A few days ago, there was a big buzz in MMA circles about heavyweight Cheick Kongo's profile being taken off of UFC.com. It turns out that his contract with the organization had expired after his loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 159, and he had passed on an extension offered to him before the bout. Kongo doesn't think that he's necessarily done with the organization though, and put out a statement on his Facebook page that indicates the door is still open for him to return:
"Do not believe everything you are told. "I'm in the best position to know about my career in the UFC. And do not worry. For now, know that I have not dismissed the UFC and I'm on good terms with the American organization. I'm out of contract, as I've been before. ... So I say to you, unless proved otherwise, I'm still a UFC fighter. Take care of yourself.
"Don't believe he said-she said stories. I have not been cut by the UFC. I am Cheick Kongo so I know best what's next for me. It doesn't mean that I am leaving the UFC, it doesn't mean that I am staying – it means this is my life."
Kongo (18-8-2) had spent most of his MMA career in the UFC, going 11-6-1 in 18 contests. He had lost two out of his last three though, getting knocked out by Nelson and Mark Hunt. His last reported pay was three fights ago at UFC 137, where he made 70k to show and 70k to win. If he does choose to re-sign with the UFC, you'd have to figure it would be for less than that. There could be other suitors for him, but the heavyweight class isn't very deep outside the UFC.