Essential The Official MMA Thread

[Starburst]

Depature Confirmed

After a seven-year run that included 18 fights in the organization, veteran heavyweight Cheick Kongo is a UFC fighter no more.

A UFC official told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) Kongo recently fulfilled the last fight on his contract and is unlikely to be re-signed at the current time.

The release comes a few days after Kongo (18-8-2 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) suffered a knockout loss to Roy Nelson (19-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on UFC 159's pay-per-view main card, which took place April 27 in Newark, N.J.

Kongo, 37, was one of the UFC's longest-employed and most experienced fighters. He made his promotional debut way back at UFC 61 in 2006, where the French kickboxer knocked out Gilbert Aldana as part of a 7-2 start to his UFC career.

Kongo, in fact, was on a 4-1-1 run before the setback to Nelson, which came just two minutes into this past weekend's fight.

However, that's been a theme of his time in the UFC. While he sports an overall 11-6-1 mark in the organization, Kongo struggled against the elite of the division, including notables such as Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Mark Hunt. The big-fight losses stalled any title hopes, though he proved a tough out for just about anyone, including Velasquez, who's earned stoppage wins against everyone but dos Santos and Kongo.

Halpern gave no indication of what may be next for Kongo, who's currently ranked 14th for the most fights in UFC history.

Kongo also is currently ranked No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA heavyweight rankings.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/...n-heavyweight-cheick-kongo-after-ufc-159-loss

 

[Starburst]

I just got home so I don't know what's going but Kongo wouldn't have been cut. He just wasn't re-signed. I was told they decided this before his fight.

His contract would have expired with his last fight and the UFC just chose to not re-sign him. They pretty much didn't want to take on his contract at his age.

But they have no issue doing this with Anderson who is 1 year older than Cheick? Bizarre

From the UG

Cung Le has been inactive since he defeated Rich Franklin in November 2012?s UFC on FUEL TV event in Macao, China. Le defeated Franklin with a highlight-reel knockout, and he went on to state it was the biggest fight of his life. Many questioned whether or not the 40 year old would be returning to the octagon, but we may have our answer after UFC 159.
The middleweight division had a prominent fight in the co-main event spot at UFC 159 this past Saturday. Albeit in the midst of controversy, Michael Bisping picked up the win against Alan Belcher by way of decision. With the middleweight division in the jam it is right now, I pondered to myself what would be an entertaining fight for Michael Bisping next without the limitations of UFC’s Top 10 rankings. Cung Le’s name was one of the first few that came to mind.
After asking Cung Le if he would be interested in a fight with Michael Bisping, his response to me was, “You need to ask?”
He also retweeted the following tweet: @NateRockQuarry: Ok… Now I want Bisping to fight @CungLe185! – Ask and ye shall receive.
Although he is not ranked in the Top 10 Middleweights according to UFC.com, Cung Le is on a two fight win streak and has a style of fighting that not many of those in the Top 10 have dealt with before. He would be skipping the line of names calling out Michael Bisping, but after such an impressive victory last November he may get just what he asked for.
If not Michael Bisping, who do you think would be a fair opponent for Cung Le’s UFC return?

Chael and Wand beefing on twitter

Wand:
@wandfc: The real man talk face to face! http://t.co/Bw5x480b2K quero ver se vai matter a disposicao no cara!!! Lets go!!!

Chael:
@sonnench: IN YOUR CASE, WANDERLEI, ISN'T IT "REAL MEN MUMBLE FACE TO FACE?"@wandfc

@sonnench: Or "real men ramble incoherently face to face, and occassionally one of them nods and smiles to be nice." @wandfc

@sonnench: Isn't THAT what you mean, you fool? @wandfc

 

[thernbroom]

Chael Sonnen Calls Out Wanderlei Silva

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FZ-n6gfFpY[/ame]

 

[FaTaL]

Chael Sonnen Calls Out Wanderlei Silva

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FZ-n6gfFpY

well he knows he can win that fight

i just hope wanderlei reitres

 

[hazardous]

Apparently Kongo turned down a UFC contract

Update on the Kongo story. According to his mgr, he was offered a 4-fight deal before 159, but he turned it down

 

[Another Man]

I hope Wand destroys that chump.

Honestly, I think Silva has a better chance of taking Chael out than people give him credit for. First off, if Chael thinks he'll bring the pressure by trying to stand and bang with Wand, he's gonna get put out for real. Secondly, if he plays it safe by taking him down trying to grind out a decision(which he most likely will), Wand could very well pull of the sub cuz Chael's sub defense is fukking horrible

 

[The G.O.D II]

Honestly, I think Silva has a better chance of taking Chael out than people give him credit for. First off, if Chael thinks he'll bring the pressure by trying to stand and bang with Wand, he's gonna get put out for real. Secondly, if he plays it safe by taking him down trying to grind out a decision(which he most likely will), Wand could very well pull of the sub cuz Chael's sub defense is fukking horrible

:seriously: chael has horrible sub defense but when has sandy ever worked off his back let alone sub someone

 

[Another Man]

:seriously: chael has horrible sub defense but when has sandy ever worked off his back let alone sub someone

The better question is, when has Wandy ever been dominated on the ground? Hell, even in one of his most well known fights(Rampage 2), he worked from his back and managed to defend well, and this is when Rampage actually utilized his wrestling. I know Silva has like one sub on his entire record, but Chael could very well be no. 2

 

[bsmooth]

Bellator MMA returns to WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma Wednesday, June 19th for the start of the Bellator MMA Summer Series live on Spike TV.

Bellator Lightweight Title Fight: Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. Dave Jansen (19-2)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament: King Mo Lawal (9-2) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-7)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament: Renato "Babalu" Sobral (37-10) vs. Jacob Noe (11-2)
Welterweight Feature Fight: War Machine (12-4) vs. Blas Avena (8-6)

Only a 4-man tournament so you know they want the Babalu/King Mo final, probably end up with a Petruzelli/Noe rematch

 

[123456789]

This Chael-Brazilians thing has me thinking.....why doesn't the UFC hold events in Florida more? When's the last time they held one.


They may be too shook to hold a Sonnen main event in Brazil but Florida has a strong S. American population...just do it there. Just make Sonnen the heel main eventer in Florida whenever they go there.


UFC in Miami in late August...Chael vs. Wanderlei.....and the co-main event could be Berto's mma debut

 

[Screwface Exchange]

Only a 4-man tournament so you know they want the Babalu/King Mo final, probably end up with a Petruzelli/Noe rematch

Dats a very very sad card. king mo do ppl really care about him ne more after he got his ass handed to him. Seth really, wha is this elitefc days again. Some1 pls send babalu a memo with just the word RETIRE on it. how him n lawal get entered into a tourney when they both lost they last match?

 

[DaveyDave]

Chael is such a fukking scumbag fukkhead. he gets baet down and then acts like hes gona go around beating up anyone he comes across. "i left because there was no one else to fight" no shyt sherlock because the champ beat you TWICE

 

[Roman Brady]

But they have no issue doing this with Anderson who is 1 year older than Cheick? Bizarre

if this is suppose to be a joke I don't get it.Anderson hasn't lost and has a belt they would re-sign him if he were 50.Kongo aint even a gatekeeper, is getting older and on the wrong side of wins

Originally Posted by Ariel Helwani
Update on the Kongo story. According to his mgr, he was offered a 4-fight deal before 159, but he turned it down

seems like he's retiring or maybe ufc downsized his contract and he said F that either way he won't be missed

 

[Change]

This Chael-Brazilians thing has me thinking.....why doesn't the UFC hold events in Florida more? When's the last time they held one.


They may be too shook to hold a Sonnen main event in Brazil but Florida has a strong S. American population...just do it there. Just make Sonnen the heel main eventer in Florida whenever they go there.


UFC in Miami in late August...Chael vs. Wanderlei.....and the co-main event could be Berto's mma debut

They don't do events is Florida anymore because it's a terrible market. Bad tickets sales, bad turnout, bad ratings, bad everything. It's probably the only state I've ever seen them publicly state they don't want to go back and hold events. lol

What's crazy is it's home to ATT and Blackzilians. But the events are complete duds.

 

[TheNatureBoy]

Dats a very very sad card. king mo do ppl really care about him ne more after he got his ass handed to him. Seth really, wha is this elitefc days again. Some1 pls send babalu a memo with just the word RETIRE on it. how him n lawal get entered into a tourney when they both lost they last match?

Yeah, the LHW tourney this summer is to benefit King Mo their big free agent signing who they had high hopes for. Don't really care about the HW, or LHW tourney, but the BW should be good.

Glad they got Chandler fighting again, one of the best LW's in the world.