“I got nothing to prove. All those who know me know I’m a great wrestler. I’m not BJJ but I’m great…. Nobody knows me like my training partners and my coach, so shut up! Hahaha!”
– UFC heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo addresses critics via MMAMadness.com who feel the powerful kickboxer/striker lacks a solid ground game. It was an aspect that was seemingly exposed in a split-decision loss to Carmelo Marrero at UFC 64: “Unstoppable” in late 2006 and in a majority decision win over jiu-jitsu fighter Assuerio Silva at UFC 70: “Nations Collide” in April. One thing is certain: The Parisian will need to sharpen his grappling skills if he’s ever locked inside the cage with the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
November 28th, 2007
35 Comments »
Yeah like Houston Alexander has a ground game too right???
Cheick Kongo has ground game.
Ha.
I will believe it when I see it, and thus far.. I have not seen it.
Dude has zero ground game don’t decieve yourself, like houston and drew mcfredies
[quote comment=”220019″]Yeah like Houston Alexander has a ground game too right???[/quote]
That’s right. Houston has the sickest ground game of any Light Heavyweight.. If you are the person on top of him that is.
You don’t have to lie Cheick, your ground game is basically horrible just admit it and fix the problem. You are a sticker/kickboxer and a hell of a good one at that.
Saying Houston and Kongo have ground game is like Tito saying he has a tiny head.
Speaking of Kongo…when the hell are we gonna get the announcement of Kongo vs. Sylvia damnit. They better add that to some of these cards coming up. After the UFC 79 card all the following cards look like the dump i took this morning!!!
Whatever Cheick… Just get your cardio up and knock mo fo’s out…work on your take down defense because you aint doing anything on the floor son!
[quote comment=”220039″]Saying Houston and Kongo have ground game is like Tito saying he has a tiny head.
Speaking of Kongo…when the hell are we gonna get the announcement of Kongo vs. Sylvia damnit. They better add that to some of these cards coming up. After the UFC 79 card all the following cards look like the dump i took this morning!!![/quote]
Kongo vs. Tim Sylvia will only happen if Randy fights Noguerra for the belt. If Randy doesnt defend his title, then Noguerra is rumored to fight Tim Sylvia for the vacant heavyweight title.
That would probably leave Kongo to be matched up with either:
Brandon Verra
or Arlovski
Which ever one of these 2 doesnt fight Kongo will probably be matched up with cro cop.
I think it will go as follows:
Randy vs. Noguerra
Kongo vs. Sylvia
Verra vs. Cro cop (because they are both coming of losses)
Leaves arlovski as the odd man out (probably becaUSE HIS CONTRACT IS IN LIMBO
Speaking of these cards, they better step up for Superbowl Weekend. Heres what i think the card should be.
Main Event:
Forrest vs. Rampage or Couture vs. Nog (Would much rather see the Forrest/Rampage though)
Main Card:
Mir vs. Lesnar
Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo
Cro Cop vs. Arlovski
Tyson Griffin vs. Glieson Tibau
[quote comment=”220055″]Speaking of these cards, they better step up for Superbowl Weekend. Heres what i think the card should be.
Main Event:
Forrest vs. Rampage or Couture vs. Nog (Would much rather see the Forrest/Rampage though)
Main Card:
Mir vs. Lesnar
Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo
Cro Cop vs. Arlovski
Tyson Griffin vs. Glieson Tibau[/quote]
Stunnulator: these fights will all be televised, which leaves room for 1 fight: The main event..either Randy vs. Nog or Rampage vs. Forrest…anyone know if Rampage will even be healthy by then?
Hvywt.: Frank Mir (10-3) vs. Brock Lesnar (1-0)
155 lbs.: Tyson Griffin (10-1) vs. Gleison Tibau (15-4)*
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (25-7-2) vs. Thales Leites (12-1)*
185 lbs.: Alan Belcher (11-3) vs. Ricardo Almeida (8-2)*
So Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo and cro cop vs. Arlovski cant make this card because they would have to bump one of those above mentioned fights to a non televised fight and that wont happen!
sylvia vs. kongo …..i think this fight would turn out just like the kongo vs. cro cop fight did. as we all know sylvia ’s ground game was not top notch vs. RC and knowing sylvia he will want to prove that he is the “best striker” at hwt. and if the fight would go down like that i believe that kongo would out strike sylvia for 3 straight rounds……kongo via Un.Dec. !
if kongo has a great ground game..I’ll like to see him roll with Roger Gracie or Rolles.
HEY UFC MANIA..not sure if its legit or not but on MMA Playground they have Sylvia fighting Nog listed. Is this legit??
If only his training partners know about his ground game, that’s not very helpful.
jb125 - Naw, I think Tim Sylvia would kick Kongo’s ass. Seriously. Sylvia’s ground game is better, and his striking (except for kicks) is more powerful. Kongo’s only clear advantage is his kicking, and who knows… maybe Sylvia surprises us with a KO by kick.
Why does he want to lie to us?
there s a misunderstood between what kongo says about his ground game and what we ve seen during his fights.In fact kongo can t submit but for sure he can defend all the tries of sub.as a result, he will lose by decision each time he ll face a wrestler or grappler unless he can ko or tko before the end of the match.I live in Paris and know many sparrings
of kongo and they all unanimous,yu can take him down easily but he s very hard to submit, and he has a great cardio.
Imo , he needs about a year to improve his ground game and then we ll see a well rounded fighter, able to dispute every aspect of fight(stand up,ground…)
Yeah he has no ground game and no take down defense. He is not very good on his back. This guy is so massive and he has a perfect build he should be destroying people. If you have gaps in your game and people can exploit them (Like Thiago did Houston) then it will be the same story every time.
[quote comment=”220077″][quote comment=”220055″]Speaking of these cards, they better step up for Superbowl Weekend. Heres what i think the card should be.
Main Event:
Forrest vs. Rampage or Couture vs. Nog (Would much rather see the Forrest/Rampage though)
Main Card:
Mir vs. Lesnar
Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo
Cro Cop vs. Arlovski
Tyson Griffin vs. Glieson Tibau[/quote]
Stunnulator: these fights will all be televised, which leaves room for 1 fight: The main event..either Randy vs. Nog or Rampage vs. Forrest…anyone know if Rampage will even be healthy by then?
Hvywt.: Frank Mir (10-3) vs. Brock Lesnar (1-0)
155 lbs.: Tyson Griffin (10-1) vs. Gleison Tibau (15-4)*
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (25-7-2) vs. Thales Leites (12-1)*
185 lbs.: Alan Belcher (11-3) vs. Ricardo Almeida (8-2)*
So Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo and cro cop vs. Arlovski cant make this card because they would have to bump one of those above mentioned fights to a non televised fight and that wont happen![/quote]
Actually, I can see a couple of the fights above not making it to the main card - although I can very easily make an argument why they should be on the main card, I’m going the other route on this one. OF COURSE Mir/Lesnar will be aired, no doubt. Remember, this IS the Super Bowl card which the UFC usually looks to make a big deal about. I am really hoping that some big name fights get added to this card.
Griffin/Tibau - Just about every Griffin fight has been aired. Although, the same can not be said for his opponent, of which none of his fights have been aired. I’m still waiting to see Griffin finish a fight against a viable opponent. In his 4 UFC fights, he only finished one - David Lee.
Marquardt/Leitis - I am a fan on Thales, is BJJ is sweet. He has been aired on Ultimate Fight Nights, but was never on a main card of a PPV before - although his prelimary bouts have been shown at the end of PPV’s. I don’t know about you guys, but Nate Marquardt has never done anything to give me a reason to be a fan of his. I have not been entertained by a Nate fight, except when Anderson knocked KO’d him. This fight has the potential of mixing up the top of the MW division, and I hope it aired. But remember, Okami and MacDonald fought recently and it was a prelinary bout. Yes, I think there were contract negotiations going on with Okami at the time, or something, but still.
Belcher/Almeida - I believe that only 2 out of the 5 fights Alan Belcher has had in the UFC were televised. The two that were televised were both against very well know TUF alumni - Kalib Starnes and Kendall Grove. Almeida is not a fighter that is well known in the USA these days. Therefore, I think that this fight has a good chance of being a prelimary bout.
Remember, the more of these fights that get pushed to the undercard means that better fights were added!
[quote comment=”220150″]there s a misunderstood between what kongo says about his ground game and what we ve seen during his fights.In fact kongo can t submit but for sure he can defend all the tries of sub.as a result, he will lose by decision each time he ll face a wrestler or grappler unless he can ko or tko before the end of the match.I live in Paris and know many sparrings
of kongo and they all unanimous,yu can take him down easily but he s very hard to submit, and he has a great cardio.
Imo , he needs about a year to improve his ground game and then we ll see a well rounded fighter, able to dispute every aspect of fight(stand up,ground…)[/quote]
Just be patient and let kongo finish his formation.He has only 3 fights with top tiers.And to finish, remember that MMA is illegal in France(sigh),so harder to improve and so on .your thoughts thanks.
If you don’t have BJJ, you’re screwed on the ground.
i went to mmamadness and read his interview. GOD HE SOUNDS DUMB. almost like speaking too one of those computer AI programs that put out random answers based on categorial keywords and phrases.
i’m not so much interested in seeing kongo up against bignog simply cuz i think nog will dominate him with boring ground shit. kongo vs sylvia would be an interesting fight - think with this one, someone bound to get KTFO
Well so far, he hasn’t really needed it. When he does, he can prove me wrong then.
i wonder if sylvia being a mfs guy should not just take congo to the ground and make an easy fight of it.i have not seen much of sylvia trying to take fights to the ground but being from that camp he most have some ground skills i wonder if he will try to use them.that would be good if he fights congo but bad if its nog.
[quote comment=”220206″]i went to mmamadness and read his interview. GOD HE SOUNDS DUMB. almost like speaking too one of those computer AI programs that put out random answers based on categorial keywords and phrases.
i’m not so much interested in seeing kongo up against bignog simply cuz i think nog will dominate him with boring ground shit. kongo vs sylvia would be an interesting fight - think with this one, someone bound to get KTFO[/quote]
He’s french. It’s hard to speak in a language you’re not fluent in and not sound “dumb”.
[quote comment=”220158″][quote comment=”220077″][quote comment=”220055″]Speaking of these cards, they better step up for Superbowl Weekend. Heres what i think the card should be.
Main Event:
Forrest vs. Rampage or Couture vs. Nog (Would much rather see the Forrest/Rampage though)
Main Card:
Mir vs. Lesnar
Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo
Cro Cop vs. Arlovski
Tyson Griffin vs. Glieson Tibau[/quote]
Stunnulator: these fights will all be televised, which leaves room for 1 fight: The main event..either Randy vs. Nog or Rampage vs. Forrest…anyone know if Rampage will even be healthy by then?
Hvywt.: Frank Mir (10-3) vs. Brock Lesnar (1-0)
155 lbs.: Tyson Griffin (10-1) vs. Gleison Tibau (15-4)*
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (25-7-2) vs. Thales Leites (12-1)*
185 lbs.: Alan Belcher (11-3) vs. Ricardo Almeida (8-2)*
So Tim Sylvia vs. Kongo and cro cop vs. Arlovski cant make this card because they would have to bump one of those above mentioned fights to a non televised fight and that wont happen![/quote]
Actually, I can see a couple of the fights above not making it to the main card - although I can very easily make an argument why they should be on the main card, I’m going the other route on this one. OF COURSE Mir/Lesnar will be aired, no doubt. Remember, this IS the Super Bowl card which the UFC usually looks to make a big deal about. I am really hoping that some big name fights get added to this card.
Griffin/Tibau - Just about every Griffin fight has been aired. Although, the same can not be said for his opponent, of which none of his fights have been aired. I’m still waiting to see Griffin finish a fight against a viable opponent. In his 4 UFC fights, he only finished one - David Lee.
Marquardt/Leitis - I am a fan on Thales, is BJJ is sweet. He has been aired on Ultimate Fight Nights, but was never on a main card of a PPV before - although his prelimary bouts have been shown at the end of PPV’s. I don’t know about you guys, but Nate Marquardt has never done anything to give me a reason to be a fan of his. I have not been entertained by a Nate fight, except when Anderson knocked KO’d him. This fight has the potential of mixing up the top of the MW division, and I hope it aired. But remember, Okami and MacDonald fought recently and it was a prelinary bout. Yes, I think there were contract negotiations going on with Okami at the time, or something, but still.
Belcher/Almeida - I believe that only 2 out of the 5 fights Alan Belcher has had in the UFC were televised. The two that were televised were both against very well know TUF alumni - Kalib Starnes and Kendall Grove. Almeida is not a fighter that is well known in the USA these days. Therefore, I think that this fight has a good chance of being a prelimary bout.
Remember, the more of these fights that get pushed to the undercard means that better fights were added![/quote]
I hope these fights do get pushed to the undercard…because that would mean more televised fights for us, but I strongly believe that the Lietes/Marquardt fight as well as the Lesner/Mir fight will without a doubt be televised.
Tyson always has an exciting fight. I would also like to see him finish, but I think he has turned into a fan favorite, which would make me think that this fight will also probably be aired.
Belcher/Almeida… this is the wildcard! Personally, I wouldnt be mad at all if this fight was aired. Belcher is a tough, scrappy up and commer, and I am very interested to see how Almeida performs in his return to the octagon. I understand that both fighters arent exactly mainstream fighters that the casual fan knows about and therefor I can see it being bumped for another fight….If it does get bumped good, we will benefit cuz a better fight were to replaqce it.
Either way, if these fights dont make the maincard, I am still purchasing the dvd when it gets released 4 months later cuz I aint paying that $2 per fight fee on UFC.com, and if these fights dont get aired, I for one will be very interested in seeing them.
Also, the UFC 74 Respect Couture vs. Gonzaga, and the UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion Rampage vs. henderson DVD’s will be in stores december 26th….Merry christmass to me! I havent rewatched any of those fights since they aired live on pay per view, and I cant wait to watch em again on DVD
put kongo vs AA or kongo vs sylia or syliva vs AA 4??? lol how bad would that be lol
[quote post=”4036″]Also, the UFC 74 Respect Couture vs. Gonzaga, and the UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion Rampage vs. henderson DVD’s will be in stores december 26th….Merry christmass to me! I havent rewatched any of those fights since they aired live on pay per view, and I cant wait to watch em again on DVD [/quote]
LOL! Nice way to haulk the merchandise! I hope you were paid for that. j/k Those were some fun cards to watch.
Thanks for taking the ‘pro’ side of the agruement on wether or not these fights will be televised.
I haven’t bought any of the UFC DVD’s, and haven’t rented one of them since the days of Royce Gracie. I just order the PPV. But NOW I know why people buy the DVD’s = they contain the undercard fights! Of course the DVD doesn’t come with the commercials for the next PPV like we do when watching it live (at least that’s what I’d think), but does it still contain a lot of the B.S.? For example, when Joe Rogan goes out into the crowd to interview Eli Roth about Hostile 2. (I know, it was from a Fight Night, but its the only example popping into my head at the moment).
The best possible feature that the DVD’s can have is the ability to turn each commentator on and off. That way, when you want to know what is going on in there, you just listen to Rogan, and Couture for the main events. And those other times when you’re watching the DVD’s all stoned and stupid looking for a laugh, you turn off Joe Rogan and only have Goldy on. Or better yet - The Mike Golberg Commentary Disc 2 version…
Trainer: Kongo wrestling, juijitsu good… no wrestling no juijitsu baaaddd… Kongo understand?
Kongo: NO… me no like wrestle or JuJu, me like kick’ punch’
Trainer: We train Kongo in wrestle, JuJu… now Kongo complete MMA fighter… Good.. yes?
Kongo: No… no Kongo wrestle no JuJu… Kongo think already wrestle JuJu good… me like kick punch’ knee.
Trainer: No no ‘bad kongo’! bad kongo’! kongo learn wrestle and JuJu good!
Kongo: U say Kongo bad wrestle bad JuJu, Kongo kick trainer in face!
Trainer: Ok Ok Ok… sorry Kongo good wrestler Kongo good JuJu! Kongo no practice wrestle JuJu..ok?
Kongo: Kongo like kick, punch, knee… goooood kongo!
[quote comment=”220488″]Trainer: Kongo wrestling, juijitsu good… no wrestling no juijitsu baaaddd… Kongo understand?
Kongo: NO… me no like wrestle or JuJu, me like kick’ punch’
Trainer: We train Kongo in wrestle, JuJu… now Kongo complete MMA fighter… Good.. yes?
Kongo: No… no Kongo wrestle no JuJu… Kongo think already wrestle JuJu good… me like kick punch’ knee.
Trainer: No no ‘bad kongo’! bad kongo’! kongo learn wrestle and JuJu good!
Kongo: U say Kongo bad wrestle bad JuJu, Kongo kick trainer in face!
Trainer: Ok Ok Ok… sorry Kongo good wrestler Kongo good JuJu! Kongo no practice wrestle JuJu..ok?
Kongo: Kongo like kick, punch, knee… goooood kongo![/quote]
That Juju shit cracked me up!!
[quote comment=”220373″]Thanks for taking the ‘pro’ side of the agruement on wether or not these fights will be televised.
I haven’t bought any of the UFC DVD’s, and haven’t rented one of them since the days of Royce Gracie. I just order the PPV. But NOW I know why people buy the DVD’s = they contain the undercard fights! Of course the DVD doesn’t come with the commercials for the next PPV like we do when watching it live (at least that’s what I’d think), but does it still contain a lot of the B.S.? For example, when Joe Rogan goes out into the crowd to interview Eli Roth about Hostile 2. (I know, it was from a Fight Night, but its the only example popping into my head at the moment).
The best possible feature that the DVD’s can have is the ability to turn each commentator on and off. That way, when you want to know what is going on in there, you just listen to Rogan, and Couture for the main events. And those other times when you’re watching the DVD’s all stoned and stupid looking for a laugh, you turn off Joe Rogan and only have Goldy on. Or better yet - The Mike Golberg Commentary Disc 2 version…[/quote]
I like the bonus materials in the dvd’s, all the preperation going into the fight, some interviews with guys in their hotel rooms before the fight, an in depth look at the weigh ins and some post fight press conferences. Dvd’s are realesed 4 months after after they air live on pay per view.
I ordered myself a DVD player that will play DVD’s released in Japan and England….so for christmass I will order all the PRIDE events that havent been released here, and the pre zuffa years UFC DVD’s, like Ultimate Japan, ultimate Brazil, get me some Bas Rutten fights, I still have never seen Tito vs. Wanderlei….. I will be like a kid at christmass this years…in the infamous words of Borat…Very exciiited!
2 pimps…no hoes!
[quote comment=”220373″]Thanks for taking the ‘pro’ side of the agruement on wether or not these fights will be televised.
I haven’t bought any of the UFC DVD’s, and haven’t rented one of them since the days of Royce Gracie. I just order the PPV. But NOW I know why people buy the DVD’s = they contain the undercard fights! Of course the DVD doesn’t come with the commercials for the next PPV like we do when watching it live (at least that’s what I’d think), but does it still contain a lot of the B.S.? For example, when Joe Rogan goes out into the crowd to interview Eli Roth about Hostile 2. (I know, it was from a Fight Night, but its the only example popping into my head at the moment).
The best possible feature that the DVD’s can have is the ability to turn each commentator on and off. That way, when you want to know what is going on in there, you just listen to Rogan, and Couture for the main events. And those other times when you’re watching the DVD’s all stoned and stupid looking for a laugh, you turn off Joe Rogan and only have Goldy on. Or better yet - The Mike Golberg Commentary Disc 2 version…[/quote]
No, they dont really show Joe Rogan going into the crowd for interviews any longer, and they cut out all the crap about movie promotions. Anyone know if any of the fight nights get released on DVD. I bought UFC 73 stacked, its a pretty cool dvd. The stephan Bonner undercard fight was good, I was very impressed with Bonners grappling… I buy the dvd’s more for collection purposes.
Kongo has some ground game, he has submit some people, but compared to the majority of the people in the heavyweights, he has a long way to go
Cheick Kongo needs to work on his ground defense. Cheick’s legs and reach are assets to his ground-game and stand up. Long or short limbs can be dangerous to a person that knows how to use them.