Cheick Kongo Should Get a Title Shot

Totally agree with the ‘business’ view that no is the right time for Kongo to get a title shot. And, in the ‘sport’ sense, the only other guy who should even be in discussion for a title shot right now is Carwin.

The fact that Kong and Carwin are the only two guys in the division anyone is talking about getting a title shot kind of tells you that the supposed ‘depth’ at heavyweight isn’t really there right now.

Probably because you posted this on the Non-Media Interwebs Dana will be forced to disagree.

just to be clear I was working on this before Leland’s article was posted. I didn’t do this as a dick move to undercut his article with my own going against his premise.

….or did I?

Of course the one argument against Kongo is the possibility of him crushing their HW golden goose. Yes, there is money involved in the sequel but what would happen if the sequel turned out to be a repeat? UFC would probably have to go shopping for another big draw cause Randy can’t beat a striker like Kongo.

I like Kongo so I don’t want to see him get killed by Brock Lesnar (assuming he beats Mir). For selfish reasons I want to see Kongo beat up jobbers and tomato cans for as long as he’s physically able.

I think we over value “winning in the UFC.” The guys Kongo has beaten were over the hill Cro Cop and B level fighters. Herring showed us a HUGE hole in Kongo’s game. His wrestling is horrible, and Cain, Carwin, Lesnar, Mir and Nog would all slaughter Kongo.

I agree that his value is probably as high as it’s going to get, but I don’t think he is deserving of a title shot right now.

Anyone else want to see the fallout if Kongo knees Lesnar in the groin? I’m now very curious…

I agree with the reasoning behind pushing for a Kongo title match. Carwin and Velasquez are very good, but still sort of green. Sure, Brock is green too in a way, but if an up and coming prospect is thrown into the big title fight too early, it could potentially ruin said prospect. So yeah, Kongo is good. (I realize that Brock goes against the grain, but that’s Brock. He’s a monster.)

The groin shot reputation is what leans me away from it. Kongo ’ accidentally’ kneed CroCop 3 times, and that knee to Al Turks jewels was retaliatory. And would someone please tell him how to pronounce title, in English, properly. His annunciation of everything else is accurate, except this one word.

Kongo vs Vanilla Gorilla has $$$ written all over it

We’ve always thought you were a Zuffa/UFC plant. Funny how all your intel always involves a connection to Xtreme Couture.

And the winner gets the winner of Randy-Big Nog. By that time either Cain or Carwin will be ready. Seems like a great set-up for 2008 and the first half of 09.

I was surprised Brent was so trepidatious because I thought this was just understood. The only other option would be Kongo vs. Carwin, with the winner getting a shot. Who else is really in the hunt that would make this an edgy call? Dana has clearly been building to Brock Vs. Kongo in a superheavyweight clash.

Since when does “deserve” have anything to do with getting a title shot? We have had a few fighters get cracks at different belts when they hardly merited it at the time.

Getting a title shot, for right or wrong, usually has more to do with generating revenue than someone deserving it.

Remember Lennox Lewis vs. Bruce Seldon? Hyped at 14 feet and 500 lbs going at it in the ring? They sold that fight based on the size mystique and it was a total bust (should say Seldon was a bust….) Don’t know if Kongo is quite to that level of contender yet, and the last thing we need or more lopsided and lackluster title fights a la Anderson Silva of late. ChrisBat’s idea of Kongo vs Gonzaga makes perfect sense as a last-step to title shot fight.

I agree 100%. And if he does happen to become champion then I don’t see that as a bad thing. It actually creates a deeper heavyweight division.

ManBearPig needs someone to clobber untill Shane & Cain are ready.

The reasoning behind your decision is at least legitimate. Kongo’s look and marketability is definitely there. In terms of marketability, I think you’re right that he has peaked.

But I’m still coming from a stance that I want to see deserving fighters at the top, not guys with the “look” and marketability. I realize that this is the UFC and marketability is everything however, so I can get behind the idea, but I disagree that it SHOULD happen. I think Kongo needs to fight another legitimate opponent.

of course it makes sense. Far weaker competitors have been given a shot at the heaveweight strap. I think the decision to Herring was questionable and in any event his kicked ass since that point. He has way more octogon time than my dog Carwin and beat down artisit Cain V. The fact that he has an advantage in a significant area of fighting (kick boxing and wrestling) over Mir and Lesner (kick boxing) also illustrate the validity of his selection.

i was sitting here watching ufc 96, and as i was watching gonzaga get the most furious 6 inch punch right to the face, i thought to myself…..the only other person i could stand to see gonzaga fight is kongo. Yes if kongo were to win, i think he should get a title shot. But on the opinion of marketing fighters……as if they are pawns or something heh heh heh, kongo would HAVE to win. A striker fighting a bjjer could end up a number of ways, but gonzaga seems like he is a little too emotional and can let the situation get the better of him. if gonzaga has the game plan of take down-to-submission, then gonzaga wins, if he wants to prove a point and/or feel overly confident, kongo by knockout. So this makes kongo vs gonzaga intriguing, somewhat meaningful, and in my opinion would be huge on name alone, headlining a FIGHT NIGHT or a co-main event

I don’t think Kongo deserves a title shot…but under these circumstances/understanding, I’d go along with it…keeps the younger/developing stars marketable and gives the teetle holder someone to fight until the big money match. Is this sort of what they did with Timmah and Monson? Monson had a few wins under his belt, but nothing terribly impressive in caliber. I don’t remember who Sylvia fought next, but it could have been a similar situation.

Kongo is 3-1 against grapplers in the UFC, his loss coming from a mediocre Heath Herring while his wins are against a woefully undersized Marerro, a fat and lazy Assuerio and Mustafa.

Al-Turk was a good start, but if he’s going to be facing Brock or Mir he needs to prove himself against a grappler at the lower tier like Carwin, Gonzaga, Nog, Couture or Cain. I’d even toss McCully in there but he’s gotten really small for the division.

No doubt his striking and ground and pound are solid though.

Let him fight Shane Carwin and go from there. Carwin destroys him with ease, in my opinion, which will make me very happy.

I don’t think Kongo deserves a title shot yet…..I’d like to see him fight once more. Either Kongo/ Gonzaga or Kongo/ Carwin sound like great match ups. Who ever wins the Couture/ Nog fight should face the winner of Mir/Lesnar first then Kongo should get a shot if he can beat whoever he’s matched up with……… with that being said i do think that a Kongo/Lesnar match would be great. They are both huge guys with a lot of power behind them and i think the fight would be highly marketable and bring in a lot of viewers.
So it’s the question of whether Dana will give the fight to who deserves it more or who’s going to sell more PPV’s…………..

i too would rather see Carwin and Cain get built up before throwing them at one another or fighting Cheick. Compared to other guys who got title shots, Cheick’s fought 9 TIMES in the UFC. Fanboys were saying Carwin should fight after beating a couple no names when he first dropped into the UFC.

I have to agree. Cheick has nine fights and seven victories in his UFC career, and was passed over for a title shot in favor of a 1-1 guy, and the guy who beat that 1-1 guy. Sure they won, but what’s to say that he wouldn’t have won too, if given the opportunity. Now he’s possibly getting passed over in favor of these fresh faces, who the casual fans don’t even know yet. Cheick Kongo has been in high-profile fights before, and has never been finished, while himself had quite a few spectacular finishes. He’s marketable, and he’s capable.

That said, I’d probably say that Couture and Nogueira are more marketable and capable, and if either is particularly impressive in their fight, I’d be in favor of the winner getting the shot over Kongo, with a Kongo-Carwin winner then being an especially credible title challenger.

althought the article was well written and made some valid points,I still think that Kongo needs another win over a known fighter.I think that Kongo vs. Couture would be more interesting than BigNog vs. Randy. I don’t think that Randy will be able to finish BigNog ,but he would probably have a chance at Putting Cheick on his back and pounding him out.I could also see Cheick landing some devastaing blows to tKO Randy,so it would probably be a great fight no matter who wins.while a fight between BigNog and Randy has a pretty good chance at going to the Judges score cards,which ussally sucks.