Cheick Kongo Wants The Winner of Randy vs Gonzaga

Drexal · 08-10-2007, 02:02 PM

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Interview: Cheick Kongo [Aug 10, 2007]
by Rohit Verma (special contribution)

Rohit Verma had a chance to talk to Cheick Kongo before his upcoming fight against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 75 in London, England.

Kongo holds a professional MMA record of 10-3-1, including wins over Joop Kasteel and Assuerio Silva. The French heavyweight is known for his striking, specifically his knees from the clinch.

Nokaut.com: How did you feel when the UFC announced you would be facing Mirko Filipovic, who is a huge name in the MMA world?
Cheick Kongo: I felt nice and serene. I’m coming to fight the top fighters.

Nokaut.com: Are you going to Big Bear to prepare? And who are the main guys that you will be training with?
Cheick Kongo: I started my training in France with the Tuff Team on boxing & wrestling. Now I’m training at Big Bear and preparing in Juanito's Camp. The main guys there are Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Brandon Vera, Mike Bisping, Greco, Box, Rocco, Junior, Zack and many more guys.

Nokaut.com: How long will you be there to train?
Cheick Kongo: Until my fight... [laughs].

Nokaut.com: How have you improved since your last fight in Manchester at UFC 70, defeating tough Brazilian fighter Assuerio Silva?
Cheick Kongo: Like usual, I work on my weaknesses, making me better each time.

Nokaut.com: There have been talks that Mirko is bringing guys like Pawel Nastula, Gilbert Yvel, Sergei Kharitonov, Ricco Rodriguez, and Remy Bonjasky to prepare for the fight. It looks like he is taking this fight very seriously. What are your thoughts on that?
Cheick Kongo: Nothing! I don't care, we will see on the day (with much respect...).

Nokaut.com: Looking at the guys Mirko is possibly bringing in to train with, it could mean "Cro Cop" wants to take the fight to the floor. How is your ground game coming into this fight?
Cheick Kongo: Like usual...

Nokaut.com: Are you bringing any one similar to Mirko's style of fighting?
Cheick Kongo: "Cro Cop" could change his style anytime, I do that every time.

Nokaut.com: What is your prediction of the outcome of the fight?
Cheick Kongo: I come for the belt after [Couture vs. Gonzaga], who [ever will ] be the winner.

Nokaut.com: If you are successful at UFC 75 do you think you will be next in line for the title?
Cheick Kongo: I hope so...

Nokaut.com: Do you have any last words and any one you would like to mention?
Cheick Kongo: I like to thank God, my family, friends, the fans who support me to give me the faith and to be real.

source:NOKAUT .:. Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts source .:.

As much as I like Kongo I very much doubt he'll get past Cro-Cop and even if he did with his lack of ground game Randy or Gonzaga would take him to bits.

I can't see him improving his wrestling and ground game too much even if he is trainng at Big Bear now.

I also doubt that he would be next in line for the title if he beats Cro-Cop, the heavyweight division is so deep at the moment I think he has got a lot more fights to win before we see him in a title fight.

Dr.Chicago · 08-10-2007, 02:19 PM

Interesting!

3 fighters out of Juanito's Camp will be fighting in UFC 75.. Big night for them i guess..

I say Rampage and Bisping are gonna win no problem.. But not poor Kongo (although I still think he has a chance to pull an upset)

riversideblues · 08-10-2007, 02:20 PM

No offense, but his ground skills are at such a bad level Gonzaga and Randy could both butcher him without have to train all that hard for it even. He's got good standup, but his ground game needs massive work

SmashingMachine · 08-10-2007, 02:20 PM

Yeah, I'd have to agree. Though, with his stand-up skill, I think he matches better against Cro-Cop than Randy or Gonzaga.

stillstanding · 08-10-2007, 02:21 PM

Even if he beats the standup king Cro Cop I see him with a very slim chance of beating Randy or Gonzaga. Both Randy and Gonzaga will ake him down with ease. Unless Kongo improved his takedown defense I don't think this is a smart move.

The Bodybag · 08-10-2007, 02:35 PM

He does not deserve a title shot yet, I'll give him the winner of Mir and Hardonk and thats about it. Sure he is a good striker but he has had a tough couple of fights lately. He had 2 good first round KO's in his first 2 fights. But then he lost that decision in the fight where the only thing he did was throw back of the head elbows from the bottom. Then with Assuerio I thought it was an awful fight. If he beats Mirko, thats one of the most respectable things you can accomplish in MMA. But with him now just starting to work on TD defense and ground game, how on God's green Earth could he compete with Gonzaga's ground skills or Randy who has taken down virtually everyone he has faced and punished them.

I just dont think he can become champion right now, he needs to really cover all parts of his game for a while and keep his striking crisp. Maybe in a few years or so.

BCguy · 08-10-2007, 02:47 PM

Nokaut.com: Looking at the guys Mirko is possibly bringing in to train with, it could mean "Cro Cop" wants to take the fight to the floor. How is your ground game coming into this fight?
Cheick Kongo: Like usual...

Like usual ? Oh my. This guy is not ready for a title fight by any means.

CounterPuncher · 08-10-2007, 03:26 PM

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Originally Posted by BCguy

Nokaut.com: Looking at the guys Mirko is possibly bringing in to train with, it could mean "Cro Cop" wants to take the fight to the floor. How is your ground game coming into this fight?
Cheick Kongo: Like usual...

Like usual ? Oh my. This guy is not ready for a title fight by any means.

I was thinking the same thing, "Like usual" which is not very good at all. You'd think he would at least try to improve on the ground.

SWIBC · 08-10-2007, 03:27 PM

dear god if anyone gets him on the ground he is screwed. Mirko might keep it standing but someone like Couture/Gonzaga/Mir will have him on the ground in a heartbeat.

subgenius · 08-10-2007, 03:58 PM

I like Kongo, but Couture and Napao would own Kongo onthe ground. And, Mirko may not be the best on the ground, but I bet he would own Kongo on the ground as well.

LinvilleGorge · 08-10-2007, 04:04 PM

Yeah, Assuerio Silva was able to take Kongo down at will with sloppy, telegraphed shots from way outside. He has a striker's chance against CroCop to catch him with something, but ground specialists like Couture and Gonzaga would absolutely dismantle Kongo. Give Kongo a good sprawl and some basic ground skills and he could become a top 10 HW, but with weak takedown defense and no ground skills to speak of, he's essentially a pure kickboxer fighting in MMA.

Elder · 08-10-2007, 04:05 PM

Wow, was I the only person who noticed the VAST improvements made by Kongo during his last fight. He went from having no takedown defense to having an excellent sprawl from one fight to the next. That dude is improving so fast it will make your head spin.
After this fight, many of you CroCop nuthuggers will be dangling from a pubic hair.
I don't know if Kongo will be ready for a title shot, but I think Crocop is made to order for him at this stage of his career. I could easily see Congo being a champion 3 or 4 fights from now. I am not convinced CroCop can take Kongo to the ground without eating something vicious. This is going to be an awesome fight. Someone will get knocked out, and I am not certain who it will be.

LinvilleGorge · 08-10-2007, 04:07 PM

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Originally Posted by subgenius

I like Kongo, but Couture and Napao would own Kongo onthe ground. And, Mirko may not be the best on the ground, but I bet he would own Kongo on the ground as well.

Wouldn't that be something if CroCop immediately went for the takedown and pounded out or submitted Kongo?!

LinvilleGorge · 08-10-2007, 04:11 PM

Uhhh...

Elder, did you actually watch Kongo vs. Silva?! Kongo's takedown defense looked pathetic and Silva was able to take him down pretty much at will. The only takedowns he successfully defended where the takedowns that even a 12 year old girl could've avoided. I agree that CroCop is the best matchup for Kongo among the elite HWs as he'll probably stand and bang with him, but CroCop has the stand up advantage as well. However, in a stand up battle, one shot is all it takes. Kongo has a chance, but I put it at 25% or less.

BCguy · 08-10-2007, 04:14 PM

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Originally Posted by Elder

Wow, was I the only person who noticed the VAST improvements made by Kongo during his last fight. He went from having no takedown defense to having an excellent sprawl from one fight to the next. That dude is improving so fast it will make your head spin.
After this fight, many of you CroCop nuthuggers will be dangling from a pubic hair.
I don't know if Kongo will be ready for a title shot, but I think Crocop is made to order for him at this stage of his career. I could easily see Congo being a champion 3 or 4 fights from now. I am not convinced CroCop can take Kongo to the ground without eating something vicious. This is going to be an awesome fight. Someone will get knocked out, and I am not certain who it will be.

VAST is over stating it a bit i think. He has improved yes. I must have missed this excellent sprawl you speak off , cus assuerio took him down at will and that was his last fight.

About the CroCop taking Kongo down comment. I wouldnt worry about that too much , CC is gonna show us so good ol kickboxing and KO Cheik.

Kurtis636 · 08-10-2007, 04:15 PM

Hey, I want the winner of Couture v. Gonzaga too, but I'm not qualified to get that shot either. The next title shot is sort of dependent on what happens in that fight, who wins and how, as well as who wins in some of the other HW fights upcoming. Kongo is at least 3 wins away from a title shot.

FEC4 · 08-10-2007, 04:16 PM

im pulling for Cro Cop to win but i want the match to be interesting, i think its gonna be fair on the standing for the both them but with Cro Cop just more skills. also if it goes to the gorund Cro Cop's got this,

Question?

Will Cro Cop get a title shot again or will he fight to fight someone else then get the title shot. What you guys think.

Elder · 08-10-2007, 04:16 PM

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Originally Posted by LinvilleGorge

Uhhh...

Elder, did you actually watch Kongo vs. Silva?! Kongo's takedown defense looked pathetic and Silva was able to take him down pretty much at will. The only takedowns he successfully defended where the takedowns that even a 12 year old girl could've avoided. I agree that CroCop is the best matchup for Kongo among the elite HWs as he'll probably stand and bang with him, but CroCop has the stand up advantage as well. However, in a stand up battle, one shot is all it takes. Kongo has a chance, but I put it at 25% or less.

Yeah I watched it when it originally aired and remember being very impressed with his improvement. I tried to re-watch it on youtube but I couldn't find it. Either way, Kongo improved greatly. I know I am going against the grain here, but I predict Kongo will win if it remains standing. We'll see the the outcome soon enough I guess. But with that being said, I want CroCop to win so hope you are all right. But looking at it objectively, I think this fight can go either way.

Kurtis636 · 08-10-2007, 04:20 PM

Well, Nog won his fight but not impressively enough to get that immediate title shot, IMO. I think potentially if Arlovski vs. Vera happens the winner gets the shot. After that I think you see either CroCop or Nog with the next shot, possibly rematching in a #1 contender fight.

BlingDogg · 08-10-2007, 04:20 PM

It's too bad that Kongo hasn't developed much ground game by now, because I've been really impressed by his standup. He has a chance against Cro Cop on their feet, but Kongo can't put up much of a fight once someone shoots on him and takes him down. I don't know why he's calling out Gonzaga and Couture when his biggest weakness is the ground game, which is their strengths. Possibly working at Big Bear with Juanito and good wrestlers like Rampage could help him, but I'm kinda hesitant to see any vast improvements any time soon. The guy could turn out to be a good kickboxer in mma like Cro Cop, but only after a lot more training.

I like Kongo, and hope he can keep improving, but I honestly don't see him beating Cro Cop, and especially Couture or Gonzaga.

And Kongo's definitely way down the list in terms of getting a title shot. I think Vera, Arlovski, Sylvia, Nogueira, Werdum, Cro Cop and possibly others are ahead of him (maybe not in that order)