Cheick Kongo

Cheick Kongo
File:CheickKongo2.png
Born	Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo (1975-05-17) May 17, 1975 Paris, France
Nationality	French
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	228.0 lb (103.4 kg; 16.29 st)
Division	Heavyweight
Reach	82.0 in (208 cm)
Style	Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Wrestling
Fighting out of	Paris, France
Team	Wolfslair MMA Academy
Trainer	Anthony McGann
Rank	blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active	2000–present
Kickboxing record
Total	23
Wins	21
By knockout	12
Losses	2
Mixed martial arts record
Total	23
Wins	15
By knockout	9
By submission	3
By decision	3
Losses	6
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	4
Draws	2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: October 17, 2010

Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo (born May 17, 1975), more commonly known as Cheick Kongo, is a professional French heavyweight mixed martial artist and kickboxer currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He currently trains with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Michael Bisping at the Wolfslair MMA Academy.

Early life

Born to a Burkinabé mother and a Congolese father, Kongo began training in martial arts when he was 5 years old, learning Kendo and Karate. As he grew older, he began to expand his repertoire and trained in Muay Thai, kickboxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. At age 19, he learned of Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art, and was coached by Charles Joussot and Franck Roppers.. He's also a cousin of rugby star Fulgence Ouedraogo, the frech back-rower.

Mixed martial arts career

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 first professional MMA fight to Rodney Faverus by decision. He trained with the likes of Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva in the early days of Pride FC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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 Filipović by unanimous decision. 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 then defeated Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97 by second-round TKO.

Kongo replaced Heath Herring at UFC 99 to face the up-and-coming Cain Velasquez in the co-main event. It had been reported 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. This was not to be, as Kongo lost to Velasquez by unanimous decision in a one-sided affair that saw Cain being out-boxed by the kickboxer on the feet, but delivering effective ground and pound whenever the bout went to the floor.

Kongo was then booked to face Frank Mir at UFC 107. During the pre-fight talk, Mir constantly disrespected Kongo, stating that he had no ground game, so at the weigh ins Cheick Kongo showed his back to Mir, to be disrespectful. Mir won the fight by a submission victory. After connecting with a left overhand punch that dropped Kongo, Mir finished him with a guillotine choke that rendered 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 strikes.

Recently, Kongo signed a new 6 fight deal with the UFC. 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. The fight ended in a unanimous decision draw on the judges scorecards even though Kongo was deducted a point for repeatedly holding Browne's trunks.

Kongo is expected to face Pat Barry on June 26, 2011 at UFC on Versus 4.

Titles

• 2005 World Champion Federation King of the Rings
• 2005 King of Colosseum tournament champion
• 2005 Rings World champion
• 2004 King of the Ring Heavyweight champion
• 2004 Muay Thai World champion
• 2003 Intercontinental Muay Thai champion
• 2002 Rings European champion
• 2001 Rings European Vice champion
• European Savate champion

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

23 matches	15 wins	6 losses
By knockout	9	1
By submission	3	1
By decision	3	4
Draws	2

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
—	—	Pat Barry	—	UFC on Versus 4	June 26, 2011	—	—
Draw	15-6-2	Travis Browne	Draw (Unanimous)	UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama	October 16, 2010	3	5:00	London, England	Kongo had a point deducted for holding onto Browne's shorts.
Win	15–6–1	Paul Buentello	Submission (Strikes)	UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones	March 21, 2010	3	1:16	Broomfield, Colorado
Loss	14–6–1	Frank Mir	Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke)	UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez	December 12, 2009	1	1:12	Memphis, Tennessee
Loss	14–5–1	Cain Velasquez	Decision (Unanimous)	UFC 99: The Comeback	June 13, 2009	3	5:00	Cologne, Germany
Win	14–4–1	Antoni Hardonk	TKO (Punches)	UFC 97: Redemption	April 18, 2009	2	2:29	Montreal, Quebec
Win	13–4–1	Mostapha Al Turk	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008	December 27, 2008	1	4:37	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	12–4–1	Dan Evensen	TKO (Punches)	UFC 87: Seek and Destroy	August 9, 2008	1	4:55	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Loss	11–4–1	Heath Herring	Decision (Split)	UFC 82: Pride of a Champion	March 1, 2008	3	5:00	Columbus, Ohio
Win	11–3–1	Mirko Filipović	Decision (Unanimous)	UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion	September 8, 2007	3	5:00	London, England
Win	10–3–1	Assuerio Silva	Decision (Majority)	UFC 70: Nations Collide	April 21, 2007	3	5:00	Manchester, England
Loss	9–3–1	Carmelo Marrero	Decision (Split)	UFC 64: Unstoppable	October 14, 2006	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	9–2–1	Christian Wellisch	KO (Knee)	UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral	August 26, 2006	1	2:51	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	8–2–1	Gilbert Aldana	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	UFC 61: Bitter Rivals	July 8, 2006	1	4:13	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	7–2–1	Dave Dalgliesh	TKO	RINGS Holland: Men of Honor	December 11, 2005	2		Utrecht City, Utrecht
Win	6–2–1	Gabor Nemeth	KO	King of the Ring	June 4, 2005	2		Zagreb, Croatia
Loss	5–2–1	Gilbert Yvel	TKO (Punches)	It's Showtime 2004 Amsterdam	May 20, 2004	2	4:40	Amsterdam, North Holland
Win	5–1–1	Joop Kasteel	KO (Punch)	RINGS Holland: World's Greatest	April 4, 2004	1	4:31	Utrecht City, Utrecht
Win	4–1–1	Dave Vader	Decision (Unanimous)	RINGS Holland: The Untouchables	September 27, 2003	3	2:00	Utrecht City, Utrecht
Win	3–1–1	Hans Nijman	Submission (Armbar)	It's Showtime 2003 Amsterdam	June 8, 2003	2	0:59	Amsterdam, North Holland
Draw	2–1–1	Michael Knaap	Draw	It's Showtime – As Usual / Battle Time	September 29, 2002	2	5:00	Haarlem, North Holland
Loss	2–1	Rodney Faverus	Decision (Unanimous)	RINGS Holland: Saved by the Bell	June 2, 2002	2	5:00	Amsterdam, North Holland
Win	2–0	Dave van der Veen	TKO (Punches)	RINGS Holland: Some Like It Hard	December 2, 2001	2	1:25	Utrecht City, Utrecht
Win	1–0	André Tete	Submission (Heel Hook)	RINGS Holland: No Guts, No Glory	June 10, 2001	1	3:20	Amsterdam, North Holland

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of male kickboxers

External links

• Official Cheick Kongo MySpace
• Professional MMA record for Cheick Kongo from Sherdog