Cheick Kongo
 |
Name | Cheick Kongo |
| Nickname | Unstoppable | |
| Association | Wolfslair MMA Academy | |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (237 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 4" (193 cm.) | |
| Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Savate | |
| Birth Date | May 17, 1975 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Paris, France | |
| Country | France | |
| Cheick Kongo Pictures | Official Website |
Cheick Ouedraogo a.k.a Cheick "Unstoppable" Kongo is a French mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes as a heavyweight. He competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and trains with Michael Bisping and Quinton Jackson at Wolfslair MMA Academy.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 18 - 7 - 2 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 10 (T)KOs 3 Submissions 5 Decisions |
| Losses | 2 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Shawn Jordan | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao | 7/21/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Mark Hunt | TKO (Punches) | UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson | 2/25/2012 | 1 | 2:11 | |
| Win | Matt Mitrione | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz | 10/29/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Pat Barry | KO (Punch) | UFC on Versus 4: Kongo vs. Barry | 6/26/2011 | 1 | 2:39 | Won Knockout of the Night Honors |
| Draw | Travis Browne | Draw | UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama | 10/16/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Paul Buentello | Submission (Elbows to the Body) | UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones | 3/21/2010 | 3 | 1:16 | |
| Loss | Frank Mir | Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez | 12/12/2009 | 1 | 1:12 | |
| Loss | Cain Velasquez | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 99: The Comeback | 6/13/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Antoni Hardonk | TKO (Punches) | UFC 97: Redemption | 4/18/2009 | 2 | 2:29 | |
| Win | Mustapha al Turk | TKO (Elbows and Punches) | UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 | 12/27/2008 | 1 | 4:37 | |
| Win | Dan Evensen | TKO (Punches) | UFC 87: Seek and Destroy | 8/09/2008 | 1 | 4:55 | |
| Loss | Heath Herring | Decision (Split) | UFC 82: Pride of a Champion | 3/01/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Mirko Filipovic | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion | 9/08/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Assuerio Silva | Decision (Majority) | UFC 70: Nations Collide | 4/21/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Carmelo Marrero | Decision (Split) | UFC 64: Unstoppable | 10/14/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Christian Wellisch | KO (Knee) | UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral | 8/26/2006 | 1 | 2:51 | |
| Win | Gilbert Aldana | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | UFC 61: Bitter Rivals | 7/08/2006 | 1 | 4:13 | |
| Win | Dave Dalgliesh | TKO | Rings Holland: Men of Honor | 12/11/2005 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Gabor Nemeth | KO | KOTR: King of the Ring | 6/04/2005 | 2 | N/A | |
| Loss | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (Punches) | It's Showtime: Amsterdam Arena | 5/20/2004 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Joop Kasteel | KO (Punch) | Rings Holland: World's Greatest | 4/04/2004 | 1 | 4:31 | |
| Win | Dave Vader | Decision (Unanimous) | Rings Holland: The Untouchables | 9/27/2003 | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Win | Hans Nijman | Submission (Armbar) | It's Showtime: Amsterdam Arena | 6/08/2003 | 2 | 0:59 | |
| Draw | Michael Knaap | Draw | It's Showtime: As Usual | 9/29/2002 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Rodney Glunder | Decision (Unanimous) | Rings Holland: Saved by the Bell | 6/02/2002 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Dave van der Veen | TKO (Punches) | Rings Holland: Some Like It Hard | 12/02/2001 | 2 | 1:25 | |
| Win | Andre Tete | Submission (Heel Hook) | Rings Holland: No Guts, No Glory | 6/10/2001 | 1 | 3:20 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Early Career
Born to a Congolese mother and a Burkinabe father, Cheick Ouedraogo entered into martial arts when he was 5 years old, learning Kendo and Karate. As he grew older, he would learn to master Muay Thai and Kickboxing and would also practice Greco-Roman Wrestling. At age 19, he would discover the Pencak Silat and would then be coached by Charles Joussot and Franck Roppers.
Professional
On June 10, 2001, Kongo began his professional career by submitting Andre Tete. Kongo then followed up that win with a TKO over Dave van der Veen. He then lost his first professional MMA fight to Rodney Glunder by decision.
UFC Career
Kongo was 7-2-1 when he 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" Filipovic by unanimous decision, which was seen as a major upset. He fought against Heath Herring at UFC 82, losing by split decision. At UFC 87 he fought against Dan Evensen, whom he defeated by first-round TKO.
On one of his most recent fight was at UFC 92 on December 27, 2008 where he beat Mustapha Al Turk by TKO. Kongo dropped Al Turk with two right hands. 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.
He faced off against Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97: Redemption. Hardonk was riding a three fight win streak and there was a lot of talk about the winner of the two being in title contention. Kongo ended the fight in the second round with punches, winning his third consecutive victory in the UFC.
Kongo stepped in for an injured Heath Herring to fight Cain Velasquez at UFC 99: The Comeback. Velasquez used his superior Wrestling to ground and pound his way to a unanimous decision victory, handing Kongo an end to his three-fight win streak.
UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez would be Kongo's next scheduled bout, taking place on December 12, 2009, where he faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir. Mir showed up in what can be considered the best shape of his career, landing a left hook that stunned Kongo, dropping him to the mat. Mir followed up with strikes, until he secured a guillotine choke. Kongo refused to tap and was rendered unconscious by the submission, dropping his second consecutive bout.
Then on a two-fight slump, Kongo was scheduled to face off against Paul Buentello on March 21, 2010 at UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones. Kongo continued to take Buentello to where he has always had the most trouble; the ground. From the opening bell, Kongo used his powerful strikes to set up all-too-easy takedowns, a strategy nearly every opponent who's defeated Kongo used against him. Instead, it was Kongo who used the takedowns to unload brutal ground and pound, including jarring knee strikes to the ribs, to slow his opponent. The bout went to the third round, but Kongo scored another takedown, continued the onslaught, and ultimately forced a kneeling (and obviously exhausted) Buentello to tap out from elbow strikes to the ribs at the 1:16 mark of the final frame.
Kongo was supposed to return at UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin, where he was to face off against Roy Nelson, but a back injury sidelined him indefinitely, forcing him to be replaced by Junior dos Santos.
Ranks and Titles
- 2005 World Champion Federation King of the Rings
- 2005 King of Colosseum Tournament Champion
- 2005 Rings World Champion
- 2004 King of the Ring Super Heavyweight Champion
- 2004 Muay Thai World Champion
- 2003 Intercontinental Muay Thai Champion
- 2002 Rings European Champion
- 2001 Rings European Vice Champion
- European Savate Champion
