Cheick Kongo

Cheick Kongo is a French mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who fights in the Heavyweight division.

A professional MMA competitor since 2001, he has also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator.

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 a black belt in both styles and began to expand his repertoire and trained in Boxing, Muay Thai, Savate, and Greco Roman Wrestling at the age of 19.

At the age of 23 he trained Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art.

He was coached by Charles Joussot and Franck Ropers, the men who brought Silat to France.

Kongo was interducted to Shootfighting through Bas Rutten at age 25, and started his career in mixed martial arts in 2001.

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.

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.

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 Cro Cop by unanimous decision.

Though there was controversy as Kongo kneed Cro Cop in the groin several times without having any points deducted, inspiring American MMA fans to give Kongo the nickname "Cup Cheick".

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.

In his next fight he 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.

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's next fight was against undefeated Travis Browne at UFC 120.

They fought to a unanimous draw.

Kongo repeatedly grabbed Browne's shorts and had 1 point deducted in the final round.

Kongo fought Pat Barry on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4.