Kongo Replaces Herring, Will Fight Cain Velasquez at UFC 99

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 9:25 AM EDT

According to MMAJunkie.com and confirmation from UFC.com, Cheick Kongo has been tapped to replace Heath Herring as Cain Velasquez's opponent at UFC 99:

Veteran heavyweight and once again rising contender Cheick Kongo (14-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will replace Heath Herring (28-14 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and fight Cain Velasquez (5-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at next month's UFC 99 event.

Kongo posted the change on his Facebook early Wednesday morning, and the UFC has since made the adjustment official.

UFC 99 takes place on June 13 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.

Honestly, I think this a better fight as both fighters are driving towards title shots, and this definitely has title implications all over it. Herring is, of course, far more experienced than Kongo, but Kongo has been on a tear as of late and both of these guys would be looked at for a title shot if they win. I see Cain getting the better of the ground game, and Kongo getting the better of the standup game. This fight should stay on its feet and be a great heavyweight slugfest with a hell of a lot of skill behind it.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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First Fanpost

That’s my first fan post. I hope it doesn’t suck to much!! Please comment on how I would make it better.

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well

There’s no link to any news information about Kongo replacing Herring. I’d say that’s pretty much a requirement.

by Luke Thomas on May 20, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks Luke

I knew I needed that and forgot it!!
Hopefully I’ll have more time next time to do something right lol!!

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice

i just saw this on espn.com and did a fanpost on it because i didn’t see the news on the main page. sorry, man. wasn’t trying to steal anyone’s thunder. :-)

by bobthewriter on May 20, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

and REC'd

this should be on the main page, because this is a bigtime fight now that Herring’s out. i deleted my post.

by bobthewriter on May 20, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh?

Why is it a big time fight now that Herring has been replaced?

IIRC, Heath’s last win was against none other than the guy stepping in to replace him.

by Steve4192 on May 20, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

because Herring is (rightly) out of the title picture. Kongo/Velasquez could even be seen as a No. 1 contender fight, if you squint just a little. Herring is just a guy Brock Lesnar humped for three rounds.

by bobthewriter on May 20, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

This fight probably is a #1 contender’s match now – they’ll give the loser of this fight or the winner of Randy/Nog to Carwin.

by Derek Suboticki on May 20, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s looking pretty darn good now.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 20, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

And make it prettier hahahahahaha

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Whoops

I’ll delete mine…you got it posted first ;)

by Scott Haber on May 20, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

hey no worries

yours looks better than mine anyways haha

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

As a note, you should probably provde:

An opening statement
The actual quoted line from the source as a blockquote
Any comment you might have, or no comment

That’s typically the formula for a successful news story source.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 20, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Fixed some of the wording

Get the direct quote from the link, paste it as a quote, and intro the piece with a statement about Kongo replacing Herring. I’ll move the picture to the right for you.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 20, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks Leland

I love this site and am going to try and do some better fanposts in the future. Thanks for your input.

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Kongo? As in Cheik…Kongo? Oh snap, this is even better than Herring! Kongo actually has a little win streak going unlike Herring so this is sooooo much more interesting!

Joe Silva WINNN!!!

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on May 20, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

Yea he managed to sidestep this predicament quite easily and even gave us a better match.

by who me on May 20, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Way smarter fight for the UFC than Herring-Cain. Now they can do something interesting with either fighter if they win, unlike Herring who is irrelevant to the HW title picture.

by Jahbulon on May 20, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

Though Herring is not a contender, he was a perfect test for Cain to see where he is in his development.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 20, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually think this removes Cain from the title-picture, while a win over Herring seems to guarantee a title-shot.

Minotaoro Nogueira beat Herring—>title-shot, Lesnar beat Herring—>title shot

While on the other hand beating Congo doesn`t seem to have that effect. Herring beat Congo—>No titleshot. Marerro beat Congo—→ No title-shot.

So, as a consequence, the only logical way to look at this fight is: Cain beats Congo—> No title-shot. And no one that has ever beaten Cain Velasquez has gotten a title-shot.

Everything clear?

"They called him the axe-murderer because he was murdering chumps. They should have been calling him the chump-murderer..." Rampage Jackson (commentating on the fighting abilities of Wanderlei "F#ck Chuck" Silva.)

by BlueberryMuffin on May 20, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

that the winner of this fight, next fights in a #1 contender fight, not that this fight would guarantee a title shot right away. But if either of these guys finishes the other in a decisive or devastating fashion than I guarantee they get that #1 contender fight next. Either guy is strong and highly regarded as top 15 fighters. With a lot of the top heavyweights in other organizations that puts these guys right there.

by Bucco169 on May 20, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

great replacement

should create some fireworks.

p.s. cain, dont forget your cup.

by woooburn on May 20, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

lol definitely.

by j19bill on May 20, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Does anyone else think that Cain should take this fight to the ground? With his wrestling pedigree and Kongo’s lack of answers when he’s on his back, I think if Cain can take this to the ground and get on top of Kongo it could be a Ground and Pound win for Velasquez.

by Chadsac on May 20, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

I think that’s exactly whats eventually going to happen. Cain is a fricken machine!

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on May 20, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Easier said than done

Kongo’s become difficult to shoot on and his GNP has become something fierce. I think he keeps this standing, but Cain will definitely work for takedowns.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 20, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Kongo’s takedown defense has definitely improved, but Cain is by far the best wrestler he has ever faced. I guarantee that Velasquez will put him on his back at some point in the fight.

The real question is whether Kongo’s bottom game has improved as much as his top game and his sprawl. If Kongo has developed a decent defensive guard to neutralize Cain’s offense while on his back, he might have a chance. If not, I foresee a beating in his future.

by Steve4192 on May 20, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Cain wins this. Better wrestling obviously, and Kongo has no ground game at all… although he thinks he does. I’ll even go on and say Velasquez has the stand up advantage. Maybe it’s just my dislike for Kongo… either way he won’t be getting his “titol shot” soon.

by poundnground on May 20, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

It’s definitely your dislike for Kongo.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 20, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Kongo has at least half of a ground game. His sprawl has improved to above average, and his ground & pound offense is nasty. The only questions that remains is whether can he defend himself off his back.

The UFC has really done an excellent job of of feeding Kongo guys who are challenging but not particularly dangerous style matchups for him. Cain will be the first guy we have seen since Marrero who presents a significant matchup problem for Kongo.

by Steve4192 on May 20, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions