perhaps he doesn’t really belong in the UFC anyway.

As for Garcia, well, I’m convinced by now that he could walk out in a banana hammock puffing a blunt on Saturday, get choked out in the first 30 seconds, and test positive for bath salts in the aftermath of his vehicular rampage across southern California and still not get fired. I’ve got nothing against the guy – he’s consistently entertaining to his own detriment (a common trait among my favorite fighters) and I honestly think Max Holloway was “blessed” *crickets, tumbleweeds* with the decision in their fight at UFC 155. At this point, we should just start asking ourselves which will come first: Garcia’s firing or the legalization of MMA in New York? Honestly, I’m picking the latter.

BG: I’ll just argue on the side of logic then. Nobody in UFC history has lost five consecutive fights and kept their contract, and Garcia won’t be the one to break that trend. And it doesn’t matter if the fight is a barnburner — even if it wins Fight of the Night, the UFC will finally realize that Garcia is a guy who can’t even beat the Cody McKenzies of the world, and cut him loose. To do otherwise would be goddamned unseemly. Even Garcia seems to be preparing for the inevitable. (I feel it’s my duty to point out that Garcia would currently be on a seven-fight losing streak if he wasn’t gifted those ill-gotten wins over Chan Sung Jung and Nam Phan in 2010.)

McKenzie has a little more wiggle room because he’s not carrying the same kind of lengthy losing streak into this fight; at least he can say he’s won a match in the last 12 months. Cody is goofy and likable, and most importantly, cheap. If he loses in a hard-fought battle — especially if he gets screwed by the judges, which is always a possibility when you’re fighting Leonard Garcia — I say he keeps his job.

Alan Belcher recently released a video where he said, “Michael Bisping couldn’t hurt me with his best punch solid to my chin…There will be at least one time in the fight where I’m just going to drop my hands and say ‘come on man, give it your best shot’.” We already know that this sort of thing is a bad idea. How bad of an idea is it against Bisping specifically, and will you cheer if Bisping knocks Belcher the fuck out for trying it?

BG: Bisping may not be known for his one-punch knockout power, and maybe Belcher could get away with giving the Count a free one. (If you’ll recall, Chris Leben tried the exact same thing against Bisping and avoided a KO, although he was on PCP at the time or something.) But let’s be honest: This is a straight-up asshole move, and it puts Belcher in danger for absolutely no reason. Dismissing your opponent’s power is one of the surest ways to get dicknailed by karma. Personally, I’ll be laughing my ass off if it actually happens. But considering that Bisping has been his usual charming self in the leadup to this fight, I’ll be pretty satisfied if the Count gets knocked out instead. For the record, I don’t think anybody’s going to sleep in this one: Bisping by decision.

JJ: I’d like to think that Belcher possesses the kind of standup skills to put Bisping in all sorts of trouble, but methinks Belcher might be a little out of his league, like Jorge Rivera and Jason Miller before him. His biggest victory in his UFC career was arguably his trouncing of Rousimar Palhares, who isn’t exactly as feared by his middleweight counterparts as he once was. While Bisping has lost most of his fights against elite-level competition, he’s also faced a hell of a lot more elite competition than Belcher.

Will Belcher make good on his promise? Perhaps in the early going, but Bisping will probably be too content with his jab-n-jog strategy to even take him up on the offer. Will Bisping eventually knock him out? It’s hard to tell — the only guy to ever TKO Belcher in the UFC was Jason Day, who was also the last person Bisping was able to finish in the first round. MMA Math determines that Bisping will run through Belcher, but I think we should expect to see Bisping exploit Belcher’s subpar wrestling en route to a dominant but ultimately unsatisfying decision victory. In either case, the day I find myself cheering for Bisping will be the day that Nick Diaz gets his real estate license.

Is it possible for the UFC’s third WMMA fight to exceed our expectations given how amazing the first two were? Or has the bar been set at an unreachable level for Sara McMann and Sheila Gaff to achieve?

JJ: I’m of two minds about how the UFC has decided to introduce WMMA into their brand. On one hand, sprinkling female fights on various cards here and there is an idea that I am coming around to more and more each day. By simply introducing the fight as another fight, it makes the gender issue a non-issue and puts a lot of pressure on the ladies to perform, which has resulted in two amazing fights thus far. On the other hand, it does set the bar so high that you just know some fans out there are waiting for the slightest slip up — a slightly boring fight, perhaps — to write off the sport entirely.

That being said, how exciting this fight ends up being depends heavily on which fighter is able to keep the fight in their realm. If Sara McMann is able to use her Olympic wrestling pedigree to take Sheila Gaff down at will (which, again, she is heavily favored to do), this fight might not wind up being the most exciting thing in the world. But if Gaff is able to keep things standing and unleash her Tazmanian Devil offense, we could witness the first “Knockout of the Night” in UFC-WMMA history. If that doesn’t silence some haters, I don’t know what will.

BG: As much as I like Sara McMann as a human being — I don’t know her personally, but she just seems like a super lady — I agree that a quick, vicious knockout from Sheila Gaff is probably the best-case scenario here, if the goal is to convince skeptical UFC fans that anything is possible in a women’s fight. And Gaff can certainly make that happen, as she possesses a level of punching power that’s downright Rothenhauslerian.

But look, there’s a reason this fight is on the FX prelims instead of the main card. As you hinted at above, a measured, wrestling-based gameplan from McMann will likely be the story of this fight, and the UFC is hedging a little just in case it’s a dull affair. It’s overly dramatic to suggest that the marketability of women in the UFC will be affected much by this bout, but it’s kind of up to Sara McMann to make this a memorable fight. If she takes Gaff down and TKOs or submits her, it’ll be a good one. If she stands and bangs, it’ll be a good one. If she just lays on top of Gaff for three rounds or executes some Cormier-style wall-and-stall, it won’t be good — not for the viewers at home, and not for McMann’s immediate title prospects.

Vinny Magalhaes talkalottaboolsheet about how his fight with Phil Davis is a mismatch. Are you convinced?

BG: Get the fuck out of here. Whether Magalhaes has more “skills” than Davis (as he claims) is debatable. What isn’t is that Davis has so much more relevant experience in the Octagon. I like how Magalhaes rags on Davis for not fighting anybody who was really good at grappling or striking — conveniently forgetting Davis’s wins over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alexander Gustafsson, it seems. Meanwhile, we’re supposed to give Vinny respect because of one UFC victory against Igor Pokrajac and a few wins over some Russian talent in M-1 Challenge? This is a huge step up in competition for Magalhaes. I really hope he’s taking it seriously, because he’s got his work cut out for him.

JJ: How can you talk about the 1X DEFENDING M-1 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT G.O.A.T like that, bro? Vinny Magalhaes hangs out with Chael “The World’s Most Dangerous Man Fuck You Ken Shamrock” Sonnen and beats up Russians in his spare time. Russians, you guys. They’re like 5/6ths human, 1/3rd cyborg, and two-parts archangel on average, and you think Magalhaes can’t handle some pink tights-sporting pair of clownshoes who looks like Starvin Marvin and packs even less punching power?

We might detest him for it, but Vinny Magalhaes is about to single-handedly shatter the myth that things like “fighter rankings” or “octagon experience” or “notable wins” matter in a UFC fight. And it all begins with his first round, SOTY-earning gogoplata victory over Davis on Saturday.

Rustam Khabilov (a.k.a SLAM duh duuh duuh) is fighting a guy named Yancy. Yancy. Discuss.

JJ: Looks like I’ll have to revamp my “Worst Draws for a UFC Debut” article. It probably sucked anyway. But yeah, Yancy.

Khabilov by Khalibomb (Khalima-bomb?) at three seconds into the first.

BG: Yancy. It’s like “Nancy,” but with a Y. Personally, I’m more interested that Yancy Medeiros hasn’t competed in three years, and he’s dropping two weight classes for this fight, and his nickname is “Frisson.” But yeah, Yancy’s screwed here. Khabilov will throw him. How Yancy lands is his business.

Roy Nelson by knockout or Cheick Kongo by decision?

BG: Nelson will win by KO, setting up a fight against Mark Hunt for the UFC’s inaugural HeavyDWeight Championship.

JJ: Trick question: Nelson by DQ after his testicles are literally kneed out of his scrotum by Kongo. Joe Rogan will then enter the octagon, scoop up Nelson’s testicles, and force Arianny and Brittney to eat them while the audience cheers them on.

It’s a working theory.

Afternoon Video Dump: Ronda Rousey Judo-Throw Highlight Reel, Chael Sonnen Gets the Girl + More

(Props: mmadigest)

Proving that you don’t need dramatic music or clever editing to make a killer highlight reel, here’s a must-see compilation of Ronda Rousey judo-tossing the bejeezus out of Miesha Tate, Nick Diaz, Uriah Hall, Aaron Tru, Bas Rutten and a laundry list of opponents and training partners. And now that you’ve seen that, follow us downward for three more of the day’s best sort-of-MMA-related videos…

(Props: AXE)

Chael Sonnen‘s girlfriend is very attractive. Here’s how he landed her, with some sage advice at the end for all you young single fellas out there.


(Props: mmadigest)

Proving that you don’t need dramatic music or clever editing to make a killer highlight reel, here’s a must-see compilation of Ronda Rousey judo-tossing the bejeezus out of Miesha Tate, Nick Diaz, Uriah Hall, Aaron Tru, Bas Rutten and a laundry list of opponents and training partners. And now that you’ve seen that, follow us downward for three more of the day’s best sort-of-MMA-related videos…


(Props: AXE)

Chael Sonnen‘s girlfriend is very attractive. Here’s how he landed her, with some sage advice at the end for all you young single fellas out there.


(Props: Jack Slack)

Striking-analyst extraordinaire Jack Slack is not too impressed with Cheick Kongo’s kickboxing skills. Watch the video above to see why, and read his accompanying article on BleacherReport for a more detailed explanation.


(Props: desenhos9novos)

And finally, a great bit of unearthed footage that shows Eddie Bravo and Joe Rogan walking back to the locker room after Bravo’s legendary upset of Royler Gracie at the 2003 ADCC tournament. You’ve never seen a person as genuinely excited as Rogan is in that moment, after seeing his friend pull off the greatest victory of his career. Great stuff.

Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen’ Edition


(We’d start getting *real* used to that desk if we were you, Chael.)

By Dan “Get Off Me” George

It’s finally happening, Potato Nation. Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen a.k.a “the fight fans have been asking for” is set to go down this Saturday from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Although many fans have focused on the chemistry (or lack thereof) between Chael and Jon as reason enough to pass on this pay-per-view event, UFC 159 will be offering a solid card of competitive fights which on paper may make it a sleeper that you won’t want to miss.

So join us as we continue to contribute to the Save Danga’s Legs Fund (he’s almost better, but he likes the nurse visits) by highlighting where to place your money on a few undercard and all of the main card bouts. All betting lines courtesy of BestFightOdds.

Undercard bouts:

Steven Siler (-120) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+100)

Steven Siler comes in at around -130 for his fifth UFC appearance and will improve his Octagon record to 4-1 should he emerge victorious against the debuting Strikeforce veteran in Holobaugh. In his last outing, Siler was tarred and feathered by Darren Elkins‘ wrestling and was unable to take control of the fight for any sustained period of time. As an underdog who has only tasted defeat once in his career (a decision loss to Pat Healy), Holobaugh at even money or better is a solid choice. Kurt fights like a veteran and showed he can hang with some of the best in the world while dominating anything less than that caliber. Coming out of the Gracie Barra gym, Holobaugh will be too tough for Siler to submit and will put Super’s stand up game to the test with his own excellent striking. Holobaugh for the slight upset win.


(We’d start getting *real* used to that desk if we were you, Chael.)

By Dan “Get Off Me” George

It’s finally happening, Potato Nation. Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen a.k.a “the fight fans have been asking for” is set to go down this Saturday from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Although many fans have focused on the chemistry (or lack thereof) between Chael and Jon as reason enough to pass on this pay-per-view event, UFC 159 will be offering a solid card of competitive fights which on paper may make it a sleeper that you won’t want to miss.

So join us as we continue to contribute to the Save Danga’s Legs Fund (he’s almost better, but he likes the nurse visits) by highlighting where to place your money on a few undercard and all of the main card bouts. All betting lines courtesy of BestFightOdds.

Undercard bouts:

Steven Siler (-120) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+100)

Steven Siler comes in at around -130 for his fifth UFC appearance and will improve his Octagon record to 4-1 should he emerge victorious against the debuting Strikeforce veteran in Holobaugh. In his last outing, Siler was tarred and feathered by Darren Elkins‘ wrestling and was unable to take control of the fight for any sustained period of time. As an underdog who has only tasted defeat once in his career (a decision loss to Pat Healy), Holobaugh at even money or better is a solid choice. Kurt fights like a veteran and showed he can hang with some of the best in the world while dominating anything less than that caliber. Coming out of the Gracie Barra gym, Holobaugh will be too tough for Siler to submit and will put Super’s stand up game to the test with his own excellent striking. Holobaugh for the slight upset win.

Rustam Khabilov (-300) vs. Yancy Medeiros (+250)

The Sambo suplex machine rolls into town as a healthy -300 favorite and will look to couple his grappling skills with Greg Jackson’s game planning prowess (close the distance and look for a takedown) to overwhelm his +250 underdog opponent, Yancy Medeiros. Not sure about the line on this, but it may start to narrow leading up to fight night, as Yancy is notorious for finishing his fights with his fists, something Khabilov will surely try to avoid. Khabilov’s only loss was a split decision in Russia, while Medeiros has no losses on his record thus far. Historically, the classic grappler vs striker matchup puts Khabilov to win, but it’s only worth putting in a parlay at these odds. Khabilov by decision.

Main Card PPV:

Pat Healy (+265) vs. Jim Miller (-325)

Going directly to the FOTN bonus prop here. With both fighters only losing to top lightweights in the past three years respectively, this tilt will surely use all sides of the Octagon to showcase a high-paced, hotly contested bout. Looking at the skill sets of these fighters, a look at the prop that this fight goes the distance (provided -250 or better) is also another way not to get burned in this one. The hometown fighter paying out 30 cents on the dollar against what some may consider a carbon copy of himself seems a little steep, so sticking with the props and tighter odds is safest. Jim to pull off the hometown decision but not at that price.

Phil Davis (-335) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (+275)

With a moniker like “Mr.Wonderful,” it comes as no surprise that the price tag is -300 on Davis out-grappling BJJ specialist and former TUF finalist Vinny Magalhaes. Davis underwhelmed some in his lackluster outing against Rashad Evans, being dominated both on the mat and in the stand up portions of their contest. With the betting line in mind, the cost of wagering that Davis will not be caught in a submission or vulnerable position (like Evans was able to exploit) is too high. Magalhaes can hold his own on the mat, will avoid submissions, but may not be able to control Davis, which all points to a fight goes the distance prop. Davis to win via decision by fending off Vinny’s ground game.

Cheick Kongo (+200) vs. Roy Nelson (-240)

If you took a stranger off the street, showed them photos of both fighters and asked them who will win if they fought, chances are Kongo would get the nod more often than not. However, -240 is almost a gift though when you look at the quality of opponents Nelson has been into deep waters with inside the Octagon. We may get a look at Roy’s ground game in this fight as Nelson will surely look to exploit Kongo’s less than stellar grappling abilities. Kongo is a world class striker, but Roy has an out of this world chin and some power of his own, something that has proved successful against Kongo in the past (the Mark Hunt fight comes to mind). Nelson is parlay bound and “fight does not go the distance” is also an alluring prop option (proption?) when two heavy hitting heavyweights step into the cage.

Michael Bisping (-170) vs. Alan Belcher (+150)

To the disappointment of many, “The Talent” showed that he still has issues with strong grapplers in his rematch loss to Yushin Okami at UFC 155. Thankfully, we should be spared this issue in his opponent and -170 favorite, Michael Bisping. Bisping tends to prefer striking over grappling, favoring using his crisp, quick stand up skills to outpoint many a fighter in the UFC. Belcher will surely welcome a stand up contest and may have the slight advantage if the fight takes place on the feet, where Bisping has been clipped by high level strikers before en route to losing. Belcher at +140 is the most alluring pick as an underdog on the main card to stop the takedown of Bisping and win the striking battle.

Chael Sonnen (+700) vs. Jon Jones (-1100)

Facing a 10-to-1 favorite with literally perfect takedown defense, finding the advantages Chael has to win against Jon Jones may be an exercise in futility. The popular consensus is that “Bones” will beat Chael hands down and that ultimately the main event will be an anticlimactic squash match of sorts. However, Jones may use this opportunity to finish Chael where arguably the greatest fighter in MMA could not, inside 5 minutes, which may offer an exciting fight that pays a solid return on the prop bet that this fight does not go out of the first round. For the fans that get together for fights, friendly wagers that propose Jones does not get taken down will also add some suspense to a fight where most believe the outcome is simply a formality. I’m not saying Chael has no chance; you all are. I’m simply agreeing here.

Parlay 1
-Holobaugh + Nelson

Parlay 2
-Khabilov + Belcher

Parlay 3
-Davis + Holobaugh + Nelson

Please share your thoughts on who you like to walk away with a “W” this weekend, CP nation.

Enjoy the fights and may the winners be yours!

Why Cheick Kongo Is Not a Great Striker

Cheick Kongo is an enigma in MMA—someone who is continually billed as an elite striker based on his kickboxing record but who regularly looks flat and unpolished in the cage.The 6’4″ Frenchman carries a massive 82″ reach and several titles in kic…

Cheick Kongo is an enigma in MMA—someone who is continually billed as an elite striker based on his kickboxing record but who regularly looks flat and unpolished in the cage.

The 6’4″ Frenchman carries a massive 82″ reach and several titles in kickboxing, savate and Muay Thai, yet has looked mediocre on the feet against all but the lowest level heavyweights. How can it be that a man with such a respected Muay Thai career could struggle on the feet against men like Matt Mitrione?

There is absolutely no denying that Kongo was incredibly skilled in his kickboxing career—the few videos that exist of it make him look sublime—but they highlight the errors which still plague his game and have been amplified to make him look so middling as a striker in the UFC.

What Kongo suffers from is the fate of any kickboxer who moves to MMA—he lacks the wrestling pedigree or ability to play guard to be able to throw kicks with impunity. Anytime Kongo throws a kick he must constantly be aware of being taken to the mat.

Against good grapplers Kongo will fake kicks, but never actually throw any. Against Frank Mir, Kongo faked a couple of kicks which made Mir back up, but then proceeded to do nothing and Mir simply steamrolled him.

Kongo’s second great weapon—the clinch—also falls apart against competent wrestlers and indeed opponents who have trained to shake off his blanketing tactics such as Mark Hunt, who easily maneuvered himself off of the fence when Kongo went to the wall and stall.

The downfall of any great striker moving to MMA is that if your kickboxing game is not solid in the punching department you have no areas of the fight in which you are the dominant party.

It is simply easier to learn to sprawl if you have the boxing game to be able to keep both feet on the ground throughout the fight, and you will fair far better than most strikers moving to MMA. If kicking is your bread and butter, then you move to a sport where a mistimed kick, or even a perfectly connected kick can mean being put on your back.

Kongo does not have a solid boxing game, which is even more of a shame because of his arm length and could be a real force in his division if he could simply use it. Because of Kongo’s love of bouncing footwork and need to kick fast he stands bolt upright at all times, and this carries over to his punching attempts.

A solid boxing game also serves to set up the kicking game, as the opponent can be forced to cover with a combination and then kicked as he is shelled up. This is Dutch kickboxing 101, but Kongo has never set his kicks up well, and he’s unlikely to start now.

When he steps in with jabs or his right straight, Kongo will almost lean back rather than hide behind his punching shoulder as he should. Furthermore, where punching effectiveness and elusiveness can be improved by combining a slip to the non-punching side with straight punches, Kongo comes in with his head in one place at all times.

With his head forever in the same position as he charges, Kongo’s opponents could close their eyes (sadly not an uncommon feature in the heavyweight division), duck and throw back with a good chance of connecting.

When Kongo is punching he is so used to being at his range that he doesn’t keep his guard up at all in many of his bouts. Watching him demolish some of the lower tier heavyweights whom the UFC matched him against in his early UFC career, Kongo will stand in front of them with his head upright, his non-punching hand down by his nipples and go completely unpunished for it.

Now that isn’t to say that Kongo’s hands are the worst in the UFC heavyweight division—not by any stretch of the imagination. Clearly his reach and power are massively effective against men who lack the ability to slip and counter. Kongo did an excellent job at landing his right straight in combinations against Mirko Cro Cop.

Cro Cop was actually a good matchup for Kongo stylistically. In Cro Cop’s kickboxing career he had trouble with quick kickers who set up their strikes better than him, such as Ernesto Hoost and Andy Hug. Furthermore Cro Cop’s money punch was not a slip and a counter (he rarely moved his head) but a side-step counter left straight.

By using his powerful kicks effectively against an opponent who was unlikely to take him down (on principal more than anything), Kongo could keep Cro Cop standing in front of him for his long straight punches. 

Kongo’s problems come against men who will make him miss and throw looping punches over his own. Hunt let Kongo chase him and caught him with a left hook as Kongo recovered his right straight. Pat Barry meanwhile used his lead hand to hook over the top of Kongo’s jab.

Roy Nelson is certainly the type of puncher who could come over the top of an ill advised Kongo punch and starch the Frenchman, he also has the kind of ground game which should put Kongo off of using his great kicks. What Nelson doesn’t have, however, is a great wrestling game or cardio. This fight, like all heavyweight fights, will hinge wildly around who fades first and whether the big puncher can land before he fades. 

What is certain, however, is that Kongo’s striking when we consider the whole—kicking, boxing and clinch work—is far short of great in just one major area. 

 

Jack Slack breaks down over 70 striking tactics employed by 20 elite strikers in his first ebook, Advanced Striking, and discusses the fundamentals of strategy in his new ebook, Elementary Striking.

Jack can be found on Twitter, Facebook and at his blog: Fights Gone By.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Mark Hunt Topples Stefan Struve, Adds New Wrinkle to Heavyweight Title Picture

Mark Hunt is no stranger to entertaining Japanese audiences, and tonight he did it again. “The Super Samoan” scored a brutal, walk-off TKO victory over Stefan Struve, finally toppling the surging contender in a back-and-forth affair at UFC on Fuel TV 8…

Mark Hunt is no stranger to entertaining Japanese audiences, and tonight he did it again. “The Super Samoan” scored a brutal, walk-off TKO victory over Stefan Struve, finally toppling the surging contender in a back-and-forth affair at UFC on Fuel TV 8.

Both fighters had their moments in the first two rounds, but Hunt’s power made all the difference in the final frame as the 38-year-old dug in to get the victory. The win over the “Skyscraper” makes it four in a row for the the former K-1 champion and should vault him up into the top 10 of a heavyweight division that has become more competitive than ever before.

Exactly what the next step will be for Hunt remains to be seen. But his derailing of Struve in Japan, and having several important divisional tilts slated for the coming months, has the potential to bring a few new faces into the conversation of title contention in the heavyweight division.

 

A Strange Time for Veterans in the Heavyweight Division

With Hunt’s lackluster Octagon debut at UFC 119, the idea of the New Zealand-native moving into a contender’s position seemed far fetched. Nevertheless, Hunt has put on an impressive run where he’s collected a string of quality wins over solid competition.

The victory over Struve will guarantee his next showing comes against one of the division’s best. How the chips fall over the next few months will determine just how far up the ladder Hunt will step for his next bout.

Two years ago it would be easy to forecast how things were going to play out in a thin division, but with a handful of the best fighters in the weight class experiencing setbacks, the picture becomes a bit blurry.

Recent losses by former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem have left room for other fighters to make their way up the heavyweight ladder. When their upcoming showdown at UFC 160 is factored into the equation, it is inevitable that one fighter will keep his place in the title picture while the other is ultimately shuffled back into the deck.

The hovering circumstances will undoubtedly add a unique element of pressure, but “Cigano” and “The Reem” aren’t the only veterans facing harsh realities in the divisional picture.

The same can be said for two-time champion Frank Mir. While the Las Vegas-native has hovered around the contender’s tier of the heavyweight division for years, there is a bit of heat bearing down on Mir these days, which may seem a bit strange seeing that he’s won three of his last four outings. On the other hand, over the past three years Mir has competed for the UFC title on three occasions (one interim) and come out on the business end of each effort.

Rebounding from his most recent loss to dos Santos at UFC 146 will be no easy task as he’s drawn former Olympian Daniel Cormier at UFC on Fox 7 in April. A loss to the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner would push Mir to the boundaries of the top 10 in the heavyweight division, making another title run all but non-existent in the near future. Yet, should he find a way to hand Cormier his first professional loss, staying in the hunt would be a certainty. 

With the current situations of Mir, dos Santos and Overeem in perspective, this makes two heavyweight scraps all the more important. At UFC 159 in April, former IFL champion Roy Nelson squares off with Cheick Kongo. Both fighters are two of the UFC’s most seasoned veterans. With the divisional race heating up, the winner will take a solid step up, while the loser could see any hopes of competing for a UFC title dashed for good.

Nelson and Kongo have each won three of their last four showings. “Big Country” has collected back-to-back first-round knockout victories. Kongo recently rebounded from a drubbing at the hands of Mark Hunt at UFC 144 to defeat prospect Shawn Jordan last June in Calgary.

Their bout at UFC 159 will come with the added pressure of the circumstances at hand, but neither are strangers to competing when the heat is on.

Another fight with title implications will come later this summer. Fabricio Werdum will lock up with fellow Brazilian Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in June at the finale of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

It is a rematch seven years in the making as the two submission specialists originally squared-off under the now defunct Pride banner back in 2006. “Big Nog” earned the unanimous decision in their first go-around. Both men are at different stages of their respective careers coming into this matchup.

Werdum has won five his last six outings, and this run includes victories over Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Roy Nelson. If “Cavalo” is able to even the score with “Minotauro” in Fortaleza this summer, he could very well be tapped for the next title shot in the heavyweight division.

While things haven’t been as smooth for Nogueira, the 36-year-old is still hanging onto his status in the upper tier of the weight class. The MMA legend has been in a “win one, lose one” pattern since 2008, but a recent victory over Dave Herman at UFC 153 extended his career for the time being. The matchup with Werdum will be a great gauge to determine how much fight Nogueira still has in him. A victory in their rematch would certainly solidify a resurgence in his career.

 

Prospects Go Down, But Who Comes Back Up?

Once Struve shakes off the lingering pain of a broken jaw from the left hand of Hunt, he will have to deal with the heartbreak of once again having his run to the top of the division turned back. The Dutchman was riding a four-fight win streak before getting blasted in Japan. He’ll once again find himself standing on the outside of the division’s top 10.

At 25 years old there is still plenty of time for Struve to fight his way back up the ladder. That being said, he’s been on the verge of trading his “prospect” label in for “contender” on multiple occasions. Each time Struve appears to be getting closer to fulfilling the potential and expectation that’s been attached to his career since coming to the UFC, he falls and goes back to the drawing board.

With his loss to Hunt at UFC on Fuel TV 8, Struve now joins a batch of prospects who are all looking to rebound back into the win column, most of which he is very familiar with.

There are few heavyweights considered to have a brighter future than Hawaiian-born Travis Browne. “Hapa” was in the process of making huge strides up the divisional ladder until a stunning, first-round knockout at the hands of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva stopped his momentum cold. The bout came in Browne’s first main event showing under the UFC banner, and the setback was the first of his professional career.

While the loss to Silva certainly knocked him down a few notches on the ladder, Browne will have a tremendous opportunity to make up ground when he faces veteran Gabriel Gonzaga next month at the TUF 17 Finale in Las Vegas.

“Napao” has won back-to-back fights since returning to the UFC and has faced the very best in the heavyweight division for years. That being said, Gonzaga has a unique stigma attached to him. He defeats those who truly aren’t ready to stand in the upper tier of the weight class, and comes up short against those who are proven talents.

The term “gatekeeper” is thrown around a lot in mixed martial arts, but there are few better examples of this label than Gonzaga. It makes it a fairly simple equation for Browne heading into their April bout. A win over the former No. 1 contender means the 30-year-old Greg Jackson-trained fighter is ready to carve out his place among the best heavyweight fighters on the planet. A loss will show there is still much work for Browne to do.

Another fighter looking to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career will be Stipe Miocic. After collecting nine consecutive victories, including three under the UFC banner, the former Cleveland State wrestling standout was bested by Struve in their scrap this past September in London.

Leading up to his main event tilt with Struve at UFC on Fuel TV 5, the Ohio native appeared to be poised for big things in the heavyweight division. But a second-round stoppage defeat at the end of Stuve’s power slowed his momentum for the time being. While his next bout is yet to be announced, Miocic will need to bounce back in a big way to keep the expectation level high on his future.

With the weight class becoming increasingly competitive, one loss doesn’t seal a fighter’s fate nowadays. But back-to-back setbacks in the current race for the top spots in the division could certainly make the climb more difficult in the stages before the road truly gets tough. Miocic is competing with the best heavyweights in the world.

Then again, the rally for Mark Hunt could reach a new level and a title shot could appear. While it seems far-fetched, stranger things have happened in the realm of UFC title shots. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The 20 Greatest Moments in Black MMA History


(“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington.)

By Jason Moles

Despite protests from people of every color, February is Black History Month, and as such, I’ve compiled a chronological timeline of the greatest moments in black MMA history. Like famed Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman, I “don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.” But until we get our collective act together and abolish this antiquated celebration, I find it only appropriate to bring to the forefront the most spectacular moments and accomplishments of these world-class athletes, who just so happen to be black.

12/16/1994 – UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors

Ron Van Clief entered the eight-man tournament at UFC 4 against future UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie at the ripe old age of 51, making him the oldest competitor to date to compete inside the Octagon. Even though the former U.S. Marine lost via rear naked choke in under four minutes by the BJJ master himself, Van Clief proved that the warrior spirit knows no age limits.

7/27/1997 – UFC 14: Showdown

After defeating Mark Coleman in a superfight by unanimous decision, kickboxer Maurice Smith became the first-ever black UFC champion. “Mo” didn’t let his underdog status leading up to the fight discourage him. Instead, it made his victory all the more sweet; especially considering this was the first time a striker of any caliber withstood the grinding onslaught of a world-class wrestler.


(“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington.)

By Jason Moles

Despite protests from people of every color, February is Black History Month, and as such, I’ve compiled a chronological timeline of the greatest moments in black MMA history. Like famed Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman, I “don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.” But until we get our collective act together and abolish this antiquated celebration, I find it only appropriate to bring to the forefront the most spectacular moments and accomplishments of these world-class athletes, who just so happen to be black.

12/16/1994 – UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors

Ron Van Clief entered the eight-man tournament at UFC 4 against future UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie at the ripe old age of 51, making him the oldest competitor to date to compete inside the Octagon. Even though the former U.S. Marine lost via rear naked choke in under four minutes by the BJJ master himself, Van Clief proved that the warrior spirit knows no age limits.

7/27/1997 – UFC 14: Showdown

After defeating Mark Coleman in a superfight by unanimous decision, kickboxer Maurice Smith became the first-ever black UFC champion. “Mo” didn’t let his underdog status leading up to the fight discourage him. Instead, it made his victory all the more sweet; especially considering this was the first time a striker of any caliber withstood the grinding onslaught of a world-class wrestler.

On the very same night, Kevin Jackson became the Wendell Scott of Ultimate Fighting by becoming the first and only black fighter to win a UFC tournament. Jackson faced Todd Butler in the semi-finals. The Olympic gold medalist punched his way to a submission win in just over a minute. In the finals, Jackson submitted Tony Fryklund — who earlier in the night had hit his opponent after the bell before stepping on him as he walked away — with a slick rear naked choke in just 44 seconds.

5/4/2001 – UFC 31: Locked & Loaded

Carlos Newton became the first black UFC welterweight champion after handing Pat Miletich his first loss inside the Octagon, effectually ending the Croatian Sensation’s nearly three-year reign with the gold. Both of those facts are impressive in their own right, but I think we’re all more amazed that “The Ronin” did it with a bulldog choke.

Earlier that night, Shonie Carter gave us a highlight reel knockout for the ages when he utilized the fan favorite fight finisher known as the spinning back fist to defeat Matt Serra. This is what Chael Sonnen had in mind when he attempted to do the same to Anderson Silva in their rematch at UFC 148. Although not the most spectacular KO in black MMA history (more on that later), it’s still worthy of a spot on the timeline for its sheer awesomeness.

4/25/2004 – Pride Total Elimination 2004

Kevin Randleman pulls off the most lopsided upset of the year with a knockout of the year finish of Mirco “Cro Cop” Filipovic. After losing his last two bouts in PRIDE, Randleman stepped in the ring with the 2003 Black Belt Magazine full-contact fighter of the year. “Cro Cop” hadn’t let an opponent get out of the first round all year. Randleman was no different — but not for the reasons you’d expect. Using his Mark Coleman-esque wrestling with two-minute drill urgency, “The Monster” rushed the former K-1 kickboxer and eventually shocked the entire Saitama Super Arena with a powerful left hook that sent Filipovic to the canvas before landing a barrage of blows to the skull prompting the referee to call a stop to the action.

6/20/2004 – Pride Critical Countdown 2004

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson borrowed a page from “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel when he power bombed Ricardo Arona, in one of the most spectacular knockouts in the history of the sport. The only difference is that when Rampage did it his opponent didn’t just lie there pretending to be incapacitated, he literally got KTFO.

11/5/2005 – The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale

“Suga” Rashad Evans earns a six-figure contract with the UFC after winning a split-decision fight against Brad Imes in the heavyweight finals. This also makes him the first African-American man to win the grand prize of the MMA reality TV show. A win on cable television was just the thing to launch Evans’s impressive UFC career.

10/14/2006 – UFC 64: Unstoppable

In only his second showing inside the Octagon, Anderson Silva proves that the only thing “unstoppable” is himself. UFC poster boy Rich Franklin found himself on the wrong side of a violent beatdown that night. “The Spider” masterfully executed devastating knees from the Muay Thai-clinch, breaking Franklin’s nose in the process. It wasn’t long before the former high school math teacher collapsed in a bloody heap on the mat halting the attack. This marked the first time in UFC history that a black fighter held the middleweight strap.


(Photo via Kent Horner/WireImage)

5/26/2007 – UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson

Riding a seven-fight win streak, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell sought to avenge his TKO loss to Quinton Jackson at PRIDE Final Conflict 2003. But that just wasn’t in the cards. After roughly a minute and a half, “Rampage” dropped Liddell with a Knockout of the Night-winning right hook to become the first black fighter to capture the UFC’s light-heavyweight championship.

On the next page: Kimbo, Jon Jones, and Mighty Mouse leave their own marks on the sport…