Cheick Kongo
Cheick Kongo was born in Paris, Île-de-France, France on May 17th, 1975 and is the MMA Fighter. At the age of 48, Cheick Kongo biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 48 years old, Cheick Kongo has this physical status:
Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo (born May 17, 1975), more commonly known as Cheick Kongo, is a French heavyweight mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who fights in Bellator MMA.
A professional MMA competitor since 2001, he has also competed for the UFC.
As of September 01, 2019, he is #10 in the world rankings by Sherdog.
Early life
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 had already received black belt from both styles and began to expand his repertoire and trained in Boxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Wrestling and Shooto. at age of 19. At age 23, Silat, an Indonesian martial art, and was coached by Charles Joussot and Franck Ropers, men who brought Silat to France. He is 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
Kongo began his professional career by defeating Doog Ward on June 10, 2001. Kongo won with a TKO over Dave van der Veen, who was then congratulated. Rodney Faverus ultimately lost his third professional MMA fight, losing by decision. On May 20, he met Gilbert Yvel for the second time in his career as he was tapped to strikes in the second round. In the early days of the Pride Fighting Championships, he trained with Anderson Silva and Wanderlei Silva.
Kongo went to UFC 60 to face Gilbert Aldana, who was defeated by TKO due to a doctor suspension. Kongo won by KO thanks to a knee injury before losing to Carmelo Marrero at UFC 64. By a majority vote at UFC 70, then, Kongo defeated Assuerio Silva.
He defeated Mirko Cro Cop by a majority decision at UFC 75 on September 8, 2007. Despite being mired in controversy as Kongo kneed Cro Cop in the groin multiple times without having any points deducted, American MMA enthusiasts flocked to Kongo's nickname "Cup Cheick."
At UFC 82, he took on Heath Herring, losing by split decision. Dan "The Viking" Evensen, a UFC newcomer who was defeated by first-round TKO, took the fight at UFC 87.
On December 27, 2008, Kongo fought at UFC 92, defeating former Cage Rage British Heavyweight champion Mustapha al-Turk by TKO. Kongo dropped Al Turk with two right hands. Kongo pounced al-Turk with elbows and punches, opening up a huge cut above the eye. After 4:37 of the first round, referee Steve Mazzagatti called the match off.
He then defeated Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97 by second-round TKO in his next fight.
Heath Herring was sent on three weeks notice at UFC 99 to face Cain Velasquez, the up-and-coming sport. Kongo lost by a unanimous decision in a one-sided affair. Velasquez was also knocked on two separate occasions with straight punches, but he didn't manage to knock Velasquez twice. Kongo had a chance to face Rafael Velasquez, the UFC 100 Heavyweight Championship winner, according to reports. Mir lost his fight against Lesnar and ended up fighting Kongo at UFC 107. During the pre-fight talk, Mir said that Kongo had no ground game, so Cheick Kongo turned his back to Mir at the weigh-ins. Mir won the fight by a submission. Mir finished him with a guillotine choke, knocking Kongo off the table just 72 seconds into the first round.
On March 21, 2010, Kongo defeated Paul Buentello at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones by submission due to elbows.
Kongo had been scheduled to meet Roy Nelson at UFC 116 on July 3, 2010, but the bout was postponed due to a back injury to Kongo. Kongo would face Nelson at UFC 159, almost three years later.
Kongo's next fight was against undefeated Travis Browne at UFC 120. They fought to a unanimous draw. In the final round, Kongo grabbed Browne's shorts repeatedly and had one point deducted.
On June 26, 2011, Kongo defeated Pat Barry at UFC on Versus 4. Since Nate Marquardt was not medically fit for his welterweight debut against Rick Story, his fight against Barry became the big event. A looping right hand was dropped during the bout Kongo. Kongo returned to his feet after being hit again by a powerful blow seconds later. Despite being dropped twice, Kongo was able to knock Barry out with a hard overhand right to the ear and an uppercut to the chin to win midway through the first round.
On October 29, 2011, Kongo met Mitrione at UFC 137. He won the fight by unanimous decision, using his jab and gaining multiple takedowns.
On February 26, 2012, Kongo faced Mark Hunt at UFC 144. In the first round, he lost by TKO in the first round.
Kongo was supposed to face Antônio Rodrigo Nonio Nogueira at UFC 149 on July 21, 2012. However, Nogueira pulled out of the match, saying that an arm injury sustained in his last fight against Frank Mir had not recovered sufficiently to resume proper training and was replaced by Shawn Jordan. Kongo defeated Jordan by a unanimous vote.
Kongo finally met Roy Nelson on April 27, 2013, in a match that was supposed to take place almost three years before UFC 116 was called on. In the first round, he was disqualified by a knockout. After his injury to Nelson, Kongo's UFC deal came to an end, he was suspended from the UFC.
Kongo turned down a four-fight contract before UFC 159, which he turned down. Kongo finished with an 11-6-1 record in the UFC.
Kongo said on May 4, 2013 that he is on good terms with the UFC and was quoted as saying, "Don't believe him" (she said stories). I haven't been cut by the UFC, so far I haven't been cut. I'm Cheick Kongo, so I know what's next for me. It doesn't mean that I am leaving the UFC, but it doesn't mean I am wasting; it does mean that this is my life. Kongo has stated that he is open to the possibility of resigning from a deal with the NFL.
Soon after it was revealed that Cheick's colleague Rampage Jackson was going to Bellator, Kongo will be following his teammate. Kongo's switch to Bellator was announced on August 28, 2013.
Kongo made his debut in the Season 9 Heavyweight tournament. On October 4, 2013, he met Mark Godbeer at Bellator 102. In the second round, Kongo defeated him via TKO.
He was then scheduled to face Vinicius Queiroz in the tournament finals on November 2, 2013 at Bellator 106. The match was postponed due to a line-up.
At Bellator 107 on November 8, 2013, Kongo vs. Queiroz was supposed to take place on November 8, 2013. Queiroz was later forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a knee injury, but Peter Graham was later compelled to do so. Kongo won the fight by unanimous decision.
Vitaly Minakov, the undefeated Bellator Heavyweight Champion, was defeated at Bellator 115 on April 4, 2014. He was disqualified in the back-and-forth fight by a unanimous decision. On May 17, 2014, Kongo met Eric Smith at Bellator 120. At 4:35 of Round 2, he defeated the fight via TKO by way of knees and punches.
On September 5, 2014, Kongo faced fellow striker Lavar Johnson at Bellator 123. In the first round, he defeated the opposition by a rear-naked choke submission. This was his first submission victory that was not caused by strikes since 2003.
At Bellator 134: The British Invasion of Kongo occurred on February 27, 2015. He lost the fight on a split decision.
Alexander Volkov, the former Bellator Heavyweight champion, took the 139th Hong Kongo on June 26, 2015. He was victorious by a unanimous decision.
On February 26, 2016, Kongo met Vinicius Queiroz at Bellator 150. Kongo was kicked by a right hand in the third round, but he was able to recover and win a split decision.
On September 16, 2016, Kongo met Tony Johnson at Bellator 161. He was voted on by a majority vote in the fight.
On February 18, 2017, Kongo met Oli Thompson, his former training partner, at Bellator 172. He won the fight by unanimous vote.
On May 19, 2017, Kongo faced Augusto Sakai at Bellator 179. He won the fight by a split decision.
On May 12 in San Jose, CA, Kongo met Javy Ayala at Bellator 199. In the first round, he won the fight by knockout.
Timothy Johnson was defeated by Kongo on October 13, 2018 at Bellator 208. He won the tournament by being knocked out in the first round.
Vitaly Minakov was defeated for a second time by the Bellator 216 on February 16, 2019.
Kongo would face Ryan Bader in the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship on September 7 in Bellator 226. At 3:52 of the first round, Kongo was in a no contest after an accidental eye poke from Bader, rendering it unavoidable.
Kongo had signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator on May 4, 2020.
Kongo fought Timothy Johnson at Bellator 248 in Paris, France, on October 10, 2020. He was disqualified by a split decision.
On August 20, 2021, Kongo met Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 265. In round two, he defeated the fight by a rear-naked choke.
On May 6, 2022, Kongo met Ryan Bader for the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship. He was disqualified by a unanimous vote.
